thedrifter
04-03-06, 06:22 PM
April 03, 2006
VA wants to revamp regulations
By Rick Maze
Times staff writer
The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing a complete overhaul of its compensation and pension regulations, hoping the rewrite will make it easier for people filing claims to understand the process.
The proposed new regulations, unveiled Friday, would regroup provisions to make it easier to find information about specific problems. For example, one leadoff section would describe general provisions, a second section would cover eligibility rules governing military service and a third would explain the claims process, including what kind of evidence is needed and how to appeal decisions.
Additional sections would cover service-connected disability pay, pensions for low-income veterans, survivor benefits and burial benefits.
One goal of the rewrite is to redefine words and phrases used in benefits claims so they have the same meaning under every part of the regulations. For example, “active military service” would be used in place of the longer “active military, naval and air service” that is now a definition in permanent law.
Similarly, the word “benefit” would replace the awkward phrase “payment, service, commodity, function or status entitlement” in current regulations.
Public comment on the rewrite, which appeared in the March 31 Federal Register, will be accepted until May 30, with plans to put the revised regulations into effect 30 to 60 days later.
Ellie
VA wants to revamp regulations
By Rick Maze
Times staff writer
The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing a complete overhaul of its compensation and pension regulations, hoping the rewrite will make it easier for people filing claims to understand the process.
The proposed new regulations, unveiled Friday, would regroup provisions to make it easier to find information about specific problems. For example, one leadoff section would describe general provisions, a second section would cover eligibility rules governing military service and a third would explain the claims process, including what kind of evidence is needed and how to appeal decisions.
Additional sections would cover service-connected disability pay, pensions for low-income veterans, survivor benefits and burial benefits.
One goal of the rewrite is to redefine words and phrases used in benefits claims so they have the same meaning under every part of the regulations. For example, “active military service” would be used in place of the longer “active military, naval and air service” that is now a definition in permanent law.
Similarly, the word “benefit” would replace the awkward phrase “payment, service, commodity, function or status entitlement” in current regulations.
Public comment on the rewrite, which appeared in the March 31 Federal Register, will be accepted until May 30, with plans to put the revised regulations into effect 30 to 60 days later.
Ellie