Federal Regulations Significant to Veterans from the 107th Congress [December 2002 - January 2001] - Congressional and Legislative Affairs Home

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Federal Regulations Significant to Veterans from the 107th Congress [December 2002 - January 2001]

[December 2002]

Extension of the Presumptive Period for Compensation for Gulf War Veterans' Undiagnosed Illnesses - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 27, 2002, to affirm an amendment to VA adjudication regulations regarding compensation for disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War veterans. The amendment extends the period within which such disabilities must become manifest to a compensable degree in order for entitlement for compensation to be established. The amendment ensures that veterans with compensable disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that may be related to active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War may qualify for benefits.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7213.

Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 27, 2002, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education will meet on January 28, 2003, in Washington, DC. The agenda will include the Partnership for Veterans' Education, recent legislation, the Veterans' Education Outreach program, funding of State Approving Agencies, financial aid and the Montgomery GI Bill, electronic certification, accelerated payment procedures for ``high-tech training'', Education Liaison Representative issues, transfer of GI Bill Benefits status and the desirability of a committee Web site.
Contact: Mr. Stephen Dillard or Mr. Michael Yunker, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Service (225B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

National Commission on VA Nursing; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 27, 2002, that the National Commission on VA Nursing will meet on January 8-9, 2003, in Las Vegas, NV. The Commission will meet to continue data analysis, update the work plan, finalize selection of sites for focus groups, review correspondence from VA staff, finalize issues paper, and review staffing data from VA facilities.
Contact: Ms. Stephanie Williams, Program Analyst, Department of Veterans Affairs (108N), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-4944.

Government Owned Invention for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 20, 2002, of an invention owned by the US Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC207 and 37 CFRpart 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for US companies and may also be available for licensing.
- Microstimulator Neural Prosthesis
Contact: Mindy Aisen, MD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Director Technology Transfer Program, Research and Development Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail at mindy.aisen@mail.va.gov; telephone: (202) 275-7228.

Additional Disability or Death Due to Hospital Care, Medical or Surgical Treatment, Examination, Training and Rehabilitation Services, or Compensated Work Therapy Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on December 12, 2002, to amend its adjudication regulations concerning awards of compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation for additional disability or death caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, examination, training and rehabilitation services, or compensated work therapy program.
The proposed amendment provides that benefits will be payable for additional disability or death caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination only if VA fault or ``an event not reasonably foreseeable'' proximately caused the disability or death. It further provides that benefits will be payable for additional disability or death proximately caused by VA's provision of training and rehabilitation services or compensated work therapy program.
Comments Deadline: February 10, 2003.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK77.''
Contact: Beth McCoy, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 111 West Huron Street, Buffalo, NY 14202; telephone: (716) 551-4842.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on December 10, 2002, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans will meet on December 11, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center, Washington, DC. The Task Force will discuss the format of and issues for the Final Report to the President
Task Force Contact: Dan Amon, Communications Director, President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, Virginia, 22209.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hines, IL - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 10, 2002, that the Secretary is designating a site at the Edward Hines Jr., Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hines, Illinois, for an enhanced-use lease development. The Department intends to enter into a long-term lease of real property with Catholic Charities, a not-for-profit charitable organization that will finance, design, develop, maintain and manage a transitional living center and low-income senior residence for veterans and non-veterans, at no cost to VA.
Contact: Jacob Gallun, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8862.

Vocational Training for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans--Covered Birth Defects and Spina Bifida - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 6, 2002, to establish regulations regarding provision of vocational training and rehabilitation for women Vietnam veterans' children with covered birth defects. It revises the current regulations regarding vocational training and rehabilitation for Vietnam veterans' children suffering from spina bifida to also encompass vocational training and rehabilitation for women Vietnam veterans' children with certain other birth defects. This is necessary to provide vocational training and rehabilitation for such children in accordance with recently enacted legislation.
Effective Date: December 6, 2002.
Contact: Charles A. Graffam, Consultant, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (282), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (303) 331-7552.

[November 2002]

Notice of Computer Matching Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 20, 2002, that the Department will conduct a computer matching program with the Social Security Administration. Data from the proposed match will be utilized to verify the unearned income (i.e., interest, dividends, etc.) of nonservice-connected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent service-connected (noncompensable), whose eligibility for VA medical care is based on their inability to defray the cost of medical care. These veterans supply household income information that includes their spouses and dependents at the time of application for VA health care benefits.
Contact: Kathleen E. Watkins, Assistant Director, Income Verification Division, Health Eligibility Center; telephone: (404) 235-1340.

Notice of Computer Matching Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 20, 2002, that the Department will conduct a computer matching program with the Internal Revenue Service. Data from the proposed match will be utilized to verify the unearned income (i.e., interest, dividends, etc.) of nonservice-connected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent service-connected (noncompensable), whose eligibility for VA medical care is based on their inability to defray the cost of medical care. These veterans supply household income information that includes their spouses and dependents at the time of application for VA health care benefits.
Contact: Kathleen E. Watkins, Assistant Director, Income Verification Division, Health Eligibility Center; telephone: (404) 235-1340.

Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans; Notice of Meeting; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 19, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans will meet on December 12 - 13, 2002, in Miami, FL. The Committee will receive information about efforts to coordinate services and increase veteran access to homeless services from VA and other health and benefits programs and review new initiatives to assist veterans. A town hall forum will be held to hear comments and concerns from current and formerly homeless veterans, service providers, faith-based organizations and tribal governments.
Contact: Mr. Pete Dougherty, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone number (202) 273-5764.

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 15, 2002, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2002. The purpose of the Committee is to review the requirements of organizations or entities offering licensing and certification tests to individuals for which payment for such tests may be made under chapters 30, 32, 34, or 35 of Title 38, United States Code.
Contact: Mr. Giles Larrabee or Mr. Michael Yunker, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Chiropractic Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 15, 2002, that the Chiropractic Advisory Committee will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on December 4 - 5, 2002. The Committee will discuss chiropractic education, training, licensure, and techniques, and begin discussion of the scope of chiropractic services.
Contact: Ms. Sara McVicker, RN, MN, Committee Manager, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8558.

Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 15, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans will meet on December 12 - 13, 2002, at The American Legion, Washington Office, Washington, DC. The Advisory Committee agenda will include a review of the Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Center program and an update on VA medical center treatment programs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an update from the Veterans Benefits Administration on service-connected compensation for PTSD. The Committee will also focus on available information regarding the military-related service needs of returning combatants from the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, and a follow-up on the mental health needs of older veterans one year after the terrorist attacks in the United States.
Contact: Mr. Charles M. Flora, M.S.W., Readjustment Counseling Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: 273-8969.

Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 8, 2001, that a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs will meet on December 3 - 4, 2002, at VA Headquarters, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee's agenda will include briefings by briefings by the Chief Consultant of the Rehabilitation Strategic Healthcare Group, the Director of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Program, and the directors of VA's special disability programs--spinal cord injury, blind rehabilitation, prosthetics, audiology and speech pathology. Additional briefings will be provided by the program directors of ophthalmology and optometry.
Contact: Cynthia Wade, Veterans Health Administration (117), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8485.

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on November 8, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans will meet on November 20 - 22, 2002, at the VA Central Office in Washington, DC. The Committee will review its prior years' annual report recommendations and focus on its strategic plan for 2003.
Contact: Ms. Ruby Miller, Center for Minority Veterans (00M), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: 273-6708.

Service Connection by Presumption of Aggravation of a Chronic Preexisting Disease - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on November 7, 2002, that proposes to amend adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection to reflect a statutory presumption that a chronic disease that preexisted the veteran's entry into military service but was first manifest to a 10-percent degree of disability within a specified period after service was aggravated by the veteran's military service.
Effective Date: November 7, 2002.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7213.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 4, 2002, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans will meet on November 13, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center, Washington, DC. The Task Force will discuss the format of and issues for the Final Report to the President.
Task Force Contact: Dan Amon, Communications Director, President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, Virginia, 22209.

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a rule in the Federal Register on November 1, 2002, that proposes to affirm amendments to the Department's medical regulations to extend CHAMPVA eligibility to persons age 65 and over who would have otherwise lost their CHAMPVA eligibility due to attainment of entitlement to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare Part A; implement coverage of physical examinations required in connection with school enrollment for beneficiaries through age 17; and reduce the catastrophic cap for CHAMPVA dependents and survivors (per family) from $7,500 to $3,000 for each calendar year.
Effective Date: November 1, 2002.
Contact: Susan Schmetzer, Chief, Policy & Compliance Division, VA Health Administration Center, P.O. Box 65020, Denver, CO 80206-9020; telephone: (303) 331-7552.

[October 2002]

Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Evaluation of Multiple Scars - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 29, 2002, to amend that portion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Schedule for Rating Disabilities that addresses the Skin in order to clarify how to evaluate multiple superficial or deep scars in a uniform and consistent manner.
Comment date: December 30, 2002.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Evidence for Accrued Benefits - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an final rule in the Federal Register on October 28, 2002, to amend adjudication regulations dealing with accrued benefits, those benefits to which an individual was entitled under existing ratings or decisions, or those based on ``evidence in the file at date of death,'' which were due and unpaid at the time the individual died. ``Evidence in the file at date of death'' is now interpreted as evidence in VA's possession on or before the date of the beneficiary's death, even if such evidence was not physically located in the VA claims folder on or before the date of death. Further, ``evidence necessary to complete the application'' for accrued benefits is now interpreted as information necessary to establish that the claimant is within the category of eligible persons and that circumstances exist which make the claimant the specific person entitled to the accrued benefits. These amendments reflect our interpretation of the governing statute.
Effective Date: November 27, 2002.

Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7213.

Government Owned Invention for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notices in the Federal Register on October 17, 2002, of an invention owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for US companies and may also be available for licensing:

Firm Contact Apparel Prosthesis for Tremor Suppression and Method of Use Thereof

Contact: Mindy Aisen, MD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Director Technology Transfer Program, Research and Development Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail at mindy.aisen@mail.va.gov; telephone: (202) 275-0473.

Definition of Psychosis for Certain VA Purposes - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 11, 2002, to amend the regulations to define the term ``psychosis.'' The term is used but not defined in certain statutes that provide presumptive service connection for compensation or health care purposes. The intended effect of this proposed amendment is consistent application of these statutory provisions.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on October 8, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials will meet on October 28 - 31, 2002, in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive updates on NCA's ``National Shrine Commitment'' as it relates to historic preservation issues, and the Committee will be briefed on new cemetery construction, the State Cemetery Grants Program, legislative initiatives, and other issues related to the administration and maintenance of national cemeteries.
Contact: Ms. Paige Lowther, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7380.

Loan Guaranty: Net Value and Pre-Foreclosure Debt Waivers - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on October 8, 2002, to amend the Loan Guaranty Regulations to change the formula for calculating the net value of property securing VA guaranteed loans being terminated and to add criteria for granting preforeclosure debt waivers. The changes regarding net value appear necessary to more accurately reflect current costs. The changes regarding waivers appear necessary to more accurately reflect statutory intent.
Contact: Mr. Richard Fyne, Assistant Director for Loan Management (261), Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7380.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on October 8, 2002, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans will meet on October 9, 2002, in Alexandria, Virginia. The morning and afternoon sessions will be a discussion of format and issues for the Final Report to the President.
Task Force Contact: Dan Amon, Communications Director, President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, Virginia, 22209

<Prohibition of Interment or Memorialization in National Cemeteries and Certain State Cemeteries Due to Commission of Capital Crimes - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on October 8, 2002, to amend regulations governing eligibility for interment or memorialization in national cemeteries and in State cemeteries receiving State cemetery grants from VA. The final rule concerns statutory provisions designed to ensure that the remains of certain persons who committed Federal or State capital crimes are not interred in such cemeteries and that the memory of such persons is not memorialized in such cemeteries.
Effective Date: November 7, 2002
Contact: Kimberly Wright, Program Analyst, Office of Field Programs (401A2), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5307.

Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on October 8, 2002, that Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation will meet on November 13 - 14, 2002, in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive an update regarding the current status of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. In the afternoon, the Committee will receive a briefing regarding Traumatic Brain Injury services available through the VA Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program.
Contact: Ms. Alison Rosen, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: 273-7208.

