Department of Veterans Affairs – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations to implement VA's authority to reconsider a prior decision to inter or honor the memory of a person in a VA national cemetery. As of December 20, 2013, VA was authorized to reconsider a prior decision to inter or memorialize an individual who was convicted of a Federal or State capital crime or tier III sex offense. In addition, VA was authorized to reconsider a prior decision to inter or memorialize an individual who committed a Federal or State capital crime but was not convicted of such crime because that individual was not available for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution. This proposed rule would implement review criteria and procedures for reconsideration of prior interment or memorialization decisions.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its regulations that govern VA's administration of educational assistance programs to implement a provision of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, which requires a State Approving Agency (SAA), or the Secretary of VA (when acting as the SAA), to disapprove programs of education provided by educational institutions that do not permit individuals using benefits under certain VA educational assistance programs to attend or participate in courses while awaiting payment from VA and that impose a penalty on an individual for failure to meet financial obligations due to a delayed VA payment. We would also implement a provision that would allow educational institutions to require a claimant using education benefits to submit certain documents. In addition, we would make clear that an educational institution may require a claimant to pay certain fees or charges if VA delays payment and ultimately pays less than what an educational institution anticipated receiving.

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 finalizing, with some changes, an interim final rule that amended its medical regulations concerning payment or reimbursement for emergency treatment for non-service-connected conditions at non-VA (community) facilities. This final rule responds to public comments received on the interim final rule and amends VA's emergency treatment regulations to authorize payment or reimbursement for coinsurance, temporarily waive the timely filing requirements for veterans affected by the interim final rule, and authorize payment or reimbursement for emergency transportation associated with emergency treatment when VA has paid for the emergency treatment using a separate authority. Because the change to Sec. 17.1004 was not addressed in the Supplementary Information section of the interim final rule, VA believes the public should have an opportunity to comment on the change. Therefore, a 60-day comment period to address this single topic will be provided.

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VA), published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection Certification of Training Hours, Wages, and Progress (VA Form 28- 1905c). This notice was published in error; therefore, this document corrects that error by withdrawing this FR notice, document number 2023-02693.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to revise 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 proposes to amend its regulations to reflect this expanded eligibility.

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.

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.

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, its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

On December 21, 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to amend its State home per diem regulation to provide a new formula for calculating the prevailing rate VA would pay a State home that enters into a State home care agreement to provide nursing home care to eligible veterans. This correction revises the contact information for the proposed rule.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sets forth the duties owed to VA when Veterans and VA beneficiaries who received medical care and treatment provided or paid for by VA, or those acting on their behalf, pursue personal injury claims.

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) 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 (SS) 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. A plain-language description of the matching program.

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA), 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 on the information needed to determine a claimant entitlement to disinter the remains of a loved one from or within a national cemetery.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the system of records entitled, ``Veterans Assistance Discharge System-VA'' (45VA21). This system collects a limited amount of personally identifiable information (PII) for the purpose of maintaining records and providing benefits to Veterans who file claims for a wide variety of Federal Veteran's benefits administered by VA at VA facilities located throughout the United States. VA gathers or creates these records to enable it to administer statutory benefits programs. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

VA is announcing the availability of approximately $15 million per year for up to 2 years, pending availability of funding and grantee performance, in new grants under the case management component of the VA Homeless Providers GPD program. Applications for grants are being accepted from eligible entities to support case management services. These time-limited case management services will improve retention of housing by Veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless or who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing from programs such as VA's Homeless Providers GPD program or VA's Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Contracted Residential Services (CRS) program. VA anticipates that the grants will be for a period of 2 years, starting in fiscal year (FY) 2024 on October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2025. VA anticipates awarding approximately 100 grants for up to a total of approximately 150 full-time equivalent case (FTE) manager positions nationwide. Awards may be up to $300,000 total costs per FTE case manager position, with funding requests broken out by year 1 and year 2. This NOFO contains information concerning the program, application process, available funding, selection criteria and award process.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the National Cemetery 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 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.

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 revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

On January 19, 2023, the Veterans Heath Administration (VHA), published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection Adaptive Sport Grant Application (i.e., VA Form 10096). This notice was published before the 60-day Federal Register Notice closed by error; therefore, this document corrects that error by withdrawing this FR notice, document number 2023-01003.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is modifying the system of records entitled, ``Employee Medical File System Records (Title 38)- VA'' (08VA05). This system of records supports the Department by tracking employee health. The records are maintained for a variety of purposes, including: meeting the mandates of law, Executive Orders or regulations (e.g., Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Justice, National Archives and Records Administration, and Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) regulations.