[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 62164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25780]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


VASRD Improvement Forum--Updating Disability Criteria for the 
Respiratory System, Cardiovascular System, Hearing Impairment, and Ear, 
Nose and Throat Diseases

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) will co-host the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) Improvement Forum--
Updating Disability Criteria for the Respiratory System, Cardiovascular 
System, Hearing Impairment, and Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases. The 
purpose of this VASRD Improvement Forum is to capture public comment 
and current medical science information from presentations made by 
subject matter experts. VA plans to use this information to update the 
sections of the VASRD that pertain to the following four body systems: 
(1) Respiratory System (38 CFR 4.96-4.97), (2) the Cardiovascular 
System (38 CFR 4.100-4.104), (3) the Impairment of Auditory Acuity (38 
CFR 4.85 and 4.86) and (4) Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases (38 CFR 4.87 
and 4.97 currently under Schedule of Respiratory System). Specifically, 
diagnostic code descriptors and evaluation criteria will be discussed. 
Contingent upon available capacity and time, individuals wishing to 
make oral statements will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served 
basis.

DATES: The plenary session on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, will cover 
hearing impairment and diseases of the ear, nose and throat and 
auditory acuity. The plenary session on Thursday, October 13, 2011, 
will cover the respiratory system. The plenary session on Tuesday, 
October 18, 2011, will cover the cardiovascular system. All plenary 
sessions will be held at the VHA New York Harbor Health Care System, 
Manhattan Campus from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Work group meetings for the 
corresponding VASRD systems will be held the day following the plenary 
sessions from 8:30-4:30 p.m. at the VBA New York Regional Office. The 
Auditory Acuity and Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases Work Group meeting 
will take place on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, the Respiratory System 
Work Group will meet on Friday, October 14, 2011, and on Wednesday, 
October 19 and Thursday, October 20, 2011, the Cardiovascular Work 
Group will meet.

ADDRESSES: The plenary sessions will be held at the VHA New York Harbor 
Healthcare System, Manhattan Campus, located at 423 East 23 Street, New 
York, NY 10010, and the work group meetings will occur at the VBA New 
York Regional office located at 245 West Houston Street, New York, NY 
10014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Nick Olmos-Lau, M.D., Regulation 
Staff (211D), Compensation Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420. Anyone wishing to attend 
these meetings or seeking additional information may also contact Dr. 
Olmos-Lau at (202) 461-9695 or [email protected].

    Dated: September 29, 2011.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-25780 Filed 10-5-11; 8:45 am]
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