Department of Veterans Affairs December 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a previously approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine a State's eligibility for plot or interment allowances.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e), notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records currently entitled, ``Investigation Reports of Persons Allegedly Involved in Irregularities Concerning VA Laws, Regulations, Etc.'' (11VA51) as set forth in the Federal Register 55 FR 42534. The system of records, maintained by VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG), is being amended to comply with requirements established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296, Nov. 25, 2002). The change to the system is the addition of a new routine use Number 13 to allow the disclosure of information to authorized officials within the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), who are charged with the responsibility for conducting qualitative assessment reviews of investigative operations for the purpose of reporting to the President and Congress on the activities of the OIG. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations governing accreditation of representatives of claimants for veterans' benefits. These proposed changes would require that recognized organizations periodically recertify the qualifications of accredited representatives, and require that VA is notified when a recognized organization requests cancellation of a representative's accreditation based upon misconduct or lack of competence, or if a representative resigns to avoid cancellation of accreditation for misconduct or lack of competence. The proposed changes would also require that accredited claims agents periodically reestablish their good character and reputation and qualifications to assist claimants for VA benefits. We would also clarify that the authority to cancel accreditation includes the authority to suspend accreditation for a period of time. The purpose of these proposed changes is to ensure that claimants for veterans' benefits have responsible, qualified representation in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this interim final rule to implement section 1032 of the ``Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005,'' (Public Law 109-13). Section 1032 of Public Law 109-13 establishes an automatic traumatic injury protection rider provision to Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), effective December 1, 2005, providing automatic insurance for any SGLI insured who sustains a serious traumatic injury as prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense that results in certain losses prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense. This rule specifies the losses for which the traumatic injury benefit (TSGLI) will be paid and the amount of the TSGLI benefit payable for each loss. Section 1032(c)(1) of Public Law 109-13 also provides for the payment of TSGLI benefits to service members who experienced a traumatic injury between October 7, 2001, and the effective date of section 1032 of Public Law 109-13, i.e., December 1, 2005, if the loss was a direct result of injuries incurred in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness (OPP&P), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposal revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to evaluate a candidate's credentials for employment with VA.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed existing collection in use without an OMB control number, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to determine claimants' eligibility to reinstate lapsed Government Life Insurance policy.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, existing collection in use without an OMB control number and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to assure that on the job training establishments are providing veterans with the appropriate rehabilitation training.

The Office of Acquisition and Materiel Management (OA&MM), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed new collection and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to measure customer satisfaction with delivered products and services.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice that the medication copayment rate will be increased from $7.00 to $8.00. The total amount of copayments in a calendar year for a veteran enrolled in one of the priority groups 2 through 6 shall not exceed the new cap of $960.00. These increases are based on calculations based on the Prescription Drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index and as provided in Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, part 17, Sec. 17.110.