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khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICE

Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 146 / Friday, July 31, 2026 / Notices
functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of VHA’s estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
the use of other forms of information
technology.
Title: Generic Clearance for the
Collection of Qualitative Feedback on
Agency Service Delivery (VBA, VHA,
NCA).
OMB Control Number: 2900–0770.
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRASearch (Once at this link, you can
enter the OMB Control Number to find
the historical versions of this
Information Collection).
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Executive Order 12862
directs Federal agencies to provide
service to the public that matches or
exceeds the best service available in the
private sector. In order to work
continuously to ensure that our
programs are effective and meet our
customers’ needs, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks to obtain
OMB approval of a generic clearance to
collect qualitative feedback on our
service delivery for Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA); Veterans Health
Administration (VHA); and National
Cemetery Administration (NCA). By
qualitative feedback, we mean
information that provides useful
insights on perceptions and opinions,
but not statistical surveys that yield
quantitative results that can be
generalized to the population of study.
The proposed information collection
activity provides a means to garner
qualitative customer and stakeholder
feedback in an efficient, timely manner,
in accordance with the Administration’s
commitment to improving service
delivery. This feedback will provide
insights into customer or stakeholder
perceptions, experiences and
expectations, provide an early warning
of issues with service, or focus attention
on areas where communication,
training, or changes in operations might
improve delivery of products or
services. These collections will allow
for ongoing, collaborative, and
actionable communications between the
VA and its customers and stakeholders.
They will also provide feedback to
contribute directly to the improvement
of program management.
The solicitation of feedback will target
areas such as timeliness,

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appropriateness, accuracy of
information, courtesy, efficiency of
service delivery, and resolution of
issues with service delivery. Responses
will be assessed to plan and inform
efforts to improve or maintain the
quality of service offered to the public.
If this information is not collected, vital
feedback from customers and
stakeholders on the provision of
services will be unavailable to the
Agency.
The Agency will only submit
information collections for approval
under this generic clearance if they meet
the following conditions:
• The collections are voluntary;
• The collections are low-burden for
respondents (based on considerations of
total burden hours, total number of
respondents, or burden-hours per
respondent) and are low-cost for both
the respondents and the Federal
Government;
• The collections are
noncontroversial and do not raise issues
of concern to other Federal agencies;
• Any collection is targeted to the
solicitation of opinions from
respondents who have experience with
the program or may have experience
with the program in the near future;
• Personally identifiable information
(PII) is collected only to the extent
necessary and is not retained;
• Information gathered will be used
only internally for general service
improvement and program management
purposes and is not intended for release
outside of the agency;
• Information gathered will not be
used for the purpose of substantially
informing influential policy decisions;
and
• Information gathered will yield
qualitative information; the collections
will not be designed or expected to
yield statistically reliable results or used
as though the results are generalizable to
the population of study.
The types of collections that this
generic clearance covers include, but are
not limited to, Program Satisfaction
Surveys; Focus Groups; Customer
Comment Cards; Small Discussion
Groups of customers, potential
customers, delivery partners, or other
stakeholders; Qualitative Customer
Satisfaction Surveys, such as posttransaction surveys and opt-out web
surveys; In-person Observation Testing,
such as website or software usability
tests; and Patient Surveys. As a general
matter, information collections under
this clearance will not result in any new
system of records containing privacy
information and will not ask questions
of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs,

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and other matters that are commonly
considered private. There is an overall
decrease in the anticipated number of
respondents and burden hours due to
adjustments based on agency program
data.
Affected Public: Individuals or
Households; Businesses and
Organizations; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Annual Burden: 201,250
total hours.
Program Satisfaction Surveys: 62,500.
Focus Groups: 35,000.
Customer Comment Cards: 3,750.
Small Discussion Groups: 5,000.
Qualitative Customer Satisfaction
Surveys: 62,500.
In-Person Observation Testing: 7,500.
Patient Surveys: 25,000.
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent:
Program Satisfaction Surveys: 30
minutes.
Focus Groups: 60 minutes.
Customer Comment Cards: 15
minutes.
Small Discussion Groups: 30 minutes.
Qualitative Customer Satisfaction
Surveys: 30 minutes.
In-Person Observation Testing: 30
minutes.
Patient Surveys: 15 