Department of Veterans Affairs 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document adopts, without change, the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2008, updating informed consent requirements related to testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for Veterans receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This final rule is in accordance with related provisions of the Veteran's Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008. The final rule eliminates the regulatory requirement for written informed consent for HIV testing and specific pre- and post-test counseling of Veteran patients. VA will implement this rule through internal policy guidance specifying these requirements and how they apply to HIV testing.

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 ``Health Administration Center Civilian Health and Medical Program RecordsVA'' (54VA16) as set forth in the Federal Register 68 FR 53784. VA is amending the system of records by revising the System Location; Categories of Individuals Covered by the System; Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories of Users and the

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations regarding grants to States for construction or acquisition of State homes to update the maximum number of nursing home and domiciliary beds designated for each State and to amend the definition of ``State'' for purposes of these grants to include Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its medical regulations concerning ``reasonable charges'' for medical care or services provided or furnished by VA to a veteran for a nonservice- connected disability. More specifically, VA proposes to amend the regulations regarding charges billed for prescription drugs not administered during treatment by changing the billing formula to reflect VA's actual drug costs for each drug rather than our current practice of using a national average drug cost for all prescriptions dispensed. The revised formula for calculating ``reasonable charges'' for prescription drug costs would also continue to include an average administrative cost for each prescription. The purpose is to provide VA with a more accurate billing methodology for prescription drugs.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), 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 currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to summarize a claimant's disagreement of denied VA benefits before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

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 new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to contact beneficiaries whose correspondence was return to VA.

This document amends the vocational rehabilitation and employment regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning VA's responsibility to provide notification regarding information or evidence needed for an individual to substantiate a claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits and services, and regarding applicable time periods. VA's duty to assist claimants in substantiating their claims for benefits was expanded by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. This rulemaking incorporates those provisions in VA's regulations. Specifically, upon receipt of a substantially complete application for benefits, VA will make reasonable efforts to help the claimant obtain the evidence necessary to substantiate the claim. In addition, VA is making changes to improve readability and other clarifying changes that are nonsubstantive.

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) preauthorization section by increasing the dollar ceiling for purchase or rental of durable medical equipment (DME) from $300 to $2,000.

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 currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to ensure that fiduciaries are properly administering VA beneficiaries' compensation and pension payments.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)), notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records entitled ``Administrator's Official Correspondence Records-VA'' (75VA001B),'' as set forth in the Federal Register on August 29, 1989. VA is amending the system by updating its name, and revising the routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

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, will submit 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 proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine an applicant's eligibility to receive a grant and/or per diem for programs to assist homeless veterans' transition to independent living.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4), notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to modify, alter, amend, rename and republish in its entirety the existing system of records ``Compensation, Pension, Education, and Rehabilitation RecordsVA (58VA21/22/28)''.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit 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 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 new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine claimants' satisfaction with their Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program experience.

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to add the Pension Management Center Manager as a person who, in addition to the Veterans Service Center Manager, is authorized to review decisions on benefit claims and authorized to approve permanent and total disability evaluations on an extraschedular basis for pension purposes. These changes are made to reflect the duties of the Pension Management Center Manager.

This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule amending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulation regarding the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance traumatic injury protection (TSGLI) program. The amendment was necessary in order to add losses that would be covered under the program and to define terms that are relevant to these new losses. The final rule also clarifies existing language in the regulation and reorganizes several existing provisions.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is deleting a system of records entitled ``Center for Minority Veterans Management Information System-VA'' (95VA00M), which was established at 64 FR 23900, dated May 4, 1999. The system was to maintain an automated database containing demographic data on veterans that the Center may use to analyze trends on how VA serves minority veterans. This system of records is being deleted because this program was never active in the Center for Minority Veterans and the records were never collected. When requested, the Department's Office of Policy, Preparedness and Planning has the appropriate personnel, knowledge and ability to provide statistical analysis of minority veterans' utilization of VA business lines for the CMV to meet its mission.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Office of Policy and Planning (OPP), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information as 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 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 new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information required from service members to participate in the pre-discharge claims program.