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###### Department of Veterans Affairs

          - [OMB Control No. 2900-0161]

# AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

                        Veteran's Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the                         **Federal Register**                         concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 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 October 25, 2021.

# 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                         *nancy.kessinger@va.gov.*                         Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0161” 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), 1717 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email                         *maribel.aponte@va.gov.*                         Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0161” 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:*38 U.S.C. 1503; 38 CFR 3.262, 3.271 & 3.272.                

*Title:*                     Medical Expense Report (VA Form 21P-8416).                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2900-0161.                

*Type of Review:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection.                

*Abstract:*                     A claimant's eligibility for needs-based pension programs are determined in part by countable family income and certain deductible expenses. When a claimant is awarded compensation by another entity or government agency based on personal injury or death, the compensation is usually countable income for VA purposes (38 CFR 3.262(i)). However, medical, legal or other expenses incident to the injury or death, or incident to the collection or recovery of compensation, may be deducted from the amount of the award or settlement (38 CFR 3.271(g) and 3.272(g)). In these situations, VBA uses VA Form 21P-8416                     *Medical Expense Report,*                     to gather information that is necessary to determine eligibility for income-based benefits and the rate payable; without this information, determination of eligibility would not be possible.                

*Affected Public:*                     Individuals and households.                

*Estimated Annual Burden:*                     30,000 hours.                

*Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:*                     30 minutes.                

*Frequency of Response:*                     Once.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     60,000.                

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2021-18104 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]

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