Enrollment--Provision of Hospital and Outpatient Care to Veterans Subpriorities of Priority Categories 7 and 8 and Annual Enrollment Level Decision - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 9, 2002, to implement a national enrollment system to manage the delivery of inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. Prior to October 1, 2002, veterans were eligible to be enrolled based on seven priority categories. In this final rule we add veterans awarded the Purple Heart to priority category 3 to implement new statutory requirements. We also delete the copayment provisions from priority category 4 to clarify statutory requirements. In addition, we divide priority category 7 into two new priority categories (7 and 8) to implement new statutory requirements, using the subpriorities for former category 7 for these new categories. Further, we state principles for placing veterans in enrollment categories to help ensure clarity and fairness in making priority category determinations. Finally, we change the VA officials who can make enrollment decisions and provide an additional address for sending a request for voluntary disenrollment.
Effective Date: This interim final rule is effective January 17, 2003.
Contact: Amy Hertz, Office of Policy and Planning (105D), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8934.

[September 2002]

Extension of the Presumptive Period for Compensation for Gulf War Veterans' Undiagnosed Illnesses - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on September 27, 2002, to amend VA's adjudication regulation governing recoupment of military severance pay from service-connected disability compensation to conform to the statutory provision that, effective September 15, 1981, requires the recoupment of any severance pay from VA compensation. VA is also amending these regulations to reflect the statutory provision that excludes Federal income tax withheld from payments of separation pay, severance pay, and readjustment pay made after September 30, 1996, from VA recoupment.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7213.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 24, 2002, that the Secretary intends to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina, for an enhanced use development. The Department intends to enter into a long-time lease (up to 75 years) of real property with a competitively selected lessee/developer who will finance, design, develop, maintain and manage this project.
Contact: Edward Bradley, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-9489.

Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 19, 2002, that the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee will meet on September 24, 2002. The meeting will be held in Washington, DC. The Committee agenda will include a Site visit to a Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers, discussion of the Millennium Act, Geriatrics and Extended Care Initiatives, the Geriatric Fellowship Program, and Aging Research in VA.
Contact: Ms. Marsha Goodwin, Chief, Geriatrics Programs (114), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8539.

Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Evaluation of Tinnitus - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on September 19, 2002, to state more explicitly the method of evaluation of tinnitus under diagnostic code 6260 in the portion of the rating schedule that addresses evaluation of disabilities of the ear. The intended effect of this action is to codify current standard VA practice by stating that recurrent tinnitus will be assigned only a single 10-percent evaluation whether it is perceived in one ear, both ears, or somewhere in the head.
Comments Deadline: November 18, 2002.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 19, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs San Francisco Medical Center, October 7 - 9, 2002. The agenda will include discussion of future plans for the VA POW Learning Seminars, a report on VA's Compensation and Pension Service programs in progress, and a report on the activities of the Veterans Health Administration.
Contact: Mr. Ronald J. Henke, Director, Compensation and Pension Service (21), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6708.

Priorities for Outpatient Medical Services and Inpatient Hospital Care - The Department of Veterans Affairs published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on September 17, 2002, to amend the Department's medical regulations to establish that in scheduling appointments for non-emergency outpatient medical services and admissions for inpatient hospital care, VA will give priority to veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or greater and veterans needing care for a service-connected disability. The Veterans' Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 authorizes VA to ensure that these two categories of veterans receive priority access to this type of care.
Effective Date: September 17, 2002.
Contact: Roscoe Butler, Chief Policy & Operations, Health Administration Service (10C3), Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8302.

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 12, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans will will conduct site visits to the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, in Tampa, Florida, and several other VA facilities in the area, on September 23 - 27, 2002. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding the needs of women veterans with respect to healthcare, rehabilitation, compensation, outreach, and other programs and activities administered by the VA designed to meet such needs. The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary regarding such activities.
Contact: Maryanne Carson, Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6193.

Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 12, 2002, that the Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee (NAC) will meet in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 14 - 15, 2002. The agenda will include an update on Veterans Health Administration and the Department's Voluntary Service program's progress since the 2001 NAC annual meeting; Parke Board update; review of the 2001 annual meeting evaluations; and plans for the 57th NAC annual meeting. On October 15, the business topics include: 2005 NAC annual meeting planning; membership report; review recommendations approved at the 2001 NAC annual meeting; subcommittee reports; Standard Operating Procedure Revisions; new business and Executive Committee appointments.
Contact: Ms. Laura Balun, Administrative Officer, Voluntary Service Office (10C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8392.

Research and Development Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002, that the Research and Development Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee will meet on October 3, 2002, in Arlington, Virginia. The three new studies submitted for review are: Intensive vs Conventional Renal Support in Acute Renal Failure, Perioperative B--Adrenergic Receptor Blockage in Patients Undergoing Major Noncardiac Surgery, Anabolic Steroid Therapy on Pressure Ulcer Healing in Persons with SCI. In addition to the three new studies there will be one resubmission: Diiodothyroproprionic Acid, a Thyroid Analog to Treat Heart Failure and one progress review: Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation.
Contact: Ms. Denise Shorter, Coordinator, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: (202) 565-7016.

National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002, that the Veterans Affairs National Research Advisory Council will meet on September 26, 2002, in Herndon, Virginia. The Council will receive informational briefings on the VA Cooperative Studies Program; the Cooperative Studies Program DNA Bank; the VA Research, Education and Clinical Centers; and the VA research portfolio.
Contact: Ms. Karen Scott, Office of Research and Development (12C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 801 I Street, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-8381.

Accelerated Payments Under the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty - The Department of Veterans Affairs VApublished a rule in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002, that proposes to amend the regulations governing various aspects of the educational assistance programs the Department of Veterans Affairs administers in order to implement some of the provisions of the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001. These provisions include accelerated payments to individuals under the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty program who are enrolled in approved training programs that lead to employment in high tech industries and whose charged tuition and fees exceed an amount equal to 200 percent of the monthly rate of basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable. This document also proposes to amend the regulation defining educational institution to include certain private technology entities.
Comment date: November 12, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov . Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900- AL22''.
Contact: Lynn M. Cossette, Education Advisor, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7294.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 6, 2002, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans will meet September 11-12, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center, Washington, DC. The Task Force will receive presentations by and have discussions with Dr. Robert H. Roswell, Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Thomas A. Scully, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Mr. John G. Clarkson, MD, Dean, University of Miami Medical School, representing the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Task Force Contact: Dan Amon, Communications Director, President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, Virginia, 22209.

Special Medical Advisory Group; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 6, 2002, that the Special Medical Advisory Group has scheduled a meeting on September 25, 2002. The meeting will be held at (VA) Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The agenda for the meeting will include an update on Enrollment; Budget; Long Term Care; Tertiary and Specialized Care; Waiting Times; Workforce needs; and Capital Asset Realignment for Enhance services program.
Contact: Celestine Brockington, Office of the Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5878.

Chiropractic Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 4, 2002, that the Chiropractic Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on September 23 - 25, 2002. The Committee will convene its opening session with an overview of the mission and objectives of the Committee, an ethics briefing, and orientation briefings on requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and other administrative matters.
Contact: Sara McVicker, RN, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8558.

Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 4, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans will meet on September 18 - 20, 2002, in Brecksville, Ohio. The Committee will visit program sites in the Cleveland, Ohio, receive information about Federal efforts to coordinate services, veteran access to homeless services from VA health and benefits programs and review new initiatives to assist veterans.
Contact: Pete Dougherty, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5764.

Schedule for Rating Disabilities; The Spine - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on September 4, 2002, to amend the Schedule for Rating Disabilities by revising that portion of the Musculoskeletal System that addresses disabilities of the spine. The intended effect of this action is to update this portion of the rating schedule to ensure that it uses current medical terminology and unambiguous criteria, and that it reflects medical advances that have occurred since the last review.
Comments Deadline: This amendment is effective November 4, 2002.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

[August 2002]

National Service Life Insurance - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 26, 2002, to amend regulations regarding National Service Life Insurance by revising the texts of five sections of regulations into plain English. This amendment supports an Executive Memorandum that mandates plain language in written government communications.
Contact: Gregory Hosmer, Senior Insurance Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center, P.O. Box 8079, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101; telephone: (215) 842-2000 extension 4280.

Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive License - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on August 22, 2002, that its Research and Development Office intends to grant to 21st Century Medicine, Incorporated, an exclusive license to practice U.S. Patent Application Number 09/546,860, filed April 10, 2000, entitled Compositions and Methods for Tissue Preservation; and International Patent Application Number PCT/US01/11834 (WO 01/76364 A2), filed April 10, 2001, entitled Composition and Methods for Tissue Preservation.
Comments Deadline: Comments must be received within fifteen (15) days from the date of this published Notice.
Address: Mindy Aisen, MD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Director Technology Transfer Program, Research and Development Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3670; Facsimile: (202) 275-7228; e-mail at e-mail at mindy.aisen@mail.va.gov.
Contact: Copies of the issued patents may be obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at http://www.uspto.gov.

Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Guidelines for Application of Evaluation Criteria for Certain Respiratory and Cardiovascular Conditions; Evaluation of Hypertension With Heart Disease - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 22, 2002, to amend its Schedule for Rating Disabilities, in order to provide guidance in the evaluation of certain respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and to explain that hypertension will be evaluated separately from hypertensive and other types of heart diseases. The intended effect of this amendment is to clarify the use of the current criteria for evaluating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, particularly in cases where alternative criteria are provided, in order to ensure that veterans receive consistent evaluations and are not required to undergo unnecessary tests.
Comments Deadline: October 21, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov . Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AL26."
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Intervertebral Disc Syndrome - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 22, 2002, to amend its Schedule for Rating Disabilities that addresses intervertebral disc syndrome. The effect of this action is to clarify the criteria to ensure that veterans diagnosed with this condition meet uniform criteria and receive consistent evaluations.
Effective Date: September 23, 2002.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Policy and Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7230.

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on August 14, 2002, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, September 4 - 5, 2002. The purpose of the Committee is to review the requirements of organizations or entities offering licensing and certification tests to individuals for which payment for such tests may be made under chapters 30, 32, 34, or 35 of Title 38, United States Code.
Contact: Mr. Giles Larrabee or Mr. Michael Yunker, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Accelerated Benefits Option for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance - The Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 authorized the payment of accelerated benefits to terminally ill persons insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance. The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 12, 2002, to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs regulations to establish a mechanism for implementing these statutory provisions.
Effective Date: August 12, 2002.
Contact: Greg Hosmer, Senior Attorney/Insurance Specialist, Insurance Program Administration and Oversight, Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center, Post Office Box 8079, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101; telephone: (215) 842-2000, extension 4280.

Research and Development Office; Notice of Intent to Grant Exclusive License - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on August 5, 2002, that its Research and Development Office intends to grant to TransMedics, Incorporated, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent Numbers: 6,046,046, issued April 4, 2000, entitled Compositions, Methods and Devices for Maintaining an Organ; and 6,100,082, issued August 8, 2000, entitled Perfusion Apparatus and Method Including Chemical Compositions for Maintaining an Organ.
Comments Deadline: Comments must be received within fifteen (15) days from the date of this published Notice.
Address: Mindy Aisen, MD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Director Technology Transfer Program, Research and Development Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3670; Facsimile: (202) 275-7228; e-mail at e-mail at mindy.aisen@mail.va.gov.
Contact: Copies of the issued patents may be obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at http://www.uspto.gov.

[July 2002]

Schedule for Rating Disabilities; The Skin - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 31, 2002, to amend the Schedule for Rating Disabilities that addresses the Skin. The intended effect of this action is to update the portion of the rating schedule that deals with skin to ensure that it uses current medical terminology and unambiguous criteria, and that it reflects medical advances that have occurred since the last review.
Note (1) : A correction to this final rule was published on September 16, 2002, regarding the Rate Schedule for 7802 Scars, other than head, face, or neck, that are superficial and that do not cause limited motion; 7807 American (New World) leishmaniasis (mucocutaneous, espundia); 7811 Tuberculosis luposa (lupus vulgaris), active or inactive; 7813 Dermatophytosis (ringworm: of body, tinea corporis; of head, tinea capitis; of feet, tinea pedis; of beard area, tinea barbae; of nails, tinea unguium; of inguinal area (jock itch), tinea cruris); 7818 Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma); and 7833 Malignant melanoma.
Effective Date: This amendment is effective September 26, 2003.
Note (2) : A correction to this final rule was published on October 9, 2002, regarding a 30-percent evaluation for recurrent debilitating episodes.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Policy and Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7230.

