81 FR 32386 - Proposed Information Collection (Notice of Disagreement (NOD) (Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Burial and Accrued), VA Form 21P-0970); Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 99 (May 23, 2016)

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed new collection of information and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32386-32387]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12033]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]


Proposed Information Collection (Notice of Disagreement (NOD) 
(Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Burial and 
Accrued), VA Form 21P-0970); Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment 
on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are 
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed new collection of information and allow 60 days for public 
comment in response to the notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before July 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-NEW, VA Form 21P-0970'' in any correspondence. During the 
comment period, comments may be viewed online through the FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 632-8924 
or FAX (202) 632-8925.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-21), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they 
conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to 
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: Notice of Disagreement (NOD) (Pension, Dependency and 
Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Burial and Accrued), VA Form 21P-0970.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.
    Type of Review: New Collection (Request for a new OMB Control 
Number).
    Abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its 
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), administers an integrated 
program of benefits and services, established by law, for Veterans, 
service personnel, and their dependents and/or beneficiaries. 
Information is requested by this form under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 
7105. The statute is codified at 38 CFR 20.201, 20.302, and 20.501.
    The statute and regulations describe the process by which a 
claimant can appeal the decisions made by VBA on a claim for benefits.
    VA Form 21P-0970 will be used by the claimant to initiate an appeal 
by indicating disagreement with a decision issued by a VA Regional 
Office (RO) specifically related to a claim for VA pension benefits, 
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits, burial benefits, 
and accrued benefits. VA Form 21P-0970 will be the claimant's first 
step in the appeal process. The respondent may or may not continue with 
an appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). If the claimant opts 
to continue to BVA for an appeal, this form will be included in the 
claim folder as evidence.
    VA will provide VA Form 21P-0970 to the claimant with the 
notification letter of the decision in paper form or via hyperlink to 
VA's Web site. The use of VA Form 21P-0970 will be mandatory when 
claimants initiate an appeal of a decision on a pension, DIC, burial, 
or accrued claims for benefits.
    Currently, VBA does not have a mandatory form which would enable 
the claimant to initiate an appeal of a decision made regarding 
entitlement to pension, DIC, burial, or accrued benefits. As a result, 
claimants may provide their notice of disagreement in any format. The 
variety of submissions hampers efforts to identify, and process timely, 
the claimant's appeal. With the implementation of this collection, the 
submissions will be standardized, increasing efficiency.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 6,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.


[[Page 32387]]


    By direction of the Secretary.
Kathleen M. Manwell,
Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office of Privacy and Records 
Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-12033 Filed 5-20-16; 8:45 am]
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