[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30050-30051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12285]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


VASRD Status Summit: A Public Overview of Proposed Disability 
Evaluation Criteria

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will host the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Schedule for Rating Disabilities 
(VASRD) Status Summit: A Public Overview of Proposed Disability 
Evaluation Criteria. The purpose of the VASRD Status Summit is to 
capture public comments on working drafts of proposed regulations for 
nine body

[[Page 30051]]

systems and promote transparency by providing the proposed contents of 
those working drafts to the public. VA has previously hosted VASRD 
Forums, where subject matter experts and members of the public provided 
their input, prior to the drafting of proposed regulations for the body 
systems. VA plans to use comments provided at and following this Summit 
to consider edits and review updates pertaining to the following nine 
body systems: (1) The Hemic and Lymphatic Systems (38 CFR 4.117), (2) 
The Endocrine System (38 CFR 4.119), (3) Mental Disorders (38 CFR 
4.125-4.130), (4) Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders and Nutritional 
Deficiencies (38 CFR 4.88-4.89), (5) The Musculoskeletal System (38 CFR 
4.40-4.73), (6) The Digestive System (38 CFR 4.110-4.114), (7) The 
Genitourinary System (38 CFR 4.115-4.115b), (8) Dental and Oral 
Conditions (38 CFR 4.149-4.150), and a newly proposed body system, 
Rheumatic Diseases. Specifically, working drafts containing proposed 
revisions to diagnostic code descriptors and evaluation criteria will 
be available for public review and comment.

DATES: The Summit will take place June 4-8 and 11-13, 2012, from 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Plenary sessions on June 4-6, 2012 will 
cover a summary overview of changes to all nine body systems. The 
sessions on June 7 and 8, and 11-13, 2012, copies of the working drafts 
of all nine body systems will be available for individual review by 
members of the public.

ADDRESSES: All Summit sessions will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 
located at 1333 N. Courthouse Rd. Arlington, VA 22201.
    Public Comment: Contingent upon available time, individuals wishing 
to make oral statements or ask questions during the June 4-June 6, 2012 
sessions will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. On 
June 7 and 8, and 11-13, 2012, copies of the working drafts of all nine 
body systems will be available for individual members of the public to 
review. VA will accept written comments regarding these working drafts 
at the site of the Summit via a comments box, as well as via email at 
[email protected] or through regular mail. Comments must be 
received by VA on or before July 13, 2012. Written comments submitted 
through regular mail may be sent to Director, Regulations Management 
(02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Room 
1068, Washington, DC 20420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Kniffen, Chief, Regulation 
Staff, Compensation Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420. Anyone wishing to attend these 
meetings or seeking additional information may also contact Thomas 
Kniffen at (202) 461-9700 or [email protected].

    Dated: May 16, 2012.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-12285 Filed 5-18-12; 8:45 am]
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