Testimony Certified or Under Oath - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 31, 2002, to amend its adjudication regulation that requires written and oral testimony to be certified or given under oath or affirmation in most cases. VA believes that the global requirements in this regulation are no longer necessary to establish the credibility of most testimony offered in support of a claim for benefits. Removal of this regulation will help to streamline the claims process without affecting program integrity.
Contact: Bob White, Team Leader, Plain Language Regulations Project, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7228.

Duty Periods; Inactive Duty for Training - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 31, 2002, to amend regulations regarding service connection for disabilities incurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training. This amendment is necessary to insure the regulations accurately reflect a statutory amendment.
Effective Date: July 31, 2002.
Contact: Randy McKevitt, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7138.

Monetary Allowances for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans; Identification of Covered Birth Defects - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 31, 2002, to provide for payment of a monetary allowance for an individual with disability from one or more covered birth defects who is a child of a woman Vietnam veteran and to provide for the identification of covered birth defects, to implement recent legislation.
Effective Date: July 31, 2002.
Contact: Susan Schmetzer, Chief, Policy & Compliance Division, VHA Health Administration Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (303) 331-7552.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Attorney Fee Matters; Notice of Disagreement Requirement - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register, on July 31, 2002, to amend regulations relating to attorney fees. The Department has removed the requirement that, in order for an agent or attorney to charge a fee for services provided in a case, there must have been a notice of disagreement filed in the case on or after November 18, 1988. This change is required by a statute enacted in December 2001.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

VA Acquisition Regulation: Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 30, 2002, to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR). The rule

makes minor grammatical corrections and revisions, revises and updates section numbers and titles, relocates material to correspond to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and delegates authority
updates regulations and adds coverage regarding the authority of the National Cemetery Administration to award architect-engineer contracts
replaces a general prescription directing the use of all VAAR clauses relating to construction contracts with specific prescriptions for each clause, removes obsolete or duplicative material, updates the VAAR regarding the requirement for certificates of current cost or pricing data, and provides agency procedures regarding disclosure of the Government cost estimate on construction contracts
removes a ``guaranty'' clause from the VAAR and provides agency procedures for VA contracting officers to use the FAR ``warranty'' clause for construction contracts exceeding the micro-purchase threshold in order to protect the best interests of the Government
revises provisions regarding the acceptance of foreign construction materials to correspond to changes made in the FAR and to comply with the Trade Agreements Act and the North American Free Trade Agreement

Effective Date: August 29, 2002. Contact: Don Kaliher, Acquisition Program Management eam (0495A), Office of Acquisition and Materiel Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8819.

Operation of Child Care Centers at VA Facilities - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a withdrawal in the Federal Register on July 30, 2002, of a of a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 27, 1989. The proposed rule and the comments received have been superseded by events. Effective Date: July 17, 2002. Contact: Renee Bruce, National Child Care Program Manager, VA Maryland Health Care System, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201; telephone: (410) 605-7388.

Ankylosis and Limitation of Motion of Digits of the Hands - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 26, 2002, to amend its Schedule for Rating Disabilities by revising the evaluation criteria for ankylosis and limitation of motion of the fingers and thumb in order to assure that veterans diagnosed with these conditions receive consistent evaluations. Effective Date: August 26, 2002. Contact: Caroll McBrine, M.D., Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Enrollment--Provision of Hospital and Outpatient Care to Veterans - VA's medical regulations captioned "Enrollment--Provision of Hospital and Outpatient Care to Veterans" implement a national enrollment system to manage the delivery of inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. Veterans currently are eligible to be enrolled based on seven priority categories. VA proposes to

add veterans awarded the Purple Heart to priority category 3 to implement new statutory requirements
delete the copayment provisions from priority category 4 to clarify statutory requirements
divide priority category 7 into two new priority categories (7 and 8) to implement new statutory requirements
use the current subpriorities for category 7 for these new categories
state principles for placing veterans in enrollment categories to help ensure clarity and fairness in making priority category determinations
change the VA officials who can make enrollment decisions and provide an additional address for sending a request for voluntary disenrollment

Comments Deadline: August 22, 2002. Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AK38." Contact: Amy Hertz, Office of Policy and Planning (105D) or Roscoe Butler, Chief Policy & Operations, Health Administration Service (10C3), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8934.

Adjudication; Fiduciary Activities--Nomenclature Changes- The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 22, 2002, to amend its adjudication and fiduciary regulations to replace the titles of Adjudication Division, Adjudication Officer, Veterans Services Division, and Veterans Services Officer, with Veterans Service Center, and Veterans Service Center Manager. Other, nonsubstantive changes are also made. These changes are made for clarity and accuracy.
Effective Date: July 17, 2002.
Contact: Randy A. McKevitt, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC20420; telephone: (202) 273-7138.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Effect of Procedural Defects in Motions for Revision of Decisions on the Grounds of Clear and Unmistakable Error - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 17, 2002, to affirm an amendment to the Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) to provide that, when a motion to revise a Board decision on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) fails to provide specific allegations of error, the Board will dismiss the motion without prejudice to refiling. This amendment was made necessary by a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Comments Deadline: August 12, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

National Commission on VA Nursing; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on July 16, 2002, that the National Commission on VA Nursing would meet on July 29-31, 2002, in Washington, DC. The Commission will consider legislative and organizational policy changes to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses and other nursing personnel in VA; and to evaluate the future of the nursing profession in VA.
Contact: Ms. Stephanie Williams, Program Analyst, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC20420; telephone: (202) 273-4944.

[June 2002]

Diseases Not Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 24, 2002, under the authority granted by the Agent Orange Act of 1991, (Public Law 102-4), that a presumption of service connection based on exposure to herbicides used in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era is not warranted for the following Hepatobiliary cancers, nasal and nasopharyngeal cancer, bone cancers, breast cancer, cancers of the female reproductive system, urinary bladder cancer, renal cancer, testicular cancer, leukemia, reproductive effects (abnormal sperm parameters and infertility), Parkinson's disease, chronic persistent peripheral neuropathy, lipid and lipoprotein disorders, gastrointestinal and digestive disease (other than diabetes mellitus), immune system disorders, circulatory disorders, respiratory disorders (other than certain respiratory cancers), skin cancer, cognitive and neuropsychiatric effects, gastrointestinal tract tumors, brain tumors, amyloidosis, and any other condition for which the Secretary has not specifically determined a presumption of service connection is warranted.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7213.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on June 20, 2002, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans will meet on July 1, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center, Washington, DC. The Task Force will hold an open discussion on the Draft Interim Report as discussed during the June 2002 meeting.
Task Force Contact: Dan Amon, Communications Director, President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, Virginia, 22209.

Suspension of CHAMPVA or TRICARE or TRICARE-for-Life Eligibles' Enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 18, 2002, allow CHAMPVA or TRICARE or TRICARE-for-Life eligible FEHB Program annuitants, survivors, and former spouses to suspend their FEHB enrollments, and then return to the FEHB Program during the Open Season, or return to FEHB coverage immediately, if they involuntarily lose CHAMPVA or TRICARE or TRICARE-for-Life coverage. The intent of this rule is to allow these beneficiaries to avoid the expense of continuing to pay FEHB Program premiums while they are using TRICARE or TRICARE-for-Life or CHAMPVA coverage, without endangering their ability to return to the FEHB Program in the future.
OPM Effective date: July 18, 2002.
OPM Contact: Michael W. Kaszynski, Policy Analyst, Insurance Policy and Information Division, Office of Personnel Management, Room 3425, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20415-0001; telephone: (202) 606-0004.

Filipino Veterans Eligible for Hospital Care, Nursing Home Care, and Medical Services -The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 17, 2002, to amend VA's medical regulations to add provisions implementing statutory changes providing that certain Filipino veterans in receipt of disability compensation at the full dollar rate are eligible for hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services in the same manner as a veteran.
Effective Date: June 17, 2002.
Contact: Roscoe Butler, Health Administration Service, (10C3), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8302.

Repeal of Dual Compensation Reductions for Military Retirees - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 14, 2002, recognizing the end of reductions in uniformed service (military) retired or retainer pay previously required by law of military retirees employed by the Federal Government. OPM has adopted the interim regulations published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2000 as final without change.
OPM Effective date: July 15, 2002.
OPM Contact: Laurence T. Lorenz; telephone: (202) 606-0960; facsimile: (202) 606-2329; or e-mail: ltlorenz@opm.gov.

Draft Information Quality Guidelines - The Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Information and Technology published a notice in the Federal Register on June 12, 2002, announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed Information Quality Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by VA. This notice solicits comments on procedures to obtain correction of information disseminated by VA.
Link to Draft Guidelines: http://www.va.gov/oirm/s515.
Comments Deadline: July 2, 2002.
Address: Denise McLamb, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; Fax: (202) 273-5981; E-mail: 515.pocs@mail.va.gov.
Contact: Denise McLamb, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8030.

Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on June 12, 2002, that the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board will meet on July 24-25, 2002, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting is to review rehabilitation research and development applications for scientific and technical merit and to make recommendations to the Director, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, regarding their funding.
Contact: Ms. Victoria Mongiardo, Program Analyst, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (122P), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3684.

Board of Veterans' Appeals Rules of Practice: Speeding Appellate Review for Aging Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 12, 2002, to amend Rules of Practice at the Board of Veterans' Appeals to provide that a case may be advanced on the Board's docket because of the appellant's advanced age. This change is necessary to speed the appellate process for the large group of aging veterans.
Comments Deadline: August 12, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Fax: (202) 273-9289. E-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AL08.''
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on June 6, 2002, that the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses will meet on June 25, 2002 at the American Legion Building, 1608 K Street, NW, Washington, DC. The meeting will begin with a presentation of the Committee's interim report and will be followed by a discussion on research studies. Committee members will present and discuss key scientific research and research recommendation proposals affecting Gulf War veterans.
Contact: Ms. Laura O'Shea (008A1), Committee Manager, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5031.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 6, 2002, that the Secretary is designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, for an enhanced-use leasing development. The Department intends to enter into a long-term lease of real property with a competitively selected lessee/developer who will finance, design, develop, maintain and manage a hospice facility, all at not cost to VA.
Contact: Jacob Gallun, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8862.

[May 2002]

Cost-of-Living Adjustments and Headstone or Marker Allowance Rate - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register, on May 24, 2002, of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in certain benefit rates and income limitations. These COLAs affect the pension, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and spina bifida, and birth defects programs. These adjustments are based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index during the one year period ending September 30, 2001. VA is also giving notice of the maximum amount of reimbursement that may be paid for headstones or markers purchased in lieu of Government-furnished headstones or markers in Fiscal Year 2002, which began on October 1, 2001.
Effective Date: December 1, 2001.
Contact: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (212A), Veterans Benefit Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7218.

Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on May 24, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities will meet on June 6 - 7, 2002, at the Export Import Bank, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee will review developments in the field of structural design, as they relate to seismic safety of buildings, fire safety issues, and will vote on structural and fire safety issues for inclusion in VA's standards.
Task Force Contact: Kristna K. Banga, Senior Structural Engineer, Facilities Quality Service, Office of Facilities Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-9370.

National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 24, 2002, that the Veterans Affairs National Research Advisory Council will meet on June 20, 2002, in Herndon, Virginia. The purpose of the Council is to provide external advice and review for VA's research mission.
Contact: Ms. Karen Scott, Office of Research and Development (12C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 801 I Street, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-8381.

Scientific Review and Evaluation Board for Health Services Research and Development Service, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 24, 2002, that a meeting of the Scientific Review and Evaluation Board for Health Services Research and Development Service will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, March 6, 2001. The purpose of the meeting is to review research and development applications concerned with the measurement and evaluation of health care services and with testing new methods of health care delivery and management, and nursing research.
Contact: Dr. Martha Bryan, Assistant Director, Scientific Review (124F), Health Services Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1400 I Street, NW, Suite 780, Washington, DC; telephone: (202) 408-3665.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Attorney Fee Matters - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, on May 23, 2002, by establishing safeguards in the case of ``disinterested third-parties'' who pay a veteran's attorney fees and by simplifying certain notice procedures.
Effective Date: June 24, 2002, except for 20.609(i) which is effective July 22, 2002.
Applicability Date: Amendments to 38 CFR 20.609(i) will apply to third-party agreements received at the Board of Veterans' Appeals on or after July 22, 2002. Third party fee agreements received prior to that date will be subject to the pre-existing rules, which require that all fee agreements--including third-party agreements--be filed with the Board.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 21, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans will meet on June 10 - 12, 2002, at the VA Central Office in Washington, DC. The Committee will meet to write the Committee's legislatively mandated annual report.
Contact: Anthony T. Hawkins, Center for Minority Veterans (00M), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: 273-6708.

