[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78258-78263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30775]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AO25


Duty Periods for Establishing Eligibility for Health Care

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its 
medical regulations concerning eligibility for health care to re-
establish the definitions of ``active military, naval, or air 
service,'' ``active duty,'' and ``active duty for training.'' These 
definitions were deleted in 1996; however, we believe that all duty 
periods should be

[[Page 78259]]

defined in part 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to ensure 
proper determination of eligibility for VA health care. We are also 
providing a more complete definition of ``inactive duty training.''

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective January 27, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin J. Cunningham, Director, 
Business Policy, Chief Business Office (10NB6), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 461-1599. 
(This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(2) of title 38 United States 
Code (U.S.C.) defines the term ``veteran'' to mean ``a person who 
served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was 
discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than 
dishonorable.'' ``Active military, naval, or air service'' includes 
``active duty'' and certain periods of ``active duty for training'' and 
``inactive duty training,'' which are all defined in 38 U.S.C. 101. See 
38 U.S.C. 101(21)-(24). These terms prescribe the type of service an 
individual needs to have had in order to be eligible for VA health care 
benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1710 and 1705. On May 13, 1996, in 61 FR 
21965, VA removed and marked as reserved paragraphs (a) through (c) of 
38 CFR 17.31, which contained the definitions of ``active military, 
naval, or air service,'' ``active duty,'' and ``active duty for 
training,'' and only retained paragraph (d), which defines ``inactive 
duty training.'' A reader of Sec.  17.31 could conclude that no other 
duty periods, aside from ``inactive duty training,'' would qualify an 
individual as eligible for VA medical benefits. We are amending this 
oversight by incorporating the 38 U.S.C. 101 definitions of ``active 
military, naval, or air service,'' ``active duty,'' and ``active duty 
for training'' into Sec.  17.31 as paragraphs (a) through (c). We are 
also incorporating 38 U.S.C. 106, which establishes certain other 
service as active military service.
    Under the provisions of Public Law 95-202, sec. 401 (1977), the 
Department of Defense (DoD) can determine that the service of certain 
groups or individuals constitutes active duty service for purposes of 
title 38 benefits. We are incorporating in paragraph (b) service by any 
individual or group certified by the Secretary of Defense as active 
duty, which is currently listed in 38 CFR 3.7. We are also listing in 
paragraph (b) service by other individuals and groups specifically 
identified by Congress, or determined by court or VA decisions 
interpreting applicable legislative provisions, as constituting active 
military service in an effort to provide a more complete definition of 
active duty for purposes of determining eligibility for VA health care. 
See 38 CFR 3.7(a)-(l), (n)-(q), (s)-(w).
    The National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989, Public 
Law 100-456, sec. 633 (1988), amended the definition of ``inactive duty 
training'' in 38 U.S.C. 101(23) to include members of, or applicants 
for membership in, the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (SROTC). 
We are amending Sec.  17.31(d) to include the complete statutory 
definition of ``inactive duty training.''
    In a document published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2013 (78 
FR 27153), VA proposed to amend part 17 of 38 CFR by amending the 
regulation that defines the duty periods for establishing eligibility 
for health care. We provided a 60-day comment period, which ended on 
July 8, 2013. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule.
    Based on the rationale set forth in the Supplementary Information 
to the proposed rule and in this final rule, VA is adopting the 
proposed rule as a final rule with no change.

Effect of Rulemaking

    Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as revised by this 
final rulemaking, represents VA's implementation of its legal authority 
on this subject. Other than future amendments to this regulation or 
governing statutes, no contrary guidance or procedures are authorized. 
All existing or subsequent VA guidance must be read to conform with 
this rulemaking if possible or, if not possible, such guidance is 
superseded by this rulemaking.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521).

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 final rule will directly affect only individuals and will not 
directly affect small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), 
this rulemaking is exempt from the initial and final regulatory 
flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; 
and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. 
Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) defines a 
``significant regulatory action,'' which requires review by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) unless OMB waives such review, as ``any 
regulatory action that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have 
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely 
affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, 
productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or 
safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) 
Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action 
taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter the budgetary 
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the 
rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel legal 
or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's 
priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order.''
    The economic, interagency, budgetary, legal, and policy 
implications of this regulatory action have been examined, and it has 
been determined not to be a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. VA's impact analysis can be found as a 
supporting document at http://www.regulations.gov, usually within 48 
hours after the rulemaking document is published. Additionally, a copy 
of the rulemaking and its impact analysis are available on VA's Web 
site at http://www1.va.gov/orpm/, by following the link for ``VA 
Regulations Published.''

Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and 
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more

[[Page 78260]]

(adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This final rule will 
have no such effect on State, local, and tribal governments, or on the 
private sector.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers and titles for 
the programs affected by this document are 64.005, Grants to States for 
Construction of State Home Facilities; 64.007, Blind Rehabilitation 
Centers; 64.008, Veterans Domiciliary Care; 64.009, Veterans Medical 
Care Benefits; 64.010, Veterans Nursing Home Care; 64.014, Veterans 
State Domiciliary Care; 64.015, Veterans State Nursing Home Care; 
64.018, Sharing Specialized Medical Resources; 64.019, Veterans 
Rehabilitation Alcohol and Drug Dependence; 64.022, Veterans Home Based 
Primary Care; and 64.024, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jose D. 
Riojas, Chief of Staff, Department of Veteran Affairs, approved this 
document on December 18, 2003, for publication.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17

    Administrative practice and procedure; Alcohol abuse; Alcoholism; 
Claims; Day care; Dental health; Drug abuse; Government contracts; 
Grant programs--health; Grant programs--veterans; Health care; Health 
facilities; Health professions; Health records; Homeless; Mental health 
programs; Nursing homes; Philippines, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements; Veterans.

    Dated: December 20, 2013.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs amends 38 CFR part 17 as follows:

PART 17--MEDICAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections.


0
2. Amend Sec.  17.31 by:
0
a. Adding paragraphs (a) through (c).
0
b. Revising paragraph (d) introductory text.
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (d)(4) as paragraph (d)(5).
0
d. Adding new paragraphs (d)(4) and (d)(6).
0
e. Adding an authority citation at the end of the section.
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  17.31  Duty periods defined.

* * * * *
    (a) Active military, naval, or air service includes:
    (1) Active duty.
    (2) Any period of active duty for training during which the 
individual was disabled from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated 
in line of duty.
    (3) Any period of inactive duty training during which the 
individual was disabled from an injury incurred or aggravated in line 
of duty.
    (4) Any period of inactive duty training during which the 
individual was disabled from an acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac 
arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident which occurred during such period 
of inactive duty training.
    (b) Active duty means:
    (1) Full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for 
training.
    (2) Full-time duty, other than for training purposes, as a 
commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public 
Health Service during the following dates:
    (i) On or after July 29, 1945;
    (ii) Before July 29, 1945, under circumstances affording 
entitlement to full military benefits; or
    (3) Full-time duty as a commissioned officer of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessor 
organizations, the Coast and Geodetic Survey or the Environmental 
Science Services Administration, during the following dates:
    (i) On or after July 29, 1945;
    (ii) Before July 29, 1945, under the following circumstances:
    (A) While on transfer to one of the Armed Forces;
    (B) While, in time of war or national emergency declared by the 
President, assigned to duty on a project for one of the Armed Forces in 
an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate 
military hazard; or
    (C) In the Philippine Islands on December 7, 1941, and continuously 
in such islands thereafter; or
    (4) Service as a cadet at the U.S. Military, Air Force, or Coast 
Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy.
    (5) Service in Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). Recognized 
effective March 18, 1980.
    (6) Service of any person in a group the members of which rendered 
service to the Armed Forces of the United States in a capacity 
considered civilian employment or contractual service at the time such 
service was rendered, if the Secretary of Defense:
    (i) Determines that the service of such group constituted active 
military service; and
    (ii) Issues to each member of such group a discharge from such 
service under honorable conditions where the nature and duration of the 
service of such member so warrants.
    (7) Service in American Merchant Marine in Oceangoing Service any 
time during the period December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945. Recognized 
effective January 19, 1988.
    (8) Service by the approximately 50 Chamorro and Carolinian former 
native policemen who received military training in the Donnal area of 
central Saipan and were placed under the command of Lt. Casino of the 
6th Provisional Military Police Battalion to accompany U.S. Marines on 
active, combat-patrol activity any time during the period August 19, 
1945, to September 2, 1945. Recognized effective September 30, 1999.
    (9) Service by Civilian Crewmen of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey (USCGS) vessels, who performed their service in areas of 
immediate military hazard while conducting cooperative operations with 
and for the U.S. Armed Forces any time during the period December 7, 
1941, to August 15, 1945. Qualifying USCGS vessels specified by the 
Secretary of the Air Force are the Derickson, Explorer, Gilbert, 
Hilgard, E. Lester Jones, Lydonia, Patton, Surveyor, Wainwright, 
Westdahl, Oceanographer, Hydrographer, or Pathfinder. Recognized 
effective April 8, 1991.
    (10) Service by Civilian Employees of Pacific Naval Air Bases who 
actively participated in Defense of Wake Island during World War II. 
Recognized effective January 22, 1981.
    (11) Service by Civilian Navy Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 
Technicians who served in the Combat Areas of the Pacific any time 
during the period December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945. Recognized 
effective August 2, 1988.
    (12) Service by Civilian personnel assigned to the Secret 
Intelligence Element of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). 
Recognized effective December 27, 1982.

