Department of Veterans Affairs – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

On November 1, 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rulemaking to amend its regulations on VA-backed interest rate reduction refinancing loans (IRRRLs). This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) proposes a change to the recoupment standard published in the proposed rule and seeks public comments on that change.

This notice informs the public of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which expands health care to three new cohorts of toxic-exposed veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulation governing Agency ethics officials to reflect that the Secretary designates these officials, to identify the employees who may serve in these roles, and to make other relevant nomenclature changes regarding employees and groups within the Office of General Counsel.

This final rule amends the regulations of the agencies listed above (the ``Agencies'') to clarify protections for beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries of federally funded social services and the rights and obligations of organizations providing such services. In accordance with the Executive order of February 14, 2021, Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, this clarification should promote maximum participation by beneficiaries and providers in the Agencies' covered programs and activities and ensure consistency in the implementation of those programs and activities.

On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VA), published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection Supplemental Income Questionnaire (For Philippine Claims Only). This notice was published in error; therefore, this document corrects that error by withdrawing this FR notice, document number 2024-03764.

VA is rescinding an outdated system of records titled, ``Compliance Records, Response, and Resolution of Reports of Persons Allegedly Involved in Compliance Violations-VA'' (106VA17). This system of records covered reports of suspected compliance violations and response to such allegations.

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.

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.

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.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is updating the system of records in its inventory entitled, ``Veterans and Dependents National Cemetery Gravesite Reservation Records-VA'' (41VA41). This system contains information related to Veterans and their dependents who have made gravesite reservations with the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). VA is updating the contact and location information. VA is republishing the system notice in its entirety.

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. DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before April 22, 2024.

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.

This final rule corrects the approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number relating to collection of information under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations that govern beneficiary travel.

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) proposes to amend its adjudication regulations relating to exposure to certain herbicide agents to incorporate the provisions of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (the BWN Act), specifically by extending the presumed area of exposure to the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam, defining the boundaries of the offshore waters, expanding the date ranges for presumption of exposure in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and establishing entitlement to spina bifida benefits for children of certain Veterans who served in Thailand. This rule also proposes to codify a presumption of exposure to certain herbicide agents for locations published on the Department of Defense's (DoD) record of locations where certain herbicide agents were used, tested or stored outside of Vietnam. In addition, this rule also proposes to codify longstanding procedures for searching for payees entitled to class action settlement payments aligned with Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and proposes to apply the definition of the Republic of Vietnam's offshore waters to claims for presumptive service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. VA is also proposing to amend its adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. This amendment implements provisions of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism as medical conditions eligible for presumptive service connection. Finally, this rulemaking proposes to implement certain provisions of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act), specifically by recognizing hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as diseases eligible for a presumption of exposure to certain herbicides and adding new locations as eligible for a presumption of exposure to certain herbicides during specific timeframes.

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.

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. DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before April 9, 2024.

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

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to revise 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 proposes to expand 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 proposes 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 proposes 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 preplaced OBRs separately from the grant award. These changes would 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 proposes to amend the regulation governing OBRs by removing retroactive provisions no longer needed because the relevant time period has passed.