Medical Benefits Package; Copayments for Extended Care Services - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 17, 2002, to amend VA's medical regulations by adding the following extended care services to the medical benefits package:

noninstitutional adult day health care
noninstitutional adult day health care
noninstitutional respite care

Also, this document amends VA's medical regulations to establish provisions regarding copayments for extended care services. These actions implement provisions of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.
Contact on the medical benefits package: Daniel Schoeps, Geriatrics and Extended Care (114), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8540.
Contact on issues regarding copayments for extended care services: Nancy Howard, Revenue Office (174), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Eligibility for Burial of Adult Children; Eligibility for Burial of Minor Children; Eligibility for Burial of Certain Filipino Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on May 16, 2002, to amend regulations to provide a list of those individuals who are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Under VA'sstatutory authority to determine which unmarried adult children of eligible persons may be buried in national cemeteries with available space, VA proposes to limit such burials to the remains of those adult children of any age who became permanently incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability incurred before their reaching the age of 21 years. VA also proposes to specify that the burial of minor children of eligible persons is limited to those under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution. Additionally, this proposed amendment recognizes the eligibility for burial of certain Philippine Commonwealth Army veterans in national cemeteries.
Comments Deadline: July 15, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Fax: (202) 273-9289. E-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AI95.''
Contact: Karen Barber, Program Analyst, Communications and Regulatory Division (402B1), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5183.

Veterans Education: Increased Allowances for the Educational Assistance Test Program - The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 14, 2002, regarding the rates of subsistence allowance and educational assistance payable under the Educational Assistance Test Program. After consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Defense has concluded that the rates for the 2001-02 academic year should be increased by 4.7% over the rates payable for the 2000-01 academic year. The regulations dealing with these rates are amended accordingly.
Effective date: May 14, 2002.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service (225), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Government Owned Invention for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 8, 2002, of an invention owned by the US Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC207 and 37 CFRpart 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for US companies and may also be available for licensing.

Compositions and Methods for Tissue Preservation

Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans; Notice of Meeting; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on May 7, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans will meet on June 3 - 5, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee shall assemble and review information relating to the needs of homeless veterans and provide advice on the most appropriate means of providing assistance to homeless veterans. The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary regarding such activities.
Contact: Mr. Pete Dougherty, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5764.

Copayments for Inpatient Hospital Care and Outpatient Medical Care - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on May 7, 2002, to set forth a mechanism for determining copayments for inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. These amendments were made by an interim final rule, on December 6, 2001, and were necessary to implement provisions of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act and to set forth exemptions from copayment requirements as mandated by statute.
Effective Date: May 2, 2002.
Contact: Nancy L. Howard, Revenue Office (174), Office of Finance, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Research and Development Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on May 2, 2002, that the Research and Development Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee will meet at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202, on May 16, 2002. The three new studies submitted for review are: Diiodothyroproprionic Acid, a Thyroid Analog to Treat Heart Failure, Phase II Trial; The Midwest Gulf War Cohort Study; and Ft. Devens Gulf War Veteran Cohort, A Longitudinal Study
Contact: Ms. Denise Shorter, Staff Assistant, Department of Veterans Affairs (125D), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20420; telephone: (202) 565-7016.

[April 2002]

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Somerville Asset Management Service Facility, Hillsborough, NJ - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 15, 2002, that the Secretary intends to designate the VA Somerville Asset Management Service facility, Hillsborough, NJ, for an enhanced-use lease development. The Department intends to enter into a long-term lease of real property with a competitively selected lessee/developer who will finance, design, develop, maintain, and manage the project, all at no cost to VA.
Contact: Ed Bradley, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number: (202) 565-9489.

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 11, 2002, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, on April 23 - 24, 2002. Discussions will include outreach actions and training for State approving agency personnel, Certification Opportunities On-Line, Defense Activities Non-Traditional Education Support, and Licensing and Certification Approval System.
Contact: Giles Larrabee or Michael Yunker, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number: (202) 273-7187.

Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 11, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, on April 22 - 24, 2002. Discussions will include future plans for the VA POW Learning Seminars; a report from the Special Medical Panel on Presumptive Conditions among Former Prisoners of War; a review of VA's Compensation and Pension Service activities, including new outreach initiatives to Former POWs, a progress report from VA's Presumptions Process Workgroup, a report on priority for POWs in Long-Term Health Care programs; and a presentation from the Robert E. Mitchell Center for Prisoner of War Studies.
Contact: Ronald J. Henke, Director, Compensation and Pension Service (21), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number: (202) 273-7187.

Board of Veterans' Appeals Rules of Practice: Claim for Death Benefits by Survivor - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 5, 2002, to amend Rules of Practice at the Board of Veterans' Appeals to clarify that the general rule that the Board is not bound by prior dispositions during the veteran's lifetime of issues involved in the survivor's claim does not apply to claims for "enhanced" Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). This amendment is necessary to eliminate confusion between the Board's current rule and another rule relating to DIC for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at the time of death.
Effective Date: May 6, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Board of Veterans Appeals Link

Board of Veterans' Appeals Title Change - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 4, 2002, to amend VA regulations to reflect that the "Director of Administrative Service (014)" at the Board has been changed to the "Director, Management and Administration (01E)".
Effective Date: April 4, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

[March 2002]

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 29, 2002, that the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses will meet on April 11 - 12, 2002, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive briefings on research initiatives affecting Gulf War veterans. Those briefings will focus on epidemiology, risk factors, the nature of the disease, treatments, research policies, and other related topics. The meeting will include opportunities to discuss the material presented in the briefings, and planning for the Committee's first annual report.
Contact: Ms. Laura O'Shea, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5031.

Advisory Committee on Education, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 20, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Education will meet on March 25 - 26, 2002, at the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive an ethics briefing from the Office of General Counsel; examine the results of the Secretary's VAClaims Processing Task Force; focus on minority business access to government contracting and problems experienced by minority veteran-owned businesses; and be briefed about VAReadjustment Counseling services located on Indian Reservations.
Michael Yunker, Education Strategy Development (224B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 20, 2002, that VAintends to continue a recurring computer program matching Social Security Administration (SSA) records with VApension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. VAplans to match records of veterans, surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with SSAincome tax return information as it relates to earned income. VAwill also match records of veterans receiving disability compensation at the 100 percent rate based on unemployability with SSAincome tax return information as it relates to earned income.

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 18, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans will meet on March 25 - 27, 2002, at the VARegional Office in Washington, DC. The Committee will discuss the Partnership for Veterans' Education and recent legislation; and receive briefings on the Veterans' Claims Processing Task Force's report.
Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, Center for Minority Veterans (00M), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

Time Limit for Requests for De Novo Review - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 11, 2002, to amend adjudication regulations concerning the time a claimant has in which to request a de novo review of a claim at the Veterans Service Center level after filing a Notice of Disagreement. VA believes this amendment will eliminate unnecessary delays in the appeals process without adversely affecting claimants.
Comments Deadline: March 10, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; or e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK97.''
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7211.

Notice of Government Owned Invention Available for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 7, 2002, of an invention owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing:

Proinflammatory Fibrinopeptide

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Claims Based on Personal Assault - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on March 7, 2002, to amend adjudication regulations concerning the type of evidence that may be relevant in corroborating a veteran's statement regarding the occurrence of a stressor in claims for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from personal assault. Effective Date: March 7, 2002. Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7211.

National Center for PTSD Link

Notice of Government Owned Invention Available for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 6, 2002, of an invention owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing:

Glucose Sensitive Regulator of Insulin Transcription

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 5, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans will meet on March 12-14, 2002, at the VA Headquarters, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding the needs of women veterans with respect to health care, rehabilitation, compensation, outreach, and other programs and activities administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs designed to meet such needs. The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary regarding such activities. The agenda will include the introduction of New Member Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris, Director, Center for Women Veterans.
Contact: Maryanne Carson, Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6193.

Special Medical Advisory Group; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 5, 2002, that the Special Medical Advisory Group has scheduled a meeting on March 27, 2002. The meeting will be held at VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting is to advise the Secretary and Under Secretary for Health relative to the care and treatment of disabled veterans, and other matters pertinent to the Department's Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The agenda for the meeting will include an update on VHA Quality and Performance program and an update on Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program.
Contact: Celestine Brockington, Office of the Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5878.

Evidence for Accrued Benefits - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 4, 2002, dealing with accrued benefits, those benefits to which an individual was entitled under existing ratings or decisions, or those based on ''evidence in the file at date of death'' which were due and unpaid at the time the individual died.
Comment date: Comments must be received by VA on or before May 3, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AH42."
Contact: Randy A. McKevitt, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-7138.

National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 4, 2002, that the Veterans Affairs National Research Advisory Council will meet in Herndon, Virginia, on March 4, 2002. The Council will receive briefings on Biomedical Research Program, Career Development Program, and Research, Education, and Clinical Centers. During the afternoon, the Council will receive briefings on Bioterrorism Issues in VA Research and Intellectual Property Issues.
Contact: Ms. Karen Scott, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8284.

Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 1, 2002, that the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials will meet on April 10 - 11, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. The Committee will review the administration of VA's cemeteries and burial benefits program, and be informed about new cemetery construction, the State Cemetery Grants Program and issues related to the administration and maintenance of national cemeteries. Committee members will discuss NCA's National Shrine Commitment and tour Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Contact: Mrs. Paige Lowther, Designated Federal Official, National Cemetery Administration (40), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5157.

Loan Guaranty: Prepurchase Counseling Requirements - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on March 1, 2002, to prohibit advertisements or solicitations from lenders that falsely state or imply that they were issued by or at the direction of VA or any other entity of the United States Government. These provisions are necessary to ensure that lenders do not provide misleading information.
Effective Date: March 1, 2002.
Contact: R. D. Finneran, Assistant Director for Loan Policy and Valuation (262), Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7368.

Loan Guaranty Service Homepage Link

[February 2002]

Exclusion from Countable Income of Expenses Paid for Veteran's Last Illness Subsequent to Veteran's Death but Prior to Date of Death Pension Entitlement - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 28, 2002, to amend adjudication regulations governing exclusion of expenses of the veteran's last illness, burial, and just debts from countable income for death pension purposes. This amendment eliminates the prohibition against reducing countable income by the amount of these expenses that the surviving spouse paid after the date of death but prior to the date of his or her entitlement.
Contact: Beth McCoy, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 575 North Pennsylvania Street, Suite 309, Indianapolis, IN 46237; phone: (317) 226-5209 extension 3058.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development for a New Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Assistance Office, Las Vegas, NV - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a Notice of Designation in the Federal Register on February 25, 2002, to designate VA-controlled property adjacent to the VA Ambulatory Care Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a site for Enhance-Use development. The Department intends to enter into a long-term (up to 75 years) lease of real property with a competitively selected developer who will finance, develop, and operate office space needed for VA administrative purposes. VA will improve services, reduce operating costs, and optimize capital investments.
Contact: Brian McDaniel, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-9702.

Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee; Notice of Meetings - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 21, 2002, that the following subcommittees of the Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee will meet in Washington, DC for the purpose of evaluating the scientific merit of research conducted in each specialty by VA investigators working in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.

Aging & Clinical Geriatrics: April 19, 2002
Alcoholism & Drug Dependence: April 19, 2002
Cardiovascular Studies: March 21, 2002
Endocrinology: April 4-5, 2002
Epidemiology: March 22, 2002
Gastroenterology: March 25-26, 2002
General Medical Science: April 8-9, 2002
Hematology: April 11, 2002
Immunology & Dermatology: April 11, 2002
Infectious Diseases: April 29-30, 2002
Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee: June 6, 2002
Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences: March 18-19, 2002
Nephrology: March 19, 2002
Neurobiology-C: April 5, 2002
Neurobiology-D: April 25-26, 2002
Oncology: April 8-9, 2002
Respiration: April 5, 2002
Surgery: March 18, 2002

Contact: LeRoy Frey, PhD, Chief, Program Review Division, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3630.

