2017-04429. Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to ...

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, 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 and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 6, 2017.

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:

Cynthia Harvey-Pryor, 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” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-21.

Title: Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (VA Form 21-0781) and 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: VA Forms 21-0781 and 21-0781a are used to gather specific information about in-service stressors, so VA can assist claimants in obtaining credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred. In-service stressors reported by veterans must be verifiable. VA cannot thoroughly research military records and other sources of information for credible supporting evidence unless the veteran provides VA with specific information about the in-service stressors. The forms request information that is necessary to conduct meaningful research of records.

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 at 81 FR 241 on December 15, 2016, pages 90922 and 90923.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 17,780.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 70 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,240.

By direction of the Secretary.

Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,

Department Clearance Officer, Office of Privacy and Records Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.