[[Page 78261]]

    (13) Service by Engineer Field Clerks (World War I). Recognized 
effective August 31, 1979.
    (14) Service by Guam Combat Patrol. Recognized effective May 10, 
1983.
    (15) Service by Honorably discharged members of the American 
Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) who served any time during the period 
December 7, 1941, to July 18, 1942. Recognized effective May 3, 1991.
    (16) Service by Honorably discharged members of the American 
Volunteer Guard, Eritrea Service Command who served any time during the 
period June 21, 1942, to March 31, 1943. Recognized effective June 29, 
1992.
    (17) Service by Male Civilian Ferry Pilots. Recognized effective 
July 17, 1981.
    (18) Service with the Operational Analysis Group of the Office of 
Scientific Research and Development, Office of Emergency Management, 
which served overseas with the U.S. Army Air Corps any time during the 
period December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945. Recognized effective 
August 27, 1999.
    (19) Service by Quartermaster Corps Female Clerical Employees 
serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War II. 
Recognized effective January 22, 1981.
    (20) Service by Quartermaster Corps Keswick Crew on Corregidor 
(World War II). Recognized effective February 7, 1984.
    (21) Service by Reconstruction Aides and Dietitians in World War I. 
Recognized effective July 6, 1981.
    (22) Service by Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit of 
World War I. Recognized effective May 15, 1979.
    (23) Service by three scouts/guides, Miguel Tenorio, Penedicto 
Taisacan, and Cristino Dela Cruz, who assisted the U.S. Marines in the 
offensive operations against the Japanese on the Northern Mariana 
Islands from June 19, 1944, through September 2, 1945. Recognized 
effective September 30, 1999.
    (24) Service by U.S. civilian employees of American Airlines who 
served overseas as a result of American Airlines' Contract with the Air 
Transport Command any time during the period December 14, 1941, to 
August 14, 1945. Recognized effective October 5, 1990.
    (25) Service by U.S. civilian female employees of the U.S. Army 
Nurse Corps while serving in the Defense of Bataan and Corregidor any 
time during the period January 2, 1942, to February 3, 1945. Recognized 
effective December 13, 1993.
    (26) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of Braniff Airways, who served overseas in the North 
Atlantic or under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic Wing, Air 
Transport Command (ATC), as a result of a Contract with the ATC any 
time during the period February 26, 1942, to August 14, 1945. 
Recognized effective June 2, 1997.
    (27) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of Consolidated Vultree Aircraft Corporation 
(Consairway Division), who served overseas as a result of a Contract 
with the Air Transport Command any time during the period December 14, 
1941, to August 14, 1945. Recognized effective June 29, 1992.
    (28) Service by U.S. Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support 
Employees of Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, who served overseas 
as a result of Northeast Airlines' Contract with the Air Transport 
Command any time during the period December 7, 1941, to August 14, 
1945. Recognized effective June 2, 1997.
    (29) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of Northwest Airlines, who served overseas as a 
result of Northwest Airlines' Contract with the Air Transport Command 
any time during the period December 14, 1941, to August 14, 1945. 
Recognized effective December 13, 1993.
    (30) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of Pan American World Airways and its Subsidiaries 
and Affiliates, who served overseas as a result of Pan American's 
Contract with the Air Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service 
any time during the period December 14, 1941, to August 14, 1945. 
Recognized effective July 16, 1992.
    (31) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA), Inc., who 
served overseas as a result of TWA's Contract with the Air Transport 
Command any time during the period December 14, 1941, to August 14, 
1945. The ``Flight Crew'' includes pursers. Recognized effective May 
13, 1992.
    (32) Service by U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground 
Support Employees of United Air Lines (UAL), who served overseas as a 
result of UAL's Contract with the Air Transport Command any time during 
the period December 14, 1941, to August 14, 1945. Recognized effective 
May 13, 1992.
    (33) Service by U.S. civilian volunteers who actively participated 
in the Defense of Bataan. Recognized effective February 7, 1984.
    (34) Service by U.S. civilians of the American Field Service (AFS) 
who served overseas operationally in World War I any time during the 
period August 31, 1917, to January 1, 1918. Recognized effective August 
30, 1990.
    (35) Service by U.S. civilians of the American Field Service (AFS) 
who served overseas under U.S. Armies and U.S. Army Groups in World War 
II any time during the period December 7, 1941, to May 8, 1945. 
Recognized effective August 30, 1990.
    (36) Service by U.S. Merchant Seamen who served on blockships in 
support of Operation Mulberry. Recognized effective October 18, 1985.
    (37) Service by Wake Island Defenders from Guam. Recognized 
effective April 7, 1982.
    (38) Service by Women's Air Forces Service Pilots (WASP). 
Recognized effective November 23, 1977.
    (39) Service by persons who were injured while providing aerial 
transportation of mail and serving under conditions set forth in Public 
Law 73-140.
    (40) Service in the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II, 
for any person who the Secretary of Defense determines was honorably 
discharged.
    (41) Service by Army field clerks.
    (42) Service by Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, and female 
dietetic and physical therapy personnel as follows:
    (i) Female Army and Navy nurses on active service under order of 
the service department; or
    (ii) Female dietetic and physical therapy personnel, excluding 
students and apprentices, appointed with relative rank after December 
21, 1942, or commissioned after June 21, 1944.
    (43) Service by students who were enlisted men in Aviation camps 
during World War I.
    (44) Active service in the Coast Guard after January 28, 1915, 
while under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, the Navy 
Department, the Department of Transportation, or the Department of 
Homeland Security. This does not include temporary members of the Coast 
Guard Reserves.
    (45) Service by contract surgeons if the disability was the result 
of injury or disease contracted in the line of duty during a period of 
war while actually performing the duties of assistant surgeon or acting 
assistant surgeon with any military force in the field, or in transit, 
or in a hospital.
    (46) Service by field clerks of the Quartermaster Corps.
    (47) Service by lighthouse service personnel who were transferred 
to the service and jurisdiction of the War or

