Caregivers program. Interim final rule

This document promulgates Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) interim final regulations concerning a new caregiver benefits program provided by VA. This rule implements title I of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which was signed into law on May 5, 2010. The purpose of the new caregiver benefits program is to provide certain medical, travel, training, and financial benefits to caregivers of certain veterans and servicemembers who were seriously injured in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.     

Service dogs. Final rule

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulations concerning veterans in need of service dogs. Under this final rule, VA will provide to veterans with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments benefits to support the use of a service dog as part of the management of such impairments. The benefits include assistance with veterinary care, travel benefits associated with obtaining and training a dog, and the provision, maintenance, and replacement of hardware required for the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist such veterans.     

Data breaches. Interim final rule

This document establishes regulations to address data breaches regarding sensitive personal information that is processed or maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The regulations implement certain provisions of Title IX of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, which require promulgation of these regulations as an interim final rule.     

Herbicide exposure and veterans with covered service in Korea. Final rule

This document adopts as a final rule the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) proposal to amend VA adjudication, medical, and vocational rehabilitation and employment regulations to incorporate relevant provisions of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. Specifically, this document amends VA regulations regarding herbicide exposure of certain veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone and regulations regarding spina bifida in their children. It also amends VA's medical regulations by correcting the Health Administration Center's hand-delivery address.     

Confidentiality of certain medical records--VA. Final rule

This document establishes Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to implement specific provisions of the Veterans Omnibus Health Care Act of 1976 and the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 concerning the confidentiality of certain medical records. These regulations protect the confidentiality of VA records pertaining to drug abuse, alcoholism or alcohol abuse, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and sickle cell anemia.     

Community residential care program and contract program for veterans with alcohol and drug dependence disorders--VA. Final rule

This document updates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations concerning the Community Residential Care Program and the Contract Program for Veterans with Alcohol and Drug Dependence Disorders by incorporating by reference relevant portions of the latest editions of the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code entitled "NFPA 101, Life Safety Code" and "NFPA 101A, Guide on Alternative Approaches to life Safety." This is intended to ensure that buildings used for treatment and residential services for veterans meet appropriate fire and safety standards. Also, this document amends the regulations for such programs by delegating authority to each of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Directors of the Veterans Health Administration to grant certain equivalencies or variances to building standards of the Life Safety Code. Further, this final rule does not adopt the portion of the proposed rule concerning the Adult Day Health Care Program since the Adult Day Health Care Program and the corresponding regulations are no longer in existence.     

Disclosure of medical information to the surrogate of a patient who lacks decision-making capacity. Final rule

This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to reflect changes made by section 504 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. Section 504 authorizes a VA practitioner, when the practitioner deems it necessary to ensure an informed medical decision, to share certain, otherwise protected medical information with the representative of a patient who lacks decision-making capacity. This rulemaking amends VA regulations consistent with this new authority.     

Dental conditions. Final rule

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as a final rule the proposal to amend its adjudication regulations regarding service connection of dental conditions for treatment purposes. This amendment clarifies that principles governing determinations by VA's Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for service connection of dental conditions for the purpose of establishing eligibility for dental treatment by VA's Veterans Health Administration (VHA), apply only when VHA requests information or a rating from VBA for those purposes. This amendment also clarifies existing regulatory provisions and reflects the respective responsibilities of VHA and VBA in determinations concerning eligibility for dental treatment.     

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993--VA. Final rule

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to extend the date concerning limitation of pension benefits for veterans and surviving spouses receiving Medicaid-covered nursing home care. This amendment is necessary to conform the regulations to statutory provisions.     

Health care for homeless veterans. Final rule

This final rule establishes regulations for contracting with community-based treatment facilities in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The HCHV program assists certain homeless veterans in obtaining treatment from non-VA community-based providers. The final rule formalizes VA's policies and procedures in connection with this program and clarifies that veterans with substance use disorders may qualify for the program.     

Hospital care and medical services in non-VA facilities--VA. Final rule and regulation

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending regulations which pertain to the authorization for contract non-VA hospital care and medical services for veterans. The Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 provides that veterans with a total disability permanent in nature from a service-connected disability may be authorized contract non-VA hospital care and medical services. Contract care may be authorized only if the VA facility is not capable of furnishing the care required, or is not capable of furnishing economical care or services because of geographical inaccessibility. This amendment will make the regulations consistent with the law.     

Technical revisions to conform to the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. Final rule

This final rule amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations to incorporate statutory amendments. Certain statutes authorizing VA health care benefits were amended by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. The statutory amendments affect enrollment in certain health care priority categories and exempt catastrophically disabled veterans from copayment requirements.     

Data breaches. Final rule

This document adopts, without change, the interim final rule that was published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2007, addressing data breaches of sensitive personal information that is processed or maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This final rule implements certain provisions of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. The regulations prescribe the mechanisms for taking action in response to a data breach of sensitive personal information.     

Veterans Administration--Medical benefits; readjustment counseling for Vietnam era veterans. Final regulations

The VA [Veterans Administration] has added regulations to comply with the Veterans Health Care Amendments of 1979. This law mandates that the VA provide readjustment counseling and related mental health services to Vietnam era veterans. The law allows for the providing for these services through contract sources. Contractors will be required to meet quality and effectiveness standards established by the Veterans Administration before they can be authorized to provide services.     

The Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. Department of Veterans Affairs. Final rule

This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to reflect changes made by the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. These changes concern payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouses of certain former prisoners of war; the provision of health care, education and home loan benefits to surviving spouses upon termination of their remarriages; and the addition of bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma to the list of diseases that VA presumes are the result of exposure to radiation during active military service.     

Direct service connection (post-traumatic stress disorder). Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Final rule

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations concerning the type of evidence required to establish service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This amendment implements a decision by the United States Court of Veterans Appeals (the Court) which stated that current regulations do not adequately reflect the governing statute.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)--VA. Final rule

This document amends the medical regulations concerning medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans. These regulations establish basic policies and procedures governing the administration of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), including CHAMPVA claims processing procedures, benefits and services.     

Reconsideration of denied claims--VA. Proposed rule

This document proposes to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs' "Medical" regulations by adding a new section to set forth reconsideration procedures available if requested by an individual or entity who made a claim for benefits administered by the Veterans Health Administration and who disagrees with the initial decision denying the claim. It is anticipated that these procedures would not only allow for more reflective decisions at the local level but would also allow some disputes to be resolved without the need for further appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals.     

Children suffering from spina bifida who are children of Vietnam veterans. Department of Veterans Affairs. Final rule

This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations concerning benefits for children suffering from spina bifida who are children of Vietnam veterans. This is necessary to implement statutory changes contained in the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997.     

Disclosure of information to organ procurement organizations. Interim final rule

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to implement section 204 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. This regulatory change will provide authority for VA to provide individually-identifiable VA medical records of veterans or dependents of veterans who are deceased or whose death is imminent to representatives of organ procurement organizations (OPOs) as defined in section 371(b) of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), eye banks, and tissue banks to determine whether the patients are suitable potential donors.