[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 207 (Thursday, October 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 55186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27243]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this 
information collection. This request for comment is being made pursuant 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy of the burden 
estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of 
automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the 
collection of information should be received on or before December 23, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Veterans Benefits 
Administration (20M30), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. All written comments will become a 
matter of public record and will be summarized in the VBA request for 
office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VBA is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0321.
    Titles and Form Numbers: Appointment of Veterans Service 
Organization as Claimant's Representative, VA Form 21-22.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used by VA beneficiaries to appoint any 
one of a number of recognized service organizations to represent them 
in the prosecution of their VA claims. The information is used to 
determine who has access to the beneficiary's claim file. In addition, 
it determines who has the right to receive copies of correspondence 
from the VA to the beneficiary.
    Current Actions: Title 38, U.S.C. 5902(b)(2), provides that the VA 
may recognize representatives of service organizations to assist 
beneficiaries in the prosecution of VA claims, but that no individual 
shall be recognized unless such individual has filed a power of 
attorney, executed in a manner prescribed by the VA.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 27,083 hours.
    Estimated Total Average Burden Per Respondent: 20 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 325,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Nancy Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration 
(20M30), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, telephone (202) 
273-7079 or FAX (202) 275-4884.

    Dated: October 11, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-27243 Filed 10-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M