[[Page 78262]]

Navy Departments by Executive Order under the Act of August 29, 1916. 
Effective July 1, 1939, service was consolidated with the Coast Guard.
    (48) Service by male nurses who were enlisted in a Medical Corps.
    (49) Service by persons having a pensionable or compensable status 
before January 1, 1959.
    (50) Service by a Commonwealth Army veteran or new Philippine 
Scout, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 1735, who resides in the United States 
and is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to 
the United States for permanent residence; service by Regular 
Philippine Scouts and service in the Insular Force of the Navy, Samoan 
Native Guard, or Samoan Native Band of the Navy.
    (51) Service with the Revenue Cutter Service while serving under 
direction of the Secretary of the Navy in cooperation with the Navy. 
Effective January 28, 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service was merged into 
the Coast Guard.
    (52) Service during World War I in the Russian Railway Service 
Corps as certified by the Secretary of the Army.
    (53) Service by members of training camps authorized by section 54 
of the National Defense Act (Pub. L. 64-85, 39 Stat. 166), except for 
members of Student Army Training Corps Camps at the Presidio of San 
Francisco; Plattsburg, New York; Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Howard 
University, Washington, DC; Camp Perry, Ohio; and Camp Hancock, 
Georgia, from July 18, 1918, to September 16, 1918.
    (54) Service in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) after June 30, 1943.
    (55) Service in the Women's Reserve of the Navy, Marine Corps, and 
Coast Guard.
    (56) Effective July 28, 1959, service by a veteran who was 
discharged for alienage during a period of hostilities unless evidence 
affirmatively shows the veteran was discharged at his or her own 
request. A veteran who was discharged for alienage after a period of 
hostilities and whose service was honest and faithful is not barred 
from benefits if he or she is otherwise entitled. A discharge changed 
prior to January 7, 1957, to honorable by a board established under 10 
U.S.C. 1552 and 1553 will be considered as evidence that the discharge 
was not at the alien's request.
    (57) Attendance at the preparatory schools of the United States Air 
Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, or the United States 
Naval Academy for enlisted active duty members who are reassigned to a 
preparatory school without a release from active duty, and for other 
individuals who have a commitment to active duty in the Armed Forces 
that would be binding upon disenrollment from the preparatory school.
    (58) For purposes of providing medical care under chapter 17 for a 
service-connected disability, service by any person who has suffered an 
injury or contracted a disease in line of duty while en route to or 
from, or at, a place for final acceptance or entry upon active duty 
and:
    (i) Who has applied for enlistment or enrollment in the active 
military, naval, or air service and has been provisionally accepted and 
directed or ordered to report to a place for final acceptance into such 
service;
    (ii) Who has been selected or drafted for service in the Armed 
Forces and has reported pursuant to the call of the person's local 
draft board and before rejection; or
    (iii) Who has been called into the Federal service as a member of 
the National Guard, but has not been enrolled for the Federal service.
    Note to paragraph (b)(58): The injury or disease must be due to 
some factor relating to compliance with proper orders. Draftees and 
selectees are included when reporting for preinduction examination or 
for final induction on active duty. Such persons are not included for 
injury or disease suffered during the period of inactive duty, or 
period of waiting, after a final physical examination and prior to 
beginning the trip to report for induction. Members of the National 
Guard are included when reporting to a designated rendezvous.