Claims Based on Exposure to Ionizing Radiation - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 14, 2002, to clarify that although VA does not consider polycythemia vera to be a ``radiogenic disease'' under its adjudication regulations, a veteran is not precluded from claiming service connection for this condition on a direct-incurrence basis due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.
Contact: Beth McCoy, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-8862.

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) - On February 14, 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a correction to the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2002, concerning the ``Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)''. That interim final rule implemented the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 and the Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act of 2001. This document makes a correction in Sec. 17.274(c)(ii) by changing the reference to the effective date of the reduced cost-sharing catastrophic cap from January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2002 to reflect the correct date established by statute.
Effective Date: February 14, 2002.
Contact: Susan Schmetzer, Chief, Policy & Compliance Division, VA Health Administration Center, P.O. Box 65020, Denver, CO 80206-9020; phone: (303) 331-7552.

Special Monthly Compensation for Women Veterans Who Lose a Breast as a Result of a Service-Connected Disability - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 14, 2002, to provide for payment of special monthly compensation for a woman veteran who loses one or both breasts as a result of service-connected disability.
Correction: A correction to the final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2002, to correct typographical errors in the "Note" at the end of diagnostic code 7626 in Section 4.116 ``Schedule or ratings--gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast.'' The corrected table was also reprinted on the same date.
Effective Date: March 18, 2002.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Policy and Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7230.

Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 13, 2002, of the monthly rates of basic educational assistance payable to reservists under the Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve for fiscal year 2002 (October 1, 2001, through September 30, 2002) are changed to show a 3.4% increase in these rates.
Effective Date: February 13, 2002.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Education Adviser, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation (VACOR); Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 13, 2002, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation would meet February 19 through 21, 2002, VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20006. The purpose of the meeting is to review the quality of the services that the VA provides to disabled Veterans who participate in VA sponsored programs of rehabilitation.
Contact: Sharon L. Ford, Program Analyst, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7430.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Spark M. Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center, Honolulu, Hawaii - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a Notice of Designation and Intent to Award in the Federal Register on February 5, 2002, designate the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical and Regional Office Center, Honolulu, HI, for an enhanced-use leasing development. The Department intends to enter into a 5-year lease of real property with a competitively selected lessee/developer who will finance, design, develop, maintain and manage a transitional housing and homeless services facility, all at no cost to VA.
Contact: Jake Gallun, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8862.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Appeal Withdrawal - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on February 1, 2002, to amend a Board of Veterans' Appeals Rule of Practice to remove an unnecessary restriction on who may withdraw an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals and to clarify appeal withdrawal procedures.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

[January 2002]

Diseases Specific to Radiation-Exposed Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register, January 25, 2002, to amend its adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases for veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service or while members of reserve components during active duty for training or inactive duty training. This amendment adds cancers of the bone, brain, colon, lung, and ovary to the list of diseases which may be presumptively service connected and amends the definition of the term ``radiation-risk activity.'' The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans who may have been exposed to radiation during military service do not have a higher burden of proof than civilians exposed to ionizing radiation who may be entitled to compensation for these cancers under comparable Federal statutes.
Effective Date: March 26, 2002.
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-7211.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Obtaining Evidence and Curing Procedural Defects Without Remanding - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register, January 23, 2002, to permit the Board of Veterans Appeals to obtain evidence, clarify the evidence, cure a procedural defect, or perform any other action essential for a proper appellate decision in any appeal properly before it without having to remand the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction. It also allows the Board to consider additional evidence without having to refer the evidence to the agency of original jurisdiction for initial consideration and without having to obtain the appellant's waiver. By reducing the number of appeals remanded, VA intends to shorten appeal processing time and to reduce the backlog of claims awaiting decision.
Effective Date: February 22, 2002.
Applicability Date: These amendments apply to appeals for which the notice of disagreement was filed on or after February 22, 2002, and to appeals pending, whether at the Board of Veterans' Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, or the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, on February 22, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 565-5978; or Michael J. Timinski, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-6327.

Allowance for Private Purchase of an Outer Burial Receptacle in Lieu of a Government-Furnished Graveliner for a Grave in a VA National Cemetery - Public Law 104-275 allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a monetary allowance towards the private purchase of an outer burial receptacle for use in a VA national cemetery, equal to the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners minus any administrative costs to VA. The Department published a notice in the Federal Register, January 17, 2002, regarding the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners, administrative costs that relate to processing a claim, and the amount of the allowance payable for qualifying interments, which occur during calendar year 2002.
Contact: Karen Barber, Program Analyst, Communications and Regulatory Division (402B1), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-5183.

Per Diem for Adult Day Health Care of Veterans in State Homes - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register, January 7, 2002, to establish regulations setting forth a mechanism for paying per diem to State homes providing adult day health care to eligible veterans. The intended effect of the rule is to ensure that veterans receive high quality care in State homes.
Effective Date: February 6, 2002.
Contact: L. Nan Stout, Chief, State Home Per Diem Program (114), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (808) 541-1201.

Establishment of the Battle of Midway National Memorial Planning Committee - The Department of the Interior published a notice in the Federal Register, January 7, 2002, to establish the Battle of Midway National Memorial Advisory Committee. The Committee will develop a strategy for a public dedication of the memorial, identify and plan for appropriate exhibits to commemorate this important event, and offer recommendations on improving visitor services on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Department of Interior Contact: Barbara Maxfield, Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 50617, Honolulu, Hawaii; phone: (808) 541-1201.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Batavia, NY - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on January 4, 2002, to designate the Medical Center, Batavia, NY, for an enhanced-use leasing development. The Department intends to enter into a 50-year lease of real property with a competitively selected lessee/developer who will finance, design, develop, maintain and manage a transitional housing and homeless services facility, all at no cost to VA.
Contact: Jake Gallun, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; phone: (202) 273-8862.

Health Care for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans--Covered Birth Defects and Spina Bifida - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 2, 2002, to establish regulations regarding health care benefits for women Vietnam veterans' children suffering from spina bifida to also encompass health care for women Vietnam veterans' children with certain.
Comment Deadline: February 1, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; or e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK67.''
Contact: Caroll McBrine, M.D., Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Monetary Allowances for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans; Identification of Covered Birth Defects - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 2, 2002, to provide for payment of a monetary allowance for an individual with disability from one or more covered birth defects who is a child of a woman Vietnam veteran and to provide for the identification of covered birth defects, to implement recent legislation.
Comment Deadline: February 1, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; or e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK88.''
Contact: Susan Schmetzer, Chief, Policy & Compliance Division, VHA Health Administration Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (303) 331-7552.

Vocational Training for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans--Covered Birth Defects and Spina Bifida - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 2, 2002, to establish regulations regarding provision of vocational training and rehabilitation for women Vietnam veterans' children with covered birth defects.
Comment Deadline: February 1, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; or e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK90.''
Contact: Charles A. Graffam, Consultant, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (282), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7410.

[December 2001]

Filipino Veterans' Benefits Improvements - The Department of Veterans Affairs published The Department of Veterans Affairs published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on December 27, 2001, to amend a Board of Veterans' Appeals Rule of Practice, pertaining to a type of notice given in simultaneously contested claim appeals, to eliminate an inconsistency between that Rule of Practice and an Appeals Regulation and to update a presumption related to communication of the notice.
Effective Date: January 2, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on December 27, 2001, to reflect changes made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, which changed the rate of compensation payments to certain Filipino veterans residing in the United States and the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000, which changed the amount of the burial benefit paid to the survivors of certain Filipino veterans who were residing in the United States at the times of their deaths.
Effective Date: December 27, 2001.
Applicability Dates for Compensation Benefits: October 27, 2000.
Comment Date: February 25, 2002.
Applicability Dates for Burial Benefits: Where the veteran has died after November 1, 2000.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK65.''
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211A), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7211.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice: Claim for Death Benefits by Survivor - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 21, 2001, to amend a Board of Veterans' Appeals Rule of Practice, pertaining to a type of notice given in simultaneously contested claim appeals, to eliminate an inconsistency between that Rule of Practice and an Appeals Regulation and to update a presumption related to communication of the notice.
Comment Date: January 22, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AL11.''
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Notice of Insufficient VA Appropriations To Implement Requirements for Notification, Evaluation, and Reduction of Lead Based Paint Hazards in VA's-Acquired Properties - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 14, 2001, that it lacks appropriations sufficient to cover the costs of implementing certain regulations concerning Lead Based Paint hazards in single family properties acquired by VA in the operation of the VA guaranteed home loan program.
Contact: William Lutes, Assistant Director for Property Management and Strategic Development, (263), Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7379.

Independent Medical Opinions - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on December 12, 2001, to amend the adjudication regulation dealing with independent medical opinions that may be requested to resolve complex or controversial medical issues that may arise in a claim for veterans' benefits. This amendment is a plain language restatement of the existing regulation on this subject, and no substantive changes are being made. The intended effect of this amendment is to clarify the process by which independent medical opinions are obtained.
Effective Date: February 11, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; or e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK31.''
Contact: Jack Bisset, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service, Regulations Staff, or Bob White, Team Leader, Plain Language Regulations Project, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7213 and (202) 273-7228, respectively.

Copayments for Medications - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 6, 2001, to amend VA's medical regulations to set forth copayment requirements for medications. This is necessary to implement provisions of section 201 of Public Law 106-117, The Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.
Effective Date: February 4, 2002.
Contact: Nancy L. Howard, Revenue Office (174), Office of Finance, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Copayments for Inpatient Hospital Care and Outpatient Medical Care - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an interim and final rule in the Federal Register on December 6, 2001, to amend VA's medical regulations to set forth copayment requirements for medications. This is necessary to implement provisions of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act and to set forth exemptions from copayment requirements as mandated by statute.
Effective Date: December 6, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK50.''
Contact: Nancy L. Howard, Revenue Office (174), Office of Finance, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 5, 2001, that the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs will meet on December 11, 2001, at (VA) Headquarters, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee's agenda will include briefings by the National Program Directors of the Special-Disabilities Programs.
Contact: Kathy Pessagno, Veterans Health Administration (113), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8512.

Advisory Committee on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 5, 2001, that the Advisory Committee on Geriatrics and Gerontology will meet on December 19-20, 2001, at the Hotel Lombardy, 2019 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee's agenda will include site visits to five new Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers; an update on current issues of the Millennium Act; Geriatrics and Extended Care Initiatives; and the status of the Geriatric Fellowship Program.
Contact: Jacqueline Holmes, Staff Assistant, Geriatrics and Extended Care Strategic Healthcare Group, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8539.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Notice of Appeal in Simultaneously Contested Claim - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 3, 2001, to amend a Board of Veterans' Appeals Rule of Practice, pertaining to a type of notice given in simultaneously contested claim appeals, to eliminate an inconsistency between that Rule of Practice and an Appeals Regulation and to update a presumption related to communication of the notice.
Effective Date: January 2, 2002.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

[November 2001]

Department of Veterans Affairs; Nebraska--Western Iowa Health Care System; Alan J. Blotcky Reactor Facility; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission published a notice in the Federal Register on November 27, 2001, that it is considering issuance of an amendment for Facility Operating License Number R-57, issued to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Nebraska--Western Iowa Health Care System for operation of the Alan J. Blotcky Reactor Facility located in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. The proposed action would renew the license for the AJBRF for 20 years from the date of issuance of the license amendment.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Information repository: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Document Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland; on-line access: http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html; phone: 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737.

Poverty Threshold - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 27, 2001, of the weighted average poverty threshold established for 2000 for one person (unrelated individual) as established by the Bureau of the Census. The amount is $8,794.
Effective date: September 25, 2000.
Contact: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7218.

