[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69772-69773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30873]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-New (NVVLS)]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 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. This notice solicits comments for 
information needed to follow-up on the National Vietnam Veterans 
Readjustment Study conducted in 1986 through 1987.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed

[[Page 69773]]

collection of information should be received on or before February 13, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Ann W. Bickoff, Veterans Health Administration (19E1), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-
mail [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
New (NVVLS) in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann W. Bickoff, (202) 273-8310 or FAX 
(202) 273-9386. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-21), 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, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA'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.
    Titles: a. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, (all 
components), VA Form 10-21064a.
    b. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, (all components 
with the exception of psychological testing), VA Form 10-21064b.
    c. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, Non-Response 
Telephone Interview, VA Form 10-21064c.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-New (NVVLS).
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: The National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) 
is a follow-up to the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study 
(NVVRS) conducted in 1986 through 1987 to sample veterans who served in 
the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines between August 5, 1964, and 
May 7, 1975. The NVVRS found that 15.2 percent of the men and 8.5 
percent of the women who had served in Vietnam were current cases of 
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The rates of PTSD for those 
veterans exposed to high levels of war-zone stress were dramatically 
higher than the rates for those with low/moderate levels of war-zone 
stress exposure. Because of the high rates of PTSD, the strong evidence 
for the persistence of this syndrome, and the strength of its 
association with war-zone stress exposure, it is imperative that the VA 
has information about the current functioning of the participants in 
the original study. To address the important need for followup data and 
for an understanding of the current functioning of Vietnam veterans, 
the VA has contracted with Research Triangle Institute to conduct the 
NVVLS, follow-up study of the original cohort from the NVVRS. This 
follow-up of the NVVRS sample will be unique in the field and will 
enhance and supplement the original findings. The specific aims of this 
study are to assess:
    a. Current prevalence of PTSD, with particular attention to changes 
in caseness from initial assessment and to variables that might be 
associated with such changes;
    b. Current prevalence of cardiovascular disorders and their 
precursors and risk factors, with particular attention to their 
relationship to war-zone stress exposure and PTSD;
    c. Current prevalence of other psychiatric disorders and other 
postwar readjustment problems, with particular attention to their 
relationship to chronic disease outcomes; and
    d. Healthcare utilization patterns, with particular attention to 
sociodemographic and other variable that moderate service use.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 4,426 hours.
    a. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (all components), 
VA Form 10-21064a--3,261.
    b. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, (all components 
with the exception of psychological testing) VA Form 10-21064b--1,154.
    c. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, Non-Response 
Telephone Interview, VA Form 10-21064c--11.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: a. National Vietnam 
Veterans Longitudinal Study (all components), VA Form 10-21064a--11.50 
hours.
    b. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, (all components 
with the exception of psychological testing) VA Form 10-21064b--6.75 
hours.
    c. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, Non-Response 
Telephone Interview, VA Form 10-21064c--20 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,605.
    a. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (all components), 
VA Form 10-21064a--650.
    b. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, (all components 
with the exception of psychological testing) VA Form 10-21064b--855.
    c. National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, Non-Response 
Telephone Interview, VA Form 10-21064c--100.

    Dated: December 8, 2003.
    By direction of the Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30873 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-U