[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5451]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 19

RIN 2900-AK61


Appeals Regulations: Title for Members of the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals--Rescission

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In a document published in the Federal Register on September 
14, 2000 (65 FR 55461), we amended the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) Appeals Regulations by providing that a Member of the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals (Board) may also be known as a Veterans Law Judge. 
Consistent with legal authority, we published the amendment without 
providing an opportunity for notice-and-comment.
    On October 27, 2000, six veterans service organizations wrote to 
the Acting Secretary, opposing the amendment and arguing that they 
should have been provided an opportunity to comment before we made such 
a change. Under these circumstances, we agreed to rescind the amendment 
and propose to reestablish the amendment. Accordingly, this document 
rescinds the amendment. In a companion document in the ``Proposed 
Rules'' section of this issue of the Federal Register, we are proposing 
to amend the regulations to again provide that a Member of the Board 
may also be known as a Veterans Law Judge.

DATES: Effective Date: March 6, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice 
Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals (01C), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420 (202-565-5978).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule concerns agency 
organization, procedure or practice and is not a substantive rule. 
Accordingly, this final rule is exempt from the notice-and-comment 
requirements and the delayed effective date provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains no provisions constituting a collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Executive Order 12866

    This document has been reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-
612. This rule will not affect small businesses. Therefore, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 605(b), this final rule is exempt from the initial and final 
regulatory flexibility analyses requirements of sections 603 and 604.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 19

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Veterans.

    Dated: February 21, 2001.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 38 CFR part 19 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 19--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: APPEALS REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:

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

    2. Section 19.2 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.2  Composition of the Board.

    The Board consists of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Deputy Vice 
Chairmen, Members and professional, administrative, clerical and 
stenographic personnel. Deputy Vice Chairmen are Members of the Board 
who are appointed to that office by the Secretary upon the 
recommendation of the Chairman.


    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 512, 7101(a))

[FR Doc. 01-5451 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
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