[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 86449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27360]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0862]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Decision Review Request: 
Higher-Level Review

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before February 12, 2024.

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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#086669666b7126636d7b7b61666f6d7a487e69266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f19f909f9288df9a948282989f969483b18790df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>. Please refer to ''OMB Control 
No. 2900-0862'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#543935263d3631387a35243b3a20311422357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf1fdeef5fef9f0b2fdecf3f2e8f9dceafdb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0862'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, 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.
    Authority: Public Law 115-55; 38 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
    Title: Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-
0996).
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0862.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA Form 20-0996, Decision Review Request: Higher-Level 
Review is used by a claimant to formally request a Higher-Level Review 
of an initial VA decision, in accordance with the Appeals Modernization 
Act. The information collected is used by VA to identify the issues 
which the claimant wishes to dispute in their request for a Higher-
Level Review. Additionally, the information collected is used to 
schedule a telephonic informal conference, when requested.
    This is being submitted as a revision due to an increase in the 
burden hours based on an increase in the number of respondents using 
this form. There were minor changes made to the instructions to make 
the instructions easier to understand and the requirement to sign in 
ink was removed. Minor changes were also made to the Optional Informal 
Conference and Issues for Higher-Level Review sections to make these 
sections easier for claimants to understand and complete.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 49,650 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 198,600.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Dorothy Glasgow,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, (Alt.) Office of Enterprise and Integration/
Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-27360 Filed 12-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P


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