2014-11179. Agency Information Collection (Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD) Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before June 16, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov,, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0659” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0659.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Titles:

a. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Form 21-0781.

b. 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: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder and need VA's assistance in obtaining evidence from military records and other sources to substantiate their claims of in-service stressors must complete VA Forms 21-0781 and 21-0781a. Veterans who did not serve in combat or were not a prisoner of war and are claiming compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder due to in-service stressors, he or she must provide credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on January 16, 2014, at pages 2941-2942.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden:

a. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Form 21-0781—16,800 hours.

b. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault, VA Form 21-0781a—980 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:

a. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Form 21-0781-70 minutes.

b. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault, VA Form 21-0781a—70 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

a. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Form 21-0781—14,400.

b. Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault, VA Form 21-0781a-840.

Dated: May 12, 2014.

By direction of the Secretary.

Crystal Rennie,

Department Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.