2012-22492. Agency Information Collection (Statement of Accredited Representative in Appealed Case) Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Board of Veterans' Appeals, 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 Board of Veterans' Appeals, 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 October 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov or to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0042” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], Fax [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0042.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Statement of Accredited Representative in Appealed Case, VA Form 646.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0042.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: A recognized organization, attorney, agent, or other authorized person representing VA claimants before the Board of Veterans' Appeals complete VA Form 646 to provide identifying data describing the basis for their claimant's disagreement with the denial of VA benefits. VA uses the data collected to identify the issues in dispute and to prepare a decision responsive to the claimant's disagreement.

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 July 2, 2012, at page 39346.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Annual Burden: 44,551.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 60 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 44,551.

Dated: September 7, 2012.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service.