[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13623-13624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6466]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

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


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the 
collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes 
the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and 
burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 22, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Denise 
McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8030, 
FAX (202) 273-5981 or e-mail: [email protected]. Please refer 
to ``2900-New (NVVLS).''
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources 
and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395-7316. Please refer to ``2900-New 
(NVVLS).''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study, VA Form 10-
21064.
    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

[[Page 13624]]

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 follow-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 cases 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 variables that moderate service use.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published on December 15, 2003 at pages 69772-69773.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 4,426 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 18 hours 58 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,605.

    By direction of the Secretary.

    Dated: March 11, 2004.
Loise Russell,
Director, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6466 Filed 3-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P