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on November 23, 2001, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee has will meet on December 10 - 11, 2001, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefit Administration Conference Room 542, 1800 G Street, NW, Washington, DC. The agenda will include overview of Department policies concerning approval of licensing and certification testing. The majority of this initial meeting will be dedicated to determining the functions of the Committee.
Contact: Ms. Lynn M. Cossette or Mr. William G. Susling, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Illnesses Not Associated With Service in the Persian Gulf During the Persian Gulf War - The Department of Veterans Affairs' published a notice in the Federal Register on November 23, 2001, pursuant to a notice published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2001, to clarify that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, under the relevant statutory authorities, had determined only that, at that time, there was no basis for establishing a presumption of service connection for any illness suffered by Gulf War veterans based on exposure to depleted uranium, sarin, pyridostigmine bromide, and certain vaccines.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Consultant or Bill Russo, Attorney-Advisor, Compensation and Pension Service, Regulations Staff, Veterans Benefits Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7213 and (202) 273-7211, respectively.

Enhanced-Use Lease Transaction of Underutilized Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, North Chicago, IL - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on November 16, 2001, to designate the VAMedical Center at North Chicago, IL, for an Enhanced-Use lease development. VAintends to enter into a long-term lease with The Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, which would use the out-leased real property for future expansion of their existing facilities as well as development of new facilities. In return for this Enhanced-Use lease, the Medical School will provide "fair consideration" including the purchase energy products from an energy center being developed on the North Chicago VAMedical Center campus.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC20420. Comments should indicate that they are in response to ``RIN 2900-AI44.''
Contact: Ed Bradley, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC20420; phone: (202) 273-9702.

Extension of the Presumptive Period for Compensation for Gulf War Veterans' Undiagnosed Illnesses - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on November 9, 2001, to extend the period within which disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War veterans must become manifest to a compensable degree in order for entitlement for compensation to be established. The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans with compensable disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that may be related to active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War may qualify for benefits.
Effective date: November 9, 2001.
Comment date: Comments must be received by VA on or before January 8, 2002. Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; fax: (202) 273-9289; e-mail: OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AK98."
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC20420. Comments should indicate that they are in response to ``RIN 2900- AK98.''
Contact: Ed Bradley, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC20420; phone: (202) 273-9702.

Ankylosis and Limitation of Motion of Digits of the Hands - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on November 2, 2001, to amend the (VA's) Schedule for Rating Disabilities by revising the evaluation criteria for ankylosis and limitation of motion of the fingers and thumb. This change is necessary to ensure that veterans diagnosed with these conditions receive consistent evaluations.
Comment Deadline: January 2, 2002.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC20420. Comments should indicate that they are in response to ``RIN 2900-AI44.''
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1400 I Street, NW, Suite 780, Washington, DC20420; phone: (202) 273-7230.

[October 2001]

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Appeals Regulations and Rules of Practice -- Jurisdiction - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 22, 2001, proposed amendments to the Appeals Regulations and Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board). These amendments clarify that the Board may address questions related to its jurisdiction in the first instance. They also provide for notice and an opportunity to comment when the Board raises jurisdictional questions on its own initiative.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Acting Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Finality of Decisions - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the on October 22, 2001, to amend the adjudication regulation concerning finality of the decisions made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The intended effect of this amendment is to present the existing regulation in ``plain language''.
Comments Deadline: December 24, 2001.
Addres: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK18''.''
Contact: Bob White, Team Leader, Plain Language Regulations Project, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7228.

Acceptable Evidence From Foreign Countries - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 19, 2001, to amend its adjudication regulation concerning evidence that is received from foreign countries. The intended effect of this amendment is to present the existing regulation in plain language these changes are necessary to ensure that homebuyers are satisfactory credit risks.
Comments Deadline: December 18, 2001.
Addres: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK37.''
Contact: Bob White, Team Leader, Plain Language Regulations Project, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7228.

Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on October 17, 2001, that the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials will meet on November 7 - 8, 2001 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. The Committee will review the administration of VA's cemeteries and burial benefits program, and be informed about new cemetery construction, the State Cemetery Grants Program and issues related to the administration and maintenance of national cemeteries.
Contact: Mrs. Paige Lowther, Designated Federal Official, National Cemetery Administration (40), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5157.

Loan Guaranty: Prepurchase Counseling Requirements - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 11, 2001, to amend loan guaranty regulations that set forth underwriting standards for VA guaranteed loans. We propose to require first-time homebuyers to complete homeownership counseling. VA also proposes to add the completion of financial or homeownership counseling as a compensating factor for certain veterans who do not fully meet VA's underwriting standards. VA believes these changes are necessary to ensure that homebuyers are satisfactory credit risks.
Comments Deadline: December 10, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK76.'' Contact: R. D. Finneran, Assistant Director for Loan Policy and Valuation (262), Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7368

Establishing the Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council - The White House published Executive Order 13228 of October 8, 2001 in the Federal Register on October 10, 2001, to establish within the Executive Office of the President an Office of Homeland Security. The functions of the Office shall be to coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. The Executive Order appointed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Homeland Security Council, which shall be responsible for advising and assisting the President with respect to all aspects of homeland security.

Medical Benefits Package; Copayments for Extended Care Services - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 4, 2001, to amend VA's medical regulations by adding the following extended care services to the medical benefits package: noninstitutional adult day health care, noninstitutional geriatric evaluation, and noninstitutional respite care. Also, we propose to amend VA's medical regulations to establish provisions regarding copayments for extended care services. These actions would implement provisions of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AK32.''
Contact on the medical benefits package: Marsha Goodwin, Geriatrics and Extended Care (114), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8540.
Contact on issues regarding copayments for extended care services: Nancy Howard, Revenue Office (174), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Time for Filing Substantive Appeal - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 3, 2001, to amend the Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) relating to the time limit for filing a ``substantive appeal.'' The amendment implements an opinion by VA's General Counsel that, in some cases, when a claimant files additional evidence, the deadline for filing a substantive appeal may be extended.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Acting Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Total Disability Ratings Based on Inability of the Individual To Engage in Substantially Gainful Employment - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 1, 2001, to amend those portions of its adjudication regulations and its Schedule for Rating Disabilities dealing with the issue of total disability ratings based on inability of the individual to engage in substantially gainful employment in claims for service-connected compensation or non-service-connected pension. The purpose of these proposed changes is to revise and clarify the procedures and substantive standards for determining whether a veteran's disabilities, although they do not meet the schedular requirements for a total rating, nonetheless prevent him or her from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The intended effect of this action is to establish clear standards for assigning a total rating based on the individual's inability to engage in substantially gainful employment and to ensure consistency of decisions in such claims.
Comments Deadline: November 30, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AH21.''
Contact: Janice Jacobs, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service (211), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7223.

[September 2001]

Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 11, 2001, that the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War has scheduled a meeting on October 22-24, 2001, at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, Florida 33612. The Committee will discuss future plans for the (VA) POW Learning Seminars, (VA's) approval process for presumptive conditions, and consideration of priority for POWs in Long-Term Health Care. A number of reports will be considered, including the National Institute of Health Agency Follow-up on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Disease and Stroke among former POWs.
Contact: Mr. Ronald J. Henke, Director, Compensation and Pension Service (21), Department of Veterans Affairs, 1400 I Street, NW, Suite 780, Washington, DC.

Nursing Research Initiative Subcommittee of the Scientific Review and Evaluation Board for Health Services Research and Development Service; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on September 11, 2001, that the Nursing Research Initiative Subcommittee of the Scientific Review and Evaluation Board for Health Services Research and Development Service has scheduled a meeting on September 11, 2001. The meeting will review nursing research applications that identify effective methods for improving, maintaining, and/or preventing decline in the functional status of patients; develop and test models that integrate patient care delivery and enhance health outcomes; and improve patient care. Applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit.
Contact: Ms. Martha R. Bryan, Review Program Manager, Health Services Research and Development Service (124F), Department of Veterans Affairs, 1400 I Street, NW, Suite 780, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3661.

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on September 7, 2001, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee has scheduled it's inaugural meeting on September 20 - 21, 2001. The meeting will include an overview of VA policies concerning approval of licensing and certification testing. Established by Public Law 106-419, the purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and counsel to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters regarding the requirements of organizations or entities offering licensing and certification tests taken by individuals entitled to payment under VA's education and training programs.
Contact: Ms. Lynn M. Cossette or Mr. William G. Susling, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

[August 2001]

Notice of Government Owned Inventions Available for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on August 31, 2001, of inventions owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.

Methods for identifying a Preferred Liver Transplant Donor
A Novel Solution for the Ex-Vivo Preservation of Cardiovascular Tissue
Isolation and Characterization of Epidermal Growth Factor-Related Protein
Antagonism of Immunostimulatory CpG-Oligonucleotides by 4-Aminoquinolines
and Other Weak Bases
N-Terminal D(-) - Pencillamine Peptides as Aldehyde Sequestration Agents
Method and Compound for Antagonizing Inhibition Effects of Alcohol on Cell Adhesion
Isolation and Characterization of a Rat Epidermal Growth Factor-Related Protein

Duty To Assist - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 29, 2001, to implement the provisions of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, which was effective on November 9, 2000. The intended effect of this regulation is to establish clear guidelines consistent with the intent of Congress regarding the timing and the scope of assistance VA will provide to a claimant who files a substantially complete application for VA benefits or who attempts to reopen a previously denied claim.
Effective Date: This rule is effective November 9, 2000, except for the amendment to 38 CFR 3.156(a), which is effective August 29, 2001.
Contact: Janice Jacobs, Lead Consultant, Strategy Development Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7223.

Special Medical Advisory Group; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 29, 2001, that the Special Medical Advisory Group has scheduled a meeting on September 12, 2001. The meeting will be held in Room 830 at VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC The purpose of the meeting is to advise the Secretary and Under Secretary for Health relative to the care and treatment of disabled veterans, and other matters pertinent to the Department's Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The agenda for the meeting will include an update on VHA Communication Plans; Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) update; Graduation Medical Education update; and an overview on the Mental Health Program.
Contact: Celestine Brockington, Office of the Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5878.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 29, 2001, that the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans has scheduled a meeting on September 12, 2001. The meeting will be held in the Polaris Room at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
The purpose of the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans is to: (a) Identify ways to improve benefits and services for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries and for Department of Defense (DoD) military retirees who are also eligible for benefits from VA, through better coordination of the activities of the two departments; (b) Review barriers and challenges that impede VA and DoD coordination, including budgeting processes, timely billing, cost accounting, information technology, and reimbursement. Identify opportunities to improve such business practices to ensure high quality and cost effective health care; and (c) Identify opportunities for improved resource utilization through partnership between VA and DoD to maximize the use of resources and infrastructure, including: buildings, information technology and data sharing systems, procurement of supplies, equipment and services, and delivery of care.
Contact: Richard Larson, Staff Assistant, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Secretary, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5878.

National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 29, 2001, that the Veterans Affairs National Research Advisory Council will meet at the Residence Inn by Marriott, Pentagon City in the Eisenhower Ballroom, 550 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, on September 5, 2001. The agenda for this session of the meeting will include the minutes from the previous meeting and overview of the VA Career Development Program, research infrastructure needs, and the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. Established by the Secretary of the VA, the purpose of the Council is to provide external advice and review for VA's research mission.
Contact: Ms. Lisa Gilbert, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8243.

Certification for Eligibility for Adaptive Equipment for Automobiles or Other Conveyances - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 24, 2001, concerning the criteria for certification for eligibility for financial assistance for adaptive equipment for automobiles or other conveyances by updating cross-references to pertinent medical regulations that have been recodified. These changes are made for clarity and accuracy.
Effective Date: August 24, 2001.
Contact: Randy A. McKevitt, Consultant, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7138.

State Department as Agent of Department of Veterans Affairs - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 22, 2001, to authorize diplomatic and consular officers of the State Department to act as agents of VA.
Comments Deadline: October 22, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK03''.
Contact: Bob White, Team Leader, Plain Language Regulations Project, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7228.

Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Vacant Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on August 22, 2001, that the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM, has been designated as a site for an Enhanced-Use leasing development.
Contact: : Renee Badey, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-4307.

Veterans Benefits Administration Nomenclature Changes - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 22, 2001, to reflect current Veterans Benefits Administration titles and office designations in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations. References to the ``Chief Benefits Director'' are changed to ``Under Secretary for Benefits.'' Also, references to ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling'' and its abbreviation ``VR&C'' are changed to ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment'' and ``VR&E,'' respectively. In addition, references to the ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Service'' are changed to ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service'' or ``Education Service'' as appropriate.
Effective Date: August 22, 2001.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee; Notice of Meetings - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 13, 2001, that the following subcommittees of the Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee will meet in Washington, DC for the purpose of evaluating the scientific merit of research conducted in each specialty by VA investigators working in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.

