[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52862-52863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25128]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 3

RIN 2900-AH67


Reinstatement of Benefits Eligibility Based Upon Terminated 
Marital Relationships

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
adjudication regulations concerning reinstatement of benefits for a 
surviving spouse of a veteran whose remarriage after the veteran's 
death is terminated by legal proceedings. The amendment makes clear 
that such proceedings must have been brought by the individual seeking 
to establish his or her status as the veteran's surviving spouse. The 
purpose of the amendment is to make the regulation conform to the 
relevant statute.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This amendment is effective October 11, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, 
Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, telephone 
(202) 273-7210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A surviving spouse of a veteran must be 
unmarried to receive VA benefits. The law regarding the eligibility for 
benefits of a surviving spouse of a veteran who remarries after the 
veteran's death and whose remarriage later terminates has changed 
several times in recent years.
    Before November 1, 1990, 38 U.S.C. 103(d)(2) provided that the 
remarriage of a surviving spouse of a veteran would not bar benefits if 
the remarriage was terminated by death or dissolved by a court with 
basic authority to render divorce decrees, unless VA determined that 
the divorce was secured through fraud by the surviving spouse or 
collusion.
    The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA), Pub. L. 101-
508, deleted 38 U.S.C. 103(d)(2). The effect of this change was to deny 
benefits to those filing claims on or after November 1, 1990, who had 
remarried at any time after the death of the veteran.
    The Veterans' Benefits Programs Improvement Act of 1991, Pub. L. 
102-86, provided that the 1990 OBRA amendments would not apply to any 
person who met the statutory definition of a surviving spouse on 
October 31, 1990, unless after that date the individual married or 
lived with another person and held himself or herself out openly to the 
public as that person's spouse.
    The Veteran's Benefits Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-568, provided in 
section 103 that the 1990 OBRA amendment would not apply to any case in 
which a legal proceeding that terminated an existing marital 
relationship was commenced before November 1, 1990, by an individual 
who, but for that marital relationship, would be considered the 
surviving spouse of a veteran.
    VA regulations pertaining to reinstatement of benefits eligibility 
of a surviving spouse based upon termination of a marital relationship 
appear at 38 U.S.C. 3.55(a). Previously, subsection (a) included the 
following provisions:

    (2) On or after January 1, 1971, remarriage of a surviving 
spouse terminated prior to November 1, 1990, or terminated by legal 
proceedings commenced prior to November 1, 1990, shall not bar the 
furnishing of benefits to such surviving spouse provided that the 
marriage:
* * * * *
    (ii) Has been dissolved by a court with basic authority to 
render divorce decrees unless the Department of Veterans Affairs 
determines that the divorce was secured through fraud by the 
surviving spouse or through collusion.
* * * * *
    Since 38 CFR 3.55(a)(2) previously did not provide that the legal 
proceedings which result in termination of the remarriage must have 
been commenced by the individual seeking benefits as a veteran's 
surviving spouse, it is now amended to conform with section 103 of Pub. 
L. 102-568. We are also making nonsubstantive amendments to 38 CFR 
3.400 in order to update cross-references and authority citations.
    VA is issuing a final rule to make the above described amendments. 
The amendment to 38 CFR 3.55(a)(2) is necessary to conform that 
regulatory 

[[Page 52863]]
provision with Pub. L. 102-568. Because these amendments merely restate 
a statutory provision and make nonsubstantive changes, publication as a 
proposal for public comment is unnecessary.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The substantive changes made by this final rule merely reflect a 
statutory change contained in Pub. L. 102-568. Accordingly, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553, there is a basis for dispensing with prior notice and 
comment on this final rule and dispensing with a 30-day delay of its 
effective date.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because no notice of proposed rulemaking was required in connection 
with the adoption of this final rule, no regulatory flexibility 
analysis is required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.).

    The catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program numbers are 
64.101, 64.105, and 64.110.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 3

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Health care, 
Individuals with disabilities, Pensions, Veterans.

    Approved: September 11, 1995.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 38 CFR part 3 is amended 
as follows:

PART 3--ADJUDICATION

Subpart A--Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity 
Compensation

    1. The authority citation for part 3, subpart A continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless otherwise noted.


Sec. 3.55  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 3.55(a)(2)introductory text add ``by an individual who, 
but for the remarriage, would be considered the surviving spouse,'' 
immediately before ``shall not bar''.


Sec. 3.400  [Amended]

    3. In Sec. 3.400(u)(3) remove ``Sec. 3.55(e)'' and add, in its 
place, ``Sec. 3.55(b)''.
    4. In Sec. 3.400(u)(4) remove ``Sec. 3.55(e)'' and add, in its 
place, ``Sec. 3.55(b)''.
    5. In Sec. 3.400(v), the heading, remove ``38 U.S.C. 103(d)(2)'' 
and add, in its place, ``38 U.S.C. 103(d)''.
    6. In Sec. 3.400(v)(3) remove ``Sec. 3.55(b)'' and add, in its 
place, ``Sec. 3.55(a)''.
    7. In Sec. 3.400(v)(4) remove ``Sec. 3.55(b)'' and add, in its 
place, ``Sec. 3.55(a)''.
    8. In Sec. 3.400(w), the heading, remove ``103(d)(3),''.
    9. In Sec. 3.400(w) remove ``Sec. 3.55(c) or (d)'' and add, in its 
place, ``Sec. 3.55(a)''.

[FR Doc. 95-25128 Filed 10-10-95; 8:45 am]
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