Veterans Affairs Department
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations to implement provisions of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act or Act). The statute amended procedures applicable to claims based on toxic exposure and modified or established presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure. Pursuant to the Act, VA is proposing to remove the manifestation period requirement and the minimum compensable evaluation requirement from Persian Gulf War claims based on undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. VA is also proposing to expand the definition of a Persian Gulf veteran; update the list of locations eligible for a presumption of exposure to toxic substances, chemicals, or airborne hazards based on service during the Persian Gulf War; and add presumptions of service connection for 23 diseases associated with exposure to toxins. To implement additional provisions of the Act, VA is also proposing to codify the procedure for determining when medical examinations and nexus opinions are required for claims that cannot be considered on a presumptive basis and the evidence establishes participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA). Additional provisions of the PACT Act will be addressed in separate, future rulemakings.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Veterans Affairs 38 CFR Part 3 RIN 2900-AR75 AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations to implement provisions of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act or Act). The statute amended procedures applicable to claims based on toxic exposure and modified or established presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure. Pursuant to the Act, VA is proposing to remove the manifestation period requirement and the minimum compensable evaluation requirement from Persian Gulf War claims based on undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. VA is also proposing to expand the definition of a Persian Gulf veteran; update the list of locations eligible for a presumption of exposure to ( printed page 79816) toxic substances, chemicals, or airborne hazards based on service during the Persian Gulf War; and add presumptions of service connection for 23 diseases associated with exposure to toxins. To implement additional provisions of the Act, VA is also proposing to codify the procedure for determining when medical examinations and nexus opinions are required for claims that cannot be considered on a presumptive basis and the evidence establishes participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA). Additional provisions of the PACT Act will …
Citation: 89 FR 79815