    (59) Authorized travel to or from such duty or service, as 
described in this section.
    (60) The period of time immediately following the date an 
individual is discharged or released from a period of active duty, as 
determined by the Secretary concerned to have been required for that 
individual to proceed to that individual's home by the most direct 
route, and in any event until midnight of the date of such discharge or 
release.
    (c) Active duty for training means:
    (1) Full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by Reserves for 
training purposes.
    (2) Full-time duty for training purposes performed as a 
commissioned officer of the Reserve Corps of the Public Health service 
during the period covered in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (3) In the case of members of the Army National Guard or Air 
National Guard of any State, full-time duty under sections 316, 502, 
503, 504, or 505 of title 32 U.S.C., or the prior corresponding 
provisions of law.
    (4) Duty performed by a member of a Senior Reserve Officers' 
Training Corps program when ordered to such duty for the purpose of 
training or a practice cruise under chapter 103 of title 10 U.S.C. for 
a period of not less than four weeks and which must be completed by the 
member before the member is commissioned.
    (5) Attendance at the preparatory schools of the United States Air 
Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, or the United States 
Naval Academy by an individual who enters the preparatory school 
directly from the Reserves, National Guard or civilian life, unless the 
individual has a commitment to service on active duty which would be 
binding upon disenrollment from the preparatory school.
    (6) Authorized travel to or from such duty as described in 
paragraph (c) of this section if an individual, when authorized or 
required by competent authority, assumes an obligation to perform 
active duty for training and is disabled from an injury, acute 
myocardial infarction, a cardiac arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident 
incurred while proceeding directly to or returning directly from such 
active duty for training. Authorized travel should take into account:
    (i) The hour on which such individual began so to proceed or to 
return;
    (ii) The hour on which such individual was scheduled to arrive for, 
or on which such individual ceased to perform, such duty;
    (iii) The method of travel employed;
    (iv) The itinerary;
    (v) The manner in which the travel was performed; and
    (vi) The immediate cause of disability.
    (Note to paragraph (c)(6): Active duty for training does not 
include duty performed as a temporary member of the Coast Guard 
Reserve.)
    (d) Inactive duty training means:
* * * * *
    (4) Training (other than active duty for training) by a member of, 
or applicant for membership (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 8140(g)) in, the 
Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps prescribed under chapter 103 of 
title 10 U.S.C.
* * * * *
    (6) Travel to or from such duty as described in this paragraph (d) 
if an individual, when authorized or required by competent authority, 
assumes an obligation to perform inactive duty training and is disabled 
from an injury, acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac arrest, or a 
cerebrovascular accident incurred while proceeding directly to or

[[Page 78263]]

returning directly from such inactive duty training. Authorized travel 
should take into account:
    (i) The hour on which such individual began so to proceed or to 
return;
    (ii) The hour on which such individual was scheduled to arrive for, 
or on which such individual ceased to perform, such duty;
    (iii) The method of travel employed;
    (iv) The itinerary;
    (v) The manner in which the travel was performed; and
    (vi) The immediate cause of disability.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 106, 501, 1734 and 1735.)

[FR Doc. 2013-30775 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P