[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 216 (Friday, November 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71139-71140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24647]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0659]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Statement in Support of 
Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
and Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the

[[Page 71140]]

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 reinstatement, and 
allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES:  Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before January 5, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0659'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 632-8924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, 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, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA'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.
    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5103(a), 38 U.S.C. 5107(a).
    Title: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for 
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (VA Form 21-0781) and Statement 
in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress 
Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault (VA Form 21-0781a).
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0659.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement of a collection.
    Abstract: VA Forms 21-0781 and 21-0781a are used to gather 
information about stressful incidents in service from veterans claiming 
compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The forms 
request the information that is necessary for VA to conduct meaningful 
research of records in order to assist claimants in obtaining credible 
supporting evidence that the incidents occurred. Without this 
collection of information, VA would not be able to fulfill its 
statutory duty to assist for claimants and would be unable to properly 
authorize benefits.
    No changes have been made to these forms. The increase in 
respondent burden is due to the estimated number of receivables from 
the previous year.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 23,770 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 70 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,374.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance and Risk, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-24647 Filed 11-5-20; 8:45 am]
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