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

As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hereby gives notice that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, under the authority granted by the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998, Public Law 105-277, title XVI, 112 Stat. 2681-742 through 2681-749 (codified in part at 38 U.S.C. 1118), has determined that there is no basis to establish a presumption of service connection for Al Eskan disease, idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia, wound and nosocomial infection, mycoplasmas, as discussed in the October 2006 report of the National Academy of Sciences, titled ``Gulf War and Health Volume 5: Infectious Diseases'', or for any illness based on exposure to biologic-warfare agents during service in the Persian Gulf during the Persian Gulf War.

This document affirms an amendment to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations regarding service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that eliminated the requirement of evidence corroborating occurrence of the claimed in- service stressor in claims in which PTSD is diagnosed in service. This amendment is necessary to facilitate proof of service connection in such claims. By this amendment, we intend to more quickly adjudicate claims for service connection for PTSD for these veterans.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records entitled ``Purchase Credit Card Program-VA'' (131VA047) as described in the Federal Register at 70 FR 7320 (February 11, 2005). VA is amending the system of records by updating our routine uses relating to records maintained in the system. VA is republishing the system of records notice in its entirety.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to establish regulations regarding a new educational assistance program for individuals who serve on active duty after September 10, 2001. The new program, known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, was authorized by title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008). This final regulation includes the rules necessary to implement the provisions of the Post-9/ 11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 that govern the Post-9/ 11 GI Bill.

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 collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to determine service members eligibility requirements for payment of traumatic injury protection benefits covered under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.

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.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its adjudication regulations regarding entitlement to full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans disability compensation based on a VA determination of individual unemployability (IU). This rulemaking is intended to implement section 642 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which provides that veterans who are entitled to receive veterans disability compensation based on a VA determination of individual unemployability are no longer subject to a phase-in period. This regulatory amendment is necessary to conform to statutory provisions.

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) requires that all agencies publish in the Federal Register a notice of the existence of and character of their systems of records. Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is adding a new system records entitled ``Inspector General Oversight Data ExtractsVA,'' (154VA53C).

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 three existing systems of records 93VA131, ``Gulf War Registry-VA''; 105VA131, ``Agent Orange Registry-VA''; and 108VA11S, ``Spinal Cord Dysfunction Registry-VA'' to add a routine use relating to releasing information to agencies in the event of fraud or abuse; and add a routine use relating to disclosing information when there is a risk of embarrassment or harm to the reputations of the record subjects.

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552(e)(4)) requires that all agencies publish in the Federal Register a notice of the existence and character of their systems of records. Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records entitled ``Litigant, Tort Claimant, EEO Complainant and Third Party Recovery FilesVA'' (16VA026) as set forth in full in the Federal Register on January 13, 1982 [47 F.R. 1463]. This system was subsequently amended in the Federal Register on April 25, 1983 [48 F.R. 17687] to add several new routine uses. VA is amending the system by revising the routine uses of records maintained in the system, combining three existing uses into one, deleting five old routine uses, and adding five new routine uses. The name of system of records is being changed to ``Litigation FilesVA'' to more closely encompass the complete scope of matters handled in VA litigation and administrative investigations carried out by OGC attorneys. This system contains records of Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) and Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) disputes, contract litigation, Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act litigation at the appellate level as well as EEO disputes, torts, and third party litigation. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), 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 and 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 (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.

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.

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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is publishing a summary of legal interpretations issued by the Office of General Counsel involving Veterans' benefits under laws administered by VA. This interpretation is considered precedential by VA and will be followed by VA officials and employees in future claim matters involving the same legal issues. The summary is published to provide the public, and, in particular, Veterans' benefits claimants and their representatives, with notice of VA's interpretation regarding the legal matter at issue.

The Office of Policy and Planning, 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 of information, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to satisfy the requirements detailed in Public Law 108-454, section 805. This project will collect information on awareness, demographics, health care, disability, life insurance, burial benefits, employment, education and training, and vocational rehabilitation. This project will provide information needed to support VA policy, planning, and quality improvement decisions.