(a) Upon receipt of a claim, the district director shall ascertain
whether the claim was filed by or on account of a miner as defined in
Sec. 725.202, and in the case of a claim filed on account of a deceased
miner, whether the claim was filed by an eligible survivor of such
miner as defined in subpart B of this part.
(b) In the case of a claim filed by or on behalf of a miner, the
district director shall, where necessary, schedule the miner for a
medical examination and testing under Sec. 725.406.
(c) In the case of a claim filed by or on behalf of a survivor of a
miner, the district director shall obtain whatever medical evidence is
necessary and available for the development and evaluation of the
claim.
(d) The district director shall, where appropriate, collect other
evidence necessary to establish:
(1) The nature and duration of the miner's employment; and
(2) All other matters relevant to the determination of the claim.
(e) If at any time during the processing of the claim by the
district director, the evidence establishes that the claimant is not
entitled to benefits under the Act, the district director may terminate
evidentiary development of the claim and proceed as appropriate.