Nephrology: September 17, 2001
Cardiovascular Studies: September 24, 2001
Endocrinology: September 24-25, 2001
Aging & Clinical Geriatrics: October 1, 2001
Gastroenterology: October 1, 2001
Hematology: October 3, 2001
Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences: October 4-5, 2001
Neurobiology-C: October 8-9, 2001
Immunology & Dermatology: October 9, 2001
Neurobiology-D: October 11-12, 2001
Respiration: October 12, 2001
Surgery: October 15, 2001
Oncology: October 15-16, 2001
Alcoholism & Drug Dependence: October 22, 2001
Epidemiology: October 22, 2001
Infectious Diseases: October 23-24, 2001
General Medical Science: October 25-26, 2001
Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee: December 6, 2001

Contact: LeRoy Frey, Ph.D., Chief, Program Review Division, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3630.

Diseases Specific to Radiation-Exposed Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 8, 2001, concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases for veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service or while members of reserve components during active duty for training or inactive duty training. The Department proposes to add cancers of the bone, brain, colon, lung, and ovary to the list of diseases which may be presumptively service connected and amend the definition of the term ``radiation-risk activity.'' The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans who may have been exposed to radiation during military service have the same burden of proof as civilians exposed to ionizing radiation who may be entitled to compensation for these cancers under comparable Federal statutes.
Comments Deadline: October 9, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK64.''
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Obtaining Evidence and Curing Procedural Defects Without Remanding - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 6, 2001, to permit the Board to obtain evidence, clarify the evidence, cure a procedural defect, or perform any other action essential for a proper appellate decision in any appeal properly before it without having to remand the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction. The Department also proposes to allow the Board to consider additional evidence without having to refer the evidence to the agency of original jurisdiction for initial consideration and without having to obtain the appellant's waiver. By reducing the number of appeals remanded, VA intends to shorten appeal processing time and to reduce the backlog of claims awaiting decision.
Comments Deadline: September 5, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AK91.''
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Acting Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978), or Michael J. Timinski, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6327.

[July 2001]

Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 30, 2001, to amend educational assistance regulations. The final rule expands the definition of a "program of education" to include a preparatory course for a test that is required or used for admission to an institution of higher education or to a graduate school. This would allow individuals who are eligible for the MGIB to receive benefits for taking a residence course designed to prepare the individual for such tests as the ACT Admissions test and the Law School Admissions Test. The regulations are also amended to provide that when an enlisted service member or warrant officer attends officer training school, and then is discharged to accept a commission as an officer, the enlisted period of active duty and first period of active duty as a commissioned officer may be combined for determining eligibility for the MGIB. These changes are made to reflect statutory changes made by the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999 (PL 106-117).
Effective Date: July 30, 2001.
Applicability Date: The changes are applied retroactively to November 30, 1999, to conform to statutory requirements.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Education Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

VA Advisory Council on Homelessness Among Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 31, 2001 of the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Homelessness Among Veterans (ACHAV).
The purview of the ACHAV includes the policies and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Health Administration Veterans Benefits Administration and interagency actions needed to carry out its Congressionally-mandated programs and services for homeless Veterans. ACHAV will provide advice and make recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Director, Homeless Veterans Program Office, Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, on the nature and scope of programs, services, collaborative efforts and interagency activities that would promote program improvements to the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Contact: Peter H. Dougherty, Director Homeless Veterans Program Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5764.

Collection of Supplemental Security Income Overpayments From Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans - The Social Security Administration (SSA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 26, 2001, to revise our regulations dealing with the recovery of overpayments under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act). The proposed revisions would modify our regulations to permit SSA to recover SSI overpayments by adjusting the amount of Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans (SVB) payable under title VIII of the Act. This collection practice would be limited to individuals who are not currently eligible to receive any cash payments under any provision of title XVI or any State supplementary payments that we administer under title XVI. Also, the amount of SVB to be withheld in a month to recover the SSI overpayment would not exceed 10 percent unless the overpaid person requests us to withhold a different amount or the overpaid person (or his or her spouse) willfully misrepresented or concealed material information in connection with the SSI overpayment. If there were willful misrepresentation or concealment, the entire SVB amount will be withheld to recover the SSI overpayment. These revisions would permit SSA to recover SSI overpayments from SVB payable to the overpaid individual when SSI cash benefits are not payable.
Comments Deadline: September 24, 2001.
Address: Commissioner of Social Security, Post Office Box 17703, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7703; Internet: http://www.ssa.gov/regulations/; telefax: (410) 966-2830; e-mail: regulations@ssa.gov or delivered to the Office of Process and Innovation Management, Social Security Administration, 2109 West Low Rise Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
SSA Contact: Patricia Hora, Social Insurance Specialist, Office of Process and Innovation Management, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401; telephone: (410) 965-7183; TTY: (410) 966-5609.

Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve - The Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 26, 2001, to adjust the rates of basic educational assistance payable under the Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reservefor for fiscal year 2001 (October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2001). By law, the monthly rates are must be adjusted each fiscal year; for fiscal year 2001 the rates are changed to show a 3.0% increase.
Effective Date: July 26, 2001.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Education Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

End of the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Program - The Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 26, 2001, to remove regulations that are no longer needed to administer the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Program. Veterans are no longer training under that program.
Effective Date: July 26, 2001.
Contact: William G. Susling, Jr., Education Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

Veterans' Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards, Notice of Meetings - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 26, 2001, that the Veterans Advisory Group on Environmental Hazards will meet on August 15-16, 2001, in room 230 of VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. The agenda will include discussions and analyses of medical and scientific papers concerning the health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Contact: Ersie Farber-Collins, Compensation and Pension Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7268.

Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans - The Small Business Administration (SBA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 25, 2001, to implement a new program authorized by the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-50). Under this new program, SBA will make a low interest, fixed rate loan available to a small business employing a military reservist if the reservist is called up to active military duty during a period of military conflict, and he or she is an essential employee critical to the success of the business' daily operation whose call-up has caused or will cause the business substantial economic injury.
Effective Date: August 24, 2001.
SBA Contact: Herbert Mitchell, Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration; telephone: (202) 205-6734.

Rules of Practice: Medical Opinions From the Veterans Health Administration - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on July 23, 2001, to to clarify that the Board of Veterans' Appeals may obtain medical opinions from health care professionals in VA's Veterans Health Administration.
Effective Date: July 23, 2001.
Comments Deadline: September 21, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AK52."
Contact: Steven L. Keller (01C), Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Special Monthly Compensation for Women Veterans Who Lose a Breast as a Result of a Service-Connected Disability - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 20, 2001, to provide for payment of special monthly compensation for a woman veteran who loses one or both breasts as a result of service-connected disability. The intended effect of this amendment is to implement legislation authorizing VA to provide this benefit.
Comments Deadline: September 21, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900- AK66."
Contact: Caroll McBrine, M.D., Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board, Notice of Meetings - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 19, 2001, that the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board will meet on July 31 through August 1, 2001 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 1001 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting is to review rehabilitation research and development applications for scientific and technical merit and to make recommendations to the Director, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, regarding their funding.
Contact: Victoria Mongiardo, Program Analyst, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (122P), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3684.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Notification of Representatives in Connection With Motions for Revision of Decisions on Grounds of Clear and Unmistakable Error - On July 17, 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs adopted as a final rule an interim final rule (which was published in the Federal Register on February 12, 1999) that amended the Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) relating to challenges to Board decisions on the grounds of "clear and unmistakable error".
Effective Date: July 17, 2001.
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Acting Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Copayments for Medications - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 16, 2001 to amend VA's medical regulations to set forth copayment requirements for medications. This document is necessary to implement provisions of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. The rule proposes to increase the copayment amount from $2 to $7 for each 30-day or less supply of medication furnished on an outpatient basis for the treatment of a nonservice-connected disability or condition through December 31, 2002. It also proposes to establish an annual copayment cap of $840 through calendar year 2002 for veterans in certain enrollment priority categories. VA is proposing to establish escalator provisions to automatically increase the copayment and the cap amount under certain conditions.
Comments Deadline: September 14, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN: 2900- AK85."
Contact: Nancy L. Howard, Revenue Office (174), Office of Finance, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8198.

Payment or Reimbursement for Emergency Treatment Furnished at Non-VA Facilities -The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an Interim final rule in the Federal Register on July 12, 2001, to amend VA's medical regulations by establishing provisions for payment or reimbursement for certain non-VA emergency services furnished to veterans for nonservice-connected conditions. This is necessary to implement provisions of "The Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act."
Effective Date: This interim final rule is effective on May 29, 2000; except for 38 CFR 17.1004 which is effective July 19, 2001.
Comments Deadlines: Comments on the rule, including comments on the information collection provisions, must be received on or before September 10, 2001; except that comments on the request for emergency approval of the collection of information provisions must be received on or before July 19, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ''RIN 2900- AK08.''
Contact: Roscoe Butler, Chief, Policy & Operations, Health Administration Service, (10C3), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8302.

Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Effect of Procedural Defects in Motions for Revision of Decisions on the Grounds of Clear and Unmistakable Error - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on July 10, 2001, to amend the Board of Veterans' Appeals Rules of Practice to provide that, when a motion to revise a Board decision on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error fails to provide specific allegations of error, the Board will dismiss the motion without prejudice to refiling. This amendment is made necessary by a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Effective date: July 10, 2001.
Comments Deadline: September 10, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ''RIN 2900- AK74.''
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Acting Vice Chairman (012), Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 8810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Illnesses Not Associated With Service in the Gulf During the Gulf War - The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 6, 2000 that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, under the authority granted by the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-277) and the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-368), has determined that there is no basis to establish a presumption of service connection for any disease based on service in the Persian Gulf during the Persian Gulf War.
Effective Date: October 1, 1997.
Contact: John Bisset, Jr., Consultant or Bill Russo, Attorney-Advisor, Compensation and Pension Service, Regulations Staff, Veterans Benefits Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7213 and (202) 273-7211, respectively.

[June 2001]

VA Acquisition Regulations: Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Health Care Resources - On June 7, 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) withdrew a proposed rule concerning simplified acquisition procedures for health-care resources published in the Federal Register on November 9, 1998, and promulgates a new proposed rule concerning simplified acquisition procedures for health-care resources. This new proposed rule would amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) to establish simplified procedures for the competitive acquisition of health-care resources, consisting of commercial services or the use of medical equipment or space, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8151-8153. Public Law 104-262, the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, authorized VA to prescribe simplified procedures for the procurement of health-care resources. This proposed rule prescribes those procedures.
Comments Deadline: August 6, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN: 2900-AI71."
Contact: Dennis Foley, Office of the General Counsel, Professional Staff Group V, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone (202) 273-9225; or Don Kaliher, Acquisition Resources Service, Office of Acquisition and Material Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone (202) 273-8819.

VA Claims Processing Task Force; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 1, 2001 that a meeting of the VA Claims Processing Task Force will take place on June 5 - 21, 2001 at VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The purpose of the Task Force is to provide findings and recommendations to the Secretary on ways to reduce processing times and shrink the disability claims backlog without compromising either the accuracy of decisions or service to veterans. The agenda for these meetings will include briefings and discussions on ways to improve VA's ability to process veterans' claims for disability compensation and pension.
Contact: Mr. John O'Hara, Executive Director, VA Claims Processing Task Force, c/o VA Office of Policy and Planning (008B), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

[May 2001]

Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Disabilities of the Liver - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 31, 2001 to amend the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR part 4) by revising the portion of the Digestive System that addresses disabilities of the liver. The intended effect of this action is to update this portion of the rating schedule to ensure that it uses current medical terminology and unambiguous criteria, and that it reflects medical advances that have occurred since the last review.
Effective Date: July 2, 2001.
Contact: Caroll McBrine, MD, Consultant, Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7210.

President's Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans - The President of the United States published an Executive Order in the Federal Register on May 31, 2001, to establish the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans.

Office of Research and Development; Department of Veterans Affairs Human Research Protection Accreditation Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 23, 2001, that draft standards for the VA Human Research Protection Accreditation Program will be available for public comment on the National Committee for Quality Assurance Web site: www.ncqa.org.
Comments Deadline: June 1, 2001.
Address: National Committee for Quality Assurance, Attn: VAHRPAP, 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036.
Contact: For further information about the accreditation program, contact National Committee for Quality Assurance Customer Service, at (202) 955-5697.
For questions about the Department of Veterans Affairs human subjects protection policies or programs, call Brenda Cuccherini, Ph.D., VA Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 408-3614.

Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 23, 2001, of adjustments in benefit rates for the compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.
The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of this Notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this Notice and the agreement of the parties are submitted to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, and end not more than 18 months after the agreement is properly implemented by the parties.
Contact: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (212A), Veterans Benefit Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7218.

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Amended Matching Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 22, 2001, that VA intends to conduct a recurring computer matching program matching Office of Personnel Management (OPM) records with VA pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.
Contact: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7218.

U.S. Flags for Burials of Certain Members of the Selected Reserve - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 18, 2001, to amend VA adjudication regulations to reflect changes made by The Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1999. These changes concern issuance of United States flags for burials of certain members of the Selected Reserve.
Effective Date: October 17, 1998
Contact: Diane Fuller, Assistant Director, Compensation and Pension Service (216), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7210.

Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 18, 2001, that a meeting of the Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee will be held at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park, 445 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona, from May 30 through June 2, 2001. The primary purposes of this meeting are to provide for committee review of volunteer policies and procedures; to accommodate full and open communications between the organizations, representatives and the Voluntary Service Office and field staff; to provide educational opportunities geared toward improving volunteer programs with special emphasis on methods to recruit, retain, motivate, and recognize volunteers; and to approve committee recommendations. This year's meeting will serve as an opportunity to promote and celebrate 'International Year of Volunteers-2001'.
Contact: Ms. Laura Balun, Administrative Officer, Voluntary Service Office (10C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC; telephone: (202) 273-8392.

Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 10, 2001, that a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs will be held May 22-23, 2001, at VA Headquarters, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation to discuss mutual issues and concerns; the Committee will also receive briefing on the current status of the rehabilitation bed issue, VA's Capacity Report, and special disability programs, i.e., spinal cord injury, blind rehabilitation, audiology and speech pathology, and prosthetics.
Contact: Ms. Kathy Pessagno, Veterans Health Administration (113), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC; telephone: (202) 273-8512.

Loan Guaranty: Title Evidence Requirements and Occupancy Requirements for Conveyance of Properties to VA by Holders; Acceptance of Partial Payments; Indemnification of Default - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) withdrew two proposals to amend the loan guaranty regulations in the Federal Register on May 10, 2001. The first withdrawn proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 1990 and was related to title documentation required from the holder when VA acquires a property which was financed with a VA-guaranteed loan that has been terminated and to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a date by which VA must receive such title documentation from the holder. The second proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on March 2, 1994 and was related to providing notice to VA when a mortgage holder refuses to accept partial payment on a loan in default and to clarify when a veteran is liable to VA for a loss due to a loan default. reconsidering the issues raised in both proposed rules in light of changes that have occurred in the industry since the proposals were published.
Contact: Mr. Richard Fyne, Assistant Director for Loan Management (261), Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7380.

Disease Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents: Type 2 Diabetes - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 8, 2001, to amend its adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases for which there is no record during service. This amendment is necessary to implement a decision of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the authority granted by 38 U.S.C. 1116 that there is a positive association between exposure to herbicides used in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era and the subsequent development of Type 2 diabetes. The intended effect of this amendment is to establish presumptive service connection for that condition based on herbicide exposure.
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC. 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7211.

Reasonable Charges for Medical Care or Services - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 8, 2001, regarding 'reasonable charges' for medical care or services provided or furnished by VA to a veteran.

For a nonservice-connected disability for which the veteran is entitled to care (or the payment of expenses of care) under a health plan contract;
For a nonservice-connected disability incurred incident to the veteran's employment and covered under a worker's compensation law or plan that provides reimbursement or indemnification for such care and services; or
For a nonservice-connected disability incurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident in a State that requires automobile accident reparations insurance.

Contact: David Cleaver, VHA Revenue Office (174), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC. 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8210.

Reasonable Charges for Medical Care or Services - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on May 8, 2001, to amend VA medical regulations concerning 'reasonable charges' for medical care or services provided or furnished by VA to a veteran.

For a nonservice-connected disability for which the veteran is entitled to care (or the payment of expenses of care) under a health plan contract;
For a nonservice-connected disability incurred incident to the veteran's employment and covered under a worker's compensation law or plan that provides reimbursement or indemnification for such care and services; or
For a nonservice-connected disability incurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident in a State that requires automobile accident reparations insurance.

Effective Date: May 8, 2001.
Comments Deadline: July 9, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to 'RIN 2900-AK73'.
Contact: David Cleaver, VHA Revenue Office (174), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC. 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8210.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Claims Processing Task Force, Notice of Establishment - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 2, 2001, of the establishment of the VA Claims Processing Task Force. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined that establishing this Task Force is in the public interest.
The Task Force will critique the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) organization and management with a primary focus on the compensation and pension processes. The Task Force will evaluate the procedures and processes for deciding veterans' appeals of VBA rating decisions. The Task Force will also assess various issues and develop findings that are aimed at improving VA's ability to process veterans' claims for disability compensation and pension.
The Task Force will report to the Secretary recommendations that VA can take to increase productivity, reduce claims processing times, and shrink the disability claims backlog without compromising either the accuracy of decisions or service to the Nation's veterans.
Designated Federal Officer for the Task Force: John R. O'Hara, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-5130.

Review of Benefit Claims Decisions - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 2, 2001, to add new provisions to VA's adjudication regulations, to allow any claimants who file a timely Notice of Disagreement to obtain a de novo review of their claims at the Veterans Service Center level before deciding whether to proceed with the traditional appeal process. This is intended to provide a more efficient means for resolving disagreements concerning claims.
Contact: Bill Russo, Attorney-Advisor, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7210; or John Bisset, Jr., Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service, Regulations Staff, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7213.

Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on May 2, 2001 that a meeting of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation will be held May 22 through 24, 2001. The meeting will be held in Washington, DC. The agenda will include a joint meeting with the VA Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs to discuss mutual issues and concerns, a briefing on veteran demographics and the linkage between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor, and the current status of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.
Contact: Jada G. Jones, Veterans Benefits Administration (28), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7425.

[April 2001]

Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 27, 2001, to announce the availability of funds for applications for assistance under the grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. This Notice contains information concerning the program, application process, and amount of funding available.
Applications must be received by VA's Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group, Washington, DC, by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on June 20, 2001. [Applications may not be sent by facsimile.]
Application Source: Download directly from VA's Grant and Per Diem Program web page (link below) or call the Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.
Contact: Roger Casey, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group (116E), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; toll-free telephone: 1-877-332-0334.

Click here to go to the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program web page

Allowance for Private Purchase of an Outer Burial Receptacle in Lieu of a Government-furnished Graveliner for a Grave in a VA National Cemetery - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 25, 2001 to notify interested parties of the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners, administrative costs that relate to processing a claim, and the amount of the allowance payable for qualifying interments which occur during calendar year 2001.
Contact: Karen Barber, Program Analyst, Communications and Regulatory Division (402B1), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5183.

Written and Oral Information or Statements Affecting Entitlement to Benefits - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on April 20, 2001 to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to eliminate the requirement that beneficiaries advise VA of changes affecting their entitlement to benefits in writing. This will allow VA to increase or decrease benefit payments based on information submitted orally or by e-mail, facsimile, or other electronic means and make it easier for beneficiaries to submit information that they must provide. We further propose to amend our notice requirements to allow VA to reduce or terminate benefit payments based on information reported orally without issuing a 60-day advance notice, but only under certain conditions that would ensure that claimants are not deprived of benefits without adequate notice. This would reduce the amounts of any overpayments created by these actions.
Comments Deadline: June 19, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to RIN 2900-AK25. Contact: Donald England, Chief, Policy and Regulations Staff (211A), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

Federally Mandated Exclusions From Income - The Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 20, 2001 listing the amounts specifically excluded by any other Federal statute from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility or benefits. This Notice updates the list of exclusions last published on August 3, 1993.
The exclusion applies to any allowance paid under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 1805 to a child suffering from spina bifida who is the child of a Vietnam veteran.
Effective Date: October 1, 1997.
H.U.D. Contact: Willie Spearmon, Director, Office of Housing Assistance and Grant Administration, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 6138, Washington, DC 20410; telephone: (202) 708-3000.

Certification of Evidence for Proof of Service - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 18, 2001 to amend VA adjudication regulations concerning the nature of evidence that VA will accept as proof of military service. In the past, VA only accepted original service documents or copies of service documents issued by the service department or by a public custodian of records. This change authorizes VA to accept photocopies of service documents as evidence of military service if they are certified to be true copies of documents acceptable to VA by an accredited agent, attorney or service organization representative who has successfully completed VA-prescribed training on military records. The intended effect of this amendment is to streamline the processing of claims for benefits.
Effective Date: April 18, 2001.
Contact: Bill Russo, Attorney-Advisor, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

[March 2001]

Appeals Regulations: Title for Members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 6, 2001, to amend VA Appeals Regulations to provide that a Member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals may also be known as a ''veterans law judge''.
Comments Deadline: May 7, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AK62."
Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residences Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 6, 2001, to amend VA's medical regulations to establish provisions regarding housing under the Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residences program. These provisions are designed to ensure proper management, ensure reasonable payment rates for residents, and ensure that residents stay only for the time necessary to meet the intended goals.
Comments Deadline: May 7, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to "RIN 2900-AK01."
Contact: Jamie Ploppert, Program Specialist, Office of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (116D), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (757)722-9961, extension 1123.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments and Headstone or Marker Allowance Rate - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register, March, 28, 2001, of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in certain benefit rates and income limitations. These COLAs affect the pension, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and spina bifida programs. These adjustments are based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index during the one year period ending September 30, 2000. VA is also giving notice of the maximum amount of reimbursement that may be paid for headstones or markers purchased in lieu of Government-furnished headstones or markers in Fiscal Year 2001, which began on October 1, 2000.
Effective Date: December 1, 2000.
Contact: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (212A), Veterans Benefit Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7218.

[February 2001]

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 26, 2001, that the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans will meet on March 13 - 15, 2001, at the VA Headquarters, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding the needs of women veterans with respect to health care, rehabilitation, compensation, outreach, and other programs and activities administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs designed to meet such needs. The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary regarding such activities. The agenda will include the introduction of New Member Ms. Joan Furey, Director, Center for Women Veterans.
Contact: Maryanne Carson, Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6193.

Well-grounded Claims - On February 26, 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) withdrew a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 2, 1999, concerning a claimant's statutory responsibility to support his or her claim with adequate evidence to make the claim "well grounded." Subsequent to the publication of the proposed rule, the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-475), was signed into law. The Act eliminated the claimant's responsibility to file a well-grounded claim and redefined VA's duty to help claimants obtain evidence relevant to their claims. VA is withdrawing the proposed rule and preparing a new proposed rule to implement the new statutory requirements.
Contact: Janice Jacobs, Consultant, Policy and Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7223.

[January 2001]

Disease Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents: Type 2 Diabetes - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 11, 2001, to amend adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases for which there is no record during service. This proposed amendment is necessary to implement a decision of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the authority granted by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 that there is a positive association between exposure to herbicides used in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era and the subsequent development of Type 2 diabetes. The intended effect of this proposed amendment is to establish presumptive service connection for that condition based on herbicide exposure.
Comments Deadline: March 12, 2001.
Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to RIN 2900-AK63.
Contact: Bill Russo, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20420; telephone number (202) 273-7210.

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Enhanced-Use Development at the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, New York - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on January 11, 2001, that the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, New York, has been designated as a site for an Enhanced-Use lease development for construction of a 1,220-space parking garage.
Contact: Jake Gallun, Portfolio Manager, Asset and Enterprise Development Service (181B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20420; telephone: (202) 565-4307.

Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on January 10, 2001, that the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board will meet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1001 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC, on January 31 through February 1, 2001. The purpose of the meeting is to review rehabilitation research and development applications for scientific and technical merit and to make recommendations to the Director, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, regarding their funding.
Contact: Ms. Victoria Mongiardo, Program Analyst, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (122P), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20420; telephone: (202) 408-3684.

Except as noted, the numbers listed in this document are not toll-free.

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Reviewed/Updated Date: August 21, 2006