Department of Veterans Affairs 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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 and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its adjudication regulations. One amendment would permit VA to suspend disability compensation payments upon receipt of notice from the Department of Defense (DoD) that the veteran has received, is receiving, or will begin to receive active service pay. This proposed change would reduce the financial impact on veterans associated with receipt of VA disability compensation and active service pay by allowing VA to make necessary adjustments as close in time to the receipt of active service pay as possible. VA also proposes an amendment to clarify how VA adjudicates benefit adjustments based on receipt of active service pay for certain types of service.

The Veterans Benefits Administration, 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, this notice announces that the Loan Guaranty Service, 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.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records known as ``Inspector General Hotline (Complaint Center) Records'' (66VA53) by amending the Routine Uses, the Categories of Individuals Covered by the System, and the Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining, and Disposing of Records within the System. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records known as ``Criminal Investigations'' (11VA51) by amending the Routine Uses and the Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining, and Disposing of Records within the System. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

This Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Notice updates the information on Tier 1 medications.

On March 19, 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a rule updating its VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) in phased increments. The changes seek to streamline and align the VAAR with the FAR and remove outdated and duplicative requirements and reduce burden on contractors. An error occurred in one amendatory instruction. This document corrects that error.

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

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) regulations governing the submission and processing of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act to reorganize, streamline, and clarify existing regulations.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Loan Guaranty Service, 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.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations to address committal or memorial services and funeral honors. The proposed rule would reflect current VA practices relative to respecting the expressed wishes of the personal representative when making arrangements for the committal or memorial service. We would clarify the process for requesting committal or memorial services when requesting interment at VA national cemeteries and we would address access to public areas at VA national cemeteries. The proposed rule would also address when committal services may be conducted at a gravesite rather than in a committal shelter. We also propose measures to implement the statutory requirement that VA notify the personal representative of the funeral honors available to the deceased veteran.

As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These adjustments affect the compensation program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending and updating its VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) in phased increments to revise or remove any policy superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to remove procedural guidance internal to VA into the VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM), and to incorporate any new agency specific regulations or policies. These changes seek to streamline and align the VAAR with the FAR and remove outdated and duplicative requirements and reduce burden on contractors. The VAAM incorporates portions of the removed VAAR as well as other internal agency acquisition policy. VA will rewrite certain parts of the VAAR and VAAM, and as VAAR parts are rewritten, we will publish them in the Federal Register. In particular, this rulemaking revises VAAR concerning Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts, as well as affected parts covering the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulations System, Foreign Acquisition, Contract Administration and Audit Services, Quality Assurance, Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses, and Forms.

Veterans Benefits Administration, 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Loan Guaranty Service, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Construction and Facilities Management, is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department Facilities (``the Committee'').

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as final, with changes based on subsequent changes to our statutory authority, an interim final rule adding a new section to the medical regulations authorizing in vitro fertilization (IVF) for a veteran with a service- connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. In addition, the rule added a new section stating that VA may provide fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including IVF, to a spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. As a result of this rulemaking, VA may provide both a covered veteran and spouse of a covered veteran all ART treatments available to enrolled veterans under the medical benefits package, as well as IVF. The interim final rule was effective on the date of publication. We provided a 60-day comment period, and received 13 comments from the public, all of which were supportive of this rulemaking. However, the commenters raised several issues that we address here. Following publication of the interim final rule, a statute was enacted that made several substantive changes to VA's authority to provide ART and IVF to covered veterans and spouses. This final rule reflects those changes.

Loan Guaranty Service, 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.

Loan Guaranty Service, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its medical regulations governing eligibility for VA health care and copayment requirements to conform to recent statutory changes. VA is changing its enrollment criteria to move Medal of Honor recipients from priority category three to priority category one, and exempting recipients of the Medal of Honor from copayments for inpatient care, outpatient care, medications, and extended care services.