Department of Veterans Affairs August 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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.

In response to notification that some Veterans and survivors received error messages in recent days when submitting their claim for disability compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), or intent to file such claim, through www.va.gov, the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) is instituting temporary provisions to consider any compensation or DIC claim or intent to file filed before 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday August 14, 2023, as received by VA on August 8, 2023. This preserves, for claims subject to the PACT Act (further discussed below), the potential of retroactive compensation benefits back to the date of PACT Act enactment, August 10, 2022. Claims, or intents to file, for compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation, received on August 9, 2023 through 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday August 14, 2023 will be deemed to have been received on August 8, 2023, the date of the initial problem on www.va.gov.

VA proposes to amend its regulations that govern the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) by implementing the mandates of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which would expand the number of scholarships available to those who are pursuing degrees or training in mental health disciplines. We also propose to make a technical correction under the Paperwork Reduction Act section to correct an approved OMB control number.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC), 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), Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA), Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR), is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs (``the Committee'') to represent the following Indian Health Service (IHS) Areas: Bemidji; California; Great Plains; Nashville; Navajo; Tucson.

Veteran's 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 ectension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is revising its regulations regarding persons eligible for interment in a national cemetery, documentation associated with requests for interment, and eligibility for headstones or markers to implement new authorities provided in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA FY22). Section 6601 of NDAA FY22 expanded eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to include certain individuals who served with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in support of the Armed Forces during a specified time period. VA is amending its regulations to reflect this expanded eligibility.