Department of Veterans Affairs October 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 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.

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

This is an 18-month re-establishment computer matching agreement (CMA) with the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), regarding Veterans who are in drilling status and also in receipt of compensation or pension benefits. The purpose of this CMA is to re-establish the agreement between VA, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the DoD, Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). DoD will disclose information about individuals who are in drill pay status. VBA will use this information as a match for recipients of Compensation and Pension benefits for adjustments of awards.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is notifying the public of the availability of the VA FY 2021 Service Contract Inventory Analysis Report and the associated inventory. The report discusses the methodology, analysis, and special interest functions studied from the FY 2021 inventory. The inventory provides information on service contracts over $150,000. VA developed the analysis report and the inventory in accordance with guidance the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) issued on November 5, 2010, and updated on December 19, 2011. OFPP's guidance is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ management/office-federal-procurement-policy. VA posted the VA FY 2021 Service Contract Inventory Analysis Report and a link to the associated inventory is on the VA Office of Acquisition and Logistics website at https://www.va.gov/oal/business/pps/scaInventory.asp.

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 new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) in certain benefit rates. These COLAs affect the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Program. The rate of the adjustment is tied to the increase in Social Security benefits, effective December 1, 2023, as announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has announced an increase of 3.2%.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, The Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), VA, published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection Child Care Provider InformationFor the Child Care Subsidy Program (VA Form 0730B). This notice was published in error; therefore, this document corrects that error by withdrawing this FR notice, document number 2024-20802.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides notice that it intends to conduct a recurring computer-matching program matching Social Security Administration (SSA) Master Beneficiary Records (MBRs) and the Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications (Enumeration System) with VA pension, compensation, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. The goal of this match is to identify beneficiaries, who are receiving VA benefits and SSA benefits or earned income, and to reduce or terminate VA benefits, if appropriate. The match will include records of current VA beneficiaries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is revising its regulation that governs the outer burial receptacle (OBR) monetary allowance for burials in a VA national cemetery when a privately purchased OBR is used in lieu of a Government-furnished graveliner. First, VA is expanding applicability of the monetary allowance to burials in VA grant-funded State and Tribal cemeteries when a privately purchased OBR was used, or where an OBR is placed at the time of interment, at the cost of the State or Tribal organization. Second, VA is adding a provision to reimburse States and Tribal organizations for OBRs that are pre-placed as part of a new construction or expansion grant project. In addition, VA is making minor conforming revisions to its regulations governing aid for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans cemeteries to clarify that VA will reimburse the cost of pre-placed OBRs separately from the grant award. These changes implement new authorities provided in the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. VA also is removing retroactive provisions no longer needed because the relevant time period has passed.

Veterans Health 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 accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, VA is providing notice of a new matching program between VA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) entitled "Disclosure of Information to Support the Veterans Affairs' "Seek to Prevent Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Initiative."

Veterans Health 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.

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 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations to implement provisions of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act or Act). The statute amended procedures applicable to claims based on toxic exposure and modified or established presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure. Pursuant to the Act, VA is proposing to remove the manifestation period requirement and the minimum compensable evaluation requirement from Persian Gulf War claims based on undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. VA is also proposing to expand the definition of a Persian Gulf veteran; update the list of locations eligible for a presumption of exposure to toxic substances, chemicals, or airborne hazards based on service during the Persian Gulf War; and add presumptions of service connection for 23 diseases associated with exposure to toxins. To implement additional provisions of the Act, VA is also proposing to codify the procedure for determining when medical examinations and nexus opinions are required for claims that cannot be considered on a presumptive basis and the evidence establishes participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA). Additional provisions of the PACT Act will be addressed in separate, future rulemakings.

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.