VA Claims and Appeals Modernization

CourtVeterans Affairs Department
Citation84 FR 34787
Record Number2019-15153
SectionRules and Regulations
Published date19 July 2019
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 34787-34788]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-15153]
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                DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
                38 CFR Parts 19 and 20
                RIN 2900-AQ26
                VA Claims and Appeals Modernization
                AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
                ACTION: Correcting amendment.
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                SUMMARY: On January 18, 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
                revised its regulations regarding appeals and Rules of Practice of the
                Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board). On February 15, 2019, VA published
                a correction to that rule. This correction addresses technical errors
                in the final regulations.
                DATES: Effective July 19, 2019.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Sauter, Counsel for
                Legislation, Regulations, and Policy, Board of Veterans' Appeals,
                Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
                20420, (202) 632-5555 (this is not a toll-free number).
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA published a final rule, VA Claims and
                Appeals Modernization, on January 18, 2019, in the Federal Register at
                84 FR 138, and a correction to the final rule that published February
                15, 2019, in the Federal Register at 84 FR 4336.
                [[Page 34788]]
                 This document augments the corrections which were published in the
                Federal Register on February 15, 2019 (84 FR 4336).
                List of Subjects in 38 CFR Parts 19 and 20
                 Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Veterans.
                 Accordingly, 38 CFR parts 19 and 20 are amended by making the
                following correcting amendments:
                PART 19--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: LEGACY APPEALS REGULATIONS
                0
                1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless otherwise noted.
                Sec. Sec. 19.15 through 19.19 [Reserved]
                0
                2. Add reserved Sec. Sec. 19.15 through 19.19 to subpart A.
                Sec. 19.30 [Amended]
                0
                3. In Sec. 19.30, amend paragraph (b) by removing ``and'' before ``a
                VA Form 9'' and by removing the comma after ``Appeal to Board of
                Veterans' Appeals'' and adding a semicolon in its place.
                0
                4. In Sec. 19.51, revise the section heading and the authority
                citation at the end of the section to read as follows:
                Sec. 19.51 Place of filing Notice of Disagreement and Substantive
                Appeal.
                * * * * *
                (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1), (d)(3) (2016))
                PART 20--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: RULES OF PRACTICE
                0
                5. The authority citation for part 20 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a) and as noted in specific sections.
                0
                6. In Sec. 20.104, revise the section heading to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.104 Rule 104. Jurisdiction of the Board.
                * * * * *
                Sec. 20.303 [Amended]
                0
                7. In Sec. 20.303, amend paragraph (b)(2) by removing the comma after
                ``Rule 202''.
                Sec. 20.405 [Amended]
                0
                8. In Sec. 20.405, amend the first sentence by removing ``30 day
                period'' and adding ``30-day period'' in its place.
                0
                9. In Sec. 20.407, revise the section heading to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.407 Rule 407. Favorable findings are not binding in contested
                claims.
                * * * * *
                Sec. 20.502 [Amended]
                0
                10. In Sec. 20.502, remove the first occurrence of ``38 U.S.C.'' in
                the authority citation following paragraph (c).
                0
                11. Revise Sec. 20.707 to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.707 Rule 707. Prehearing conference.
                 An appellant's authorized representative may request a prehearing
                conference with the presiding Member of a hearing to clarify the issues
                to be considered at a hearing on appeal, obtain rulings on the
                admissibility of evidence, develop stipulations of fact, establish the
                length of argument which will be permitted, or take other steps which
                will make the hearing itself more efficient and productive.
                (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7107)
                0
                12. In Sec. 20.711, revise the section heading to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.711 Rule 711. Hearings in simultaneously contested claims.
                * * * * *
                0
                13. Revise Sec. 20.713 to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.713 Rule 713. Recording of hearing by appellant or
                representative.
                 An appellant or representative may record the hearing with his or
                her own equipment. Filming, videotaping or televising the hearing may
                only be authorized when prior written consent is obtained from all
                appellants and contesting claimants, if any, and made a matter of
                record. In no event will such additional equipment be used if it
                interferes with the conduct of the hearing or the official recording
                apparatus. In all such situations, advance arrangements must be made
                with the Board of Veterans' Appeals, P.O. Box 27063, Washington, DC
                20038.
                (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7107)
                Sec. 20.800 [Amended]
                0
                14. In Sec. 20.800, in the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3), remove
                the words ``member'' and ``members'' and add in their place ``Member''
                and ``Members'', respectively, and in paragraph (e), remove ``Rule
                803'' and add ``Rule 802'' in its place.
                0
                15. In Sec. 20.904, revise the section heading to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.904 Rule 904. Remand or referral for further action.
                * * * * *
                0
                16. In Sec. 20.906, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:
                Sec. 20.906 Rule 906. Medical opinions and opinions of the General
                Counsel.
                * * * * *
                 (b) Joint Pathology Center opinions. The Board may refer pathologic
                material to the Joint Pathology Center and request an opinion based on
                that material.
                (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7109(a))
                * * * * *
                Sec. 20.1405 [Amended]
                0
                17. In Sec. 20.1405, in paragraph (c)(2), remove ``Planning and
                Analysis (014)''.
                 Approved: July 11, 2019.
                Jeffrey M. Martin,
                Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
                the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
                [FR Doc. 2019-15153 Filed 7-18-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
                

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