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 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.

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.

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.

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs intends to reestablish the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee for a 2-year period. The Secretary has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

On Feb 02, 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) erroneously posted a 60-day Federal Register Notice Agency Information Collection Activity: (Application for Vocational Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities (Chapter 31, Title 38 U.S.C.) (VA Form 28-1900)) Document Number: 2019-01687; OMB control number: 2900-0009 This FRN public comment period should have been listed as 60 days and not 30 days as published.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is correcting a final rule regarding its claims adjudication, appeals, and Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) regulations. This correction addresses minor technical errors in the published final rule.

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 revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to process the beneficiaries claim for payment of Life Insurance Policy insurance proceeds. The information on the form is required by law, 38 CFR 6.48 and 8.36.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is correcting a proposed rule to amend the section of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD or Rating Schedule) that addresses infectious diseases and immune disorders. This correction addresses minor technical errors in the proposed rule published February 5, 2019.

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 revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. VA Form 28-1900 is completed by Veterans with a combined service- connected disability rating of 10 percent or more and Servicemembers awaiting discharge for such disability to apply for vocational rehabilitation benefits. VA provides services and assistance to Veterans with service-connected disabilities, who are determined entitled to such benefits, to obtain and maintain suitable employment. Vocational rehabilitation also provides service to support veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in their daily living activities if employment is not reasonably feasible. VA use the information collected to determine the claimant's eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing notice that the effective date of the new VA appeals system, outlined in the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA), is February 19, 2019.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations related to the provision of government-furnished headstones, markers, and medallions. These proposed revisions would clarify eligibility for headstones, markers, or medallions, would establish replacement criteria for such headstones, markers, and medallions consistent with VA policy, would define the term ``unmarked grave'' consistent with VA policy, and would generally reorganize and simplify current regulatory language for ease of understanding.

On December 14, 2018, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice at 83 FR 64431 for the VA's Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, West Los Angeles Medical Center Campus Draft Master Plan (Draft PEIS). The public comment period ends January 29, 2019. This notice announces an extension of the public comment period until February 13, 2019.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing public notice of inflationary adjustments to the maximum civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by VA, as implemented by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, for calendar year 2019. VA may impose civil monetary penalties for false loan guaranty certifications. Also, VA may impose civil monetary penalties for fraudulent claims or written statements made in connection with VA programs generally. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, sets forth a formula that increases the maximum statutory amounts for civil monetary penalties and directs VA to give public notice of the new maximum amounts by regulation. Accordingly, VA is providing notice of the calendar year 2019 inflationary adjustments that increase maximum civil monetary penalties from $22,363 to $22,927 for false loan guaranty certifications and from $11,181 to $11,463 for fraudulent claims or written statements made in connection with VA programs generally.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds for the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grant Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The objective of the grant is to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. This notice is intended to provide applicants with the information necessary to apply for the SAHAT Grant Program. VA strongly recommends referring to the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program regulation in conjunction with this notice. The registration process described in this notice applies only to applicants who will register to submit project applications for FY 2019 SAHAT Grant Program funds.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its claims adjudication, appeals, and Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) regulations. In addition, this rule revises VA's regulations with respect to accreditation of attorneys, agents, and Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives; the standards of conduct for persons practicing before VA; and the rules governing fees for representation. This rulemaking implements the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA), which amended the procedures applicable to administrative review and appeal of VA decisions on claims for benefits, creating a new, modernized review system. Unless otherwise specified in this final rule, VA amends its regulations applicable to all claims processed under the new review system, which generally applies where an initial VA decision on a claim is provided on or after the effective date or where a claimant has elected to opt into the new review system under established procedures. For the reasons set forth in the proposed rule and in this final rule, VA is adopting the proposed rule as final, with minor changes, as explained below.