Department of Veterans Affairs June 2010 – 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 currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility for disability insurance benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its Schedule for Rating Disabilities by revising the evaluation criterion for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to provide a 100-percent evaluation for any veteran with service-connected ALS. This change is necessary to adequately compensate veterans who suffer from this progressive, untreatable, and fatal disease. This change is intended to provide a total disability rating for any veteran with service- connected ALS.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to amend regulations governing grants to States for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of State veterans cemeteries (Establishment, Expansion, and Improvement Projects). We are implementing through regulation new statutory authority to provide grants for the operation and maintenance of State veterans cemeteries (Operation and Maintenance Projects), as authorized by the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007 (the Act), enacted on December 26, 2007. The Act expands VA authority to provide grants to States for operating and maintaining State veterans cemeteries and limits to $5 million the aggregate amount of such grants VA may award in any fiscal year. VA is amending its regulations to outline the process, the criteria, and the priorities relating to the award of these Operation and Maintenance Project grants. This final rule will also amend our regulations by changing the arrangement and numbering of the current regulatory sections, incorporating some non-substantive changes to the regulations, and removing specific forms from this part that are available at https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/scg_grants.asp.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following emergency proposal for the collection of information under the PRA. The reason for the emergency clearance is to allow VA to collect information from private physicians in the form of making available standardized disability benefits questionnaires that private physicians can complete at the request and consent of individual veterans applying for VA disability benefits. The medical information provided by the private physicians will be used as supporting medical documentation for veterans' disability claims.

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.

This document eliminates redundant and obsolete provisions in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan guaranty regulations. The provisions being removed are no longer necessary because the phase-in of VA's new loan administration rules is complete.

This document affirms as final an interim final rule that froze through June 30, 2010, the copayment required by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations for certain outpatient medications. Under those regulations, the copayment amount must be increased based on the prescription drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index (CPI-P), and the maximum annual copayment amount must be increased when the copayment is increased.

As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 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 new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on data needed to improve workforce recruitment and retention.

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a new recurring computer matching program. This will match personnel records of the Department of Defense with VA records of benefit recipients under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.