Since the Department of Veterans Affairs released the standardized Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 21-0958) in February 2013, hundreds of veterans have contacted me because they have been unable to download the form through the VA website at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/form_detail.asp?FormNo=21-0958. In turn, I’ve been happy to provide the Notice of Disagreement form via email. From my perspective, this has been a simple solution to a complex computer-compatibility issue and has provided a conduit for veterans to feel comfortable asking substantive or procedural questions about the issues they wish to appeal.
In problem-solving, I’ve identified the two issues: (1) Acrobat-compatibility issues if the veteran is attempting to download through Google Chrome (confirmed by the VA Form Managers); and (2) veterans who are attempting to download through any web-browser that has not been updated with the most recent version of Acrobat Reader.
The solution is three-fold: (1) as one astute computer-savvy veteran explained to me, there are downloadable PDF readers for Google Chrome that will permit a veteran to access and revise VA Form 21-0958 within the web browser; (2) attempt to download VA Form 21-0958 in a web browser other than Chrome; or (3) feel free to email me at sdirector@FRE-L.com for copy via email.