1925-S Peace Dollar - Die Gouge - VAM?

That mark, and the two fainter ones to the right are caused by a clashing of the dies. Possibly from the olive branch.
This clashing alone will not define the VAM, but is a good diagnostic to help confirm the identity when the coin is attributed.
There is much work to be done in this area, and the addition of this information to the general body of VAM studies is, in my opinion, very beneficial. Others disagree.

Yes. There are several approaches to identifying a VAM - perhaps as many as there are VAMmers.
Some believe it is best to post a picture of every feature that will help in the attribution of a coin.
Others say that an understanding of what defines a VAM does not include most clashes and cracks.
If the coin you are trying to attribute is defined by a doubling of a number or letter, and that portion of the coin is worn or has suffered PMD, you may not be able to make an attribution. Yet it might be identified by a large unique crack if the picture was available.
To a certain extent, that is like saying you haven't got an attributable rare sports car because the emblem is missing.
Do you really not have the rare VAM because the strike was light and the letter transfer not visible?
The other side of the argument is much the same as letting math students use calculators.
Yes it will give you a correct result, but you have bypassed the understanding of the entire subject.
Believing there is merit in both, and that both schools will inevitably grow, I intend to master both schools.