[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 87 (Friday, May 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 24695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09737]



[[Page 24695]]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.

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SUMMARY: This is an 18-month re-establishment computer matching 
agreement (CMA) with the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), 
Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), regarding Veterans who 
are in receipt of drill pay and also in receipt of compensation or 
pension benefits. The purpose of this agreement is to verify 
eligibility for DoD/USCG members of the Reserve forces who receive VA 
disability compensation or pension to receive, in lieu and upon 
election, military pay and allowances when performing reserve duty. 
Veterans who perform reserve duty must choose the monetary benefit they 
prefer and waive the other. VA will use the DoD reserve military pay 
data in the VA-DoD Identity Repository (VADIR) to match against VA 
recipients of VA disability compensation or pension. DMDC sends reserve 
military pay data to VADIR monthly; the data provided by DMDC include 
all data elements required for the match. VA will use this information 
to make, where appropriate, necessary VA payment adjustments.

DATES: Comments on this matching program must be received no later than 
June 7, 2021. If no public comment is received during the period 
allowed for comment or unless otherwise published in the Federal 
Register by VA, the new agreement will become effective a minimum of 30 
days after date of publication in the Federal Register. If VA receives 
public comments, VA shall review the comments to determine whether any 
changes to the notice are necessary. This matching program will be 
valid for 18 months from the effective date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov or 
mailed to VA Privacy Service, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, (005R1A), 
Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted 
in response to 2021 CMA 89 DoD Drill Reserve Pay. Comments received 
will be available at regulations.gov for public viewing, inspection or 
copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tatia McBride (VBA) (202) 632-8927.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This matching program between VA, VBA and 
DMDC, DoD identifies beneficiaries who are in receipt of certain VA 
benefit payments and who also have performed military drill pay. VBA 
uses the DoD data provided in the match to adjust their benefits, if 
needed. This agreement continues an arrangement for a periodic 
computer-matching program between VBA as the matching recipient agency 
and DoD as the matching source agency. This agreement sets forth the 
responsibilities of VBA and DoD with respect to information disclosed 
pursuant to this agreement and takes into account both agencies' 
responsibilities under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
552a), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines pertaining to 
computer matching (54 FR 25818, June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-
108 (81 FR 94424 dated December 23, 2016.
    Participating Agencies: The United States Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) as the matching 
recipient agency and the United States Department of Defense (DoD), 
Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) as the matching source agency.
    Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: 38 U.S.C. 5304(c), 
Prohibition Against Duplication of Benefits, provides that VA 
disability compensation or pension based upon a person's previous 
military service shall not be paid to that person for any period for 
which such person receives active service pay. 10 U.S.C. 12316, Payment 
of Certain Reserves While on Duty, further provides that a Reservist 
who is entitled to disability payments due to his or her earlier 
military service and who performs duty for which he or she is entitled 
to DoD/USCG compensation may elect to receive for that duty either the 
disability payments, or if he or she waives such payments, the DoD/USCG 
compensation for the duty performed.
    Purpose(s): The purpose of this agreement is to verify eligibility 
for DoD/USCG members of the Reserve forces who receive VA disability 
compensation or pension to receive, in lieu and upon election, military 
pay and allowances when performing reserve duty. Veterans who perform 
reserve duty must choose the monetary benefit they prefer and waive the 
other.
    Categories of Individuals: The following categories of individuals 
will be covered by this system:
    1. Veterans who have applied for compensation for service-connected 
disability under 38 U.S.C. chapter 11.
    2. Veterans who have applied for nonservice-connected disability 
under 38 U.S.C. chapter 15.
    The category of the individuals covered by the VADIR database 
encompasses Veterans and service members. This would include current 
and separated service members.
    Categories of Records: The record, or information contained in the 
record, may include identifying information such as name, Social 
Security Number (SSN), date of birth, training days and paid active 
duty days.
    System(s) of Records: VA will use the system of records identified 
as ``Compensation, Pension, Education and Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment Records-VA (58 VA 21/22/28),'' published at 74 FR 29275 
(June 19, 2009), last amended at 84 FR 4138 on February 14, 2019. VA 
will also use the system of records identified as ``Veterans Affairs/
Department of Defense Identity Repository (VADIR)-VA (138VA005Q),'' 
published at 74 FR 37093 (July 27, 2009).

Signing Authority

    The Senior Agency Official for Privacy, 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. Joseph S. 
Stenaka, Executive Director for Information Security Operations, Chief 
Privacy Officer and Chair of the VA Data Integrity Board approved this 
document on April 27, 2021 for publication.

     Dated: May 4, 2021.
Amy L. Rose,
Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office of Information Security, 
Office of Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-09737 Filed 5-6-21; 8:45 am]
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