Department of Veterans Affairs – 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is publishing this notice to inform the public about how it is implementing the SERVICE Act.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting information to assist in developing a national standard of practice for VA Recreation Therapists. VA seeks comments on various topics to help inform VA's development of this national standard of practice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting information to assist in developing a national standard of practice for VA Creative Arts Therapists (Music). VA seeks comments on various topics to help inform VA's development of this national standard of practice.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that VA is modifying the system of records entitled, ``Community Residential Care and Medical Foster Home Programs-VA'' (142VA114). This system is used for determining a potential facility's initial eligibility and ongoing participation in the program, provision of medical and psycho-social services to Veterans, operation of the programs, and information required by VA Medical Centers to complete quarterly statistical reports.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces its plan to assess the scientific literature and historical claims data regarding certain medical conditions associated with military environmental exposures. This assessment will consider the possibility of a relationship between the following medical conditionsacute leukemias, chronic leukemias and multiple myelomaand exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from airborne hazards and open burn pits for service members who were deployed in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, Somalia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Uzbekistan. Multiple myeloma, when it originates in the head or neck, is considered a presumptive condition pursuant to the PACT Act. However, cases of multiple myeloma originating outside of the head and neck have not yet been evaluated for association with exposure to PM2.5 from airborne hazards and open burn pits in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, Somalia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, a scientific review of acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and multiple myeloma and exposure to PM2.5 and its associated chemical composition from airborne hazards and open burn pits in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, Somalia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Uzbekistan would provide an opportunity to review an organ system (blood) not included in the PACT Act. VA solicits public comment on the importance of completing this assessment of scientific literature and historical claims data for these conditions or others. Once the conclusions of this scientific assessment have been peer reviewed, they may be used to inform decisions regarding veteran's qualifying period of service, such as those who served on active military, naval, or air service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, as well as Somalia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan from September 11, 2001, until the present time.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to rename and clarify certain loss-mitigation terms used in VA's regulations. VA is proposing these changes to align the names and definitions with their general use in the housing finance industry. VA believes that these proposed revisions would help avoid confusion and enable servicers and veterans to address loan defaults more quickly and effectively.

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 Veteran 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) is removing its regulation concerning the naming of cemeteries and features because, after reviewing internal policy and processes, VA determined this regulation is obsolete and unnecessary.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Office of Construction and Facilities Management, 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 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 information of the VA Forms required of a State or Tribal Organization seeking a grant for the establishment, expansion, or improvement of a State of Tribal veterans cemetery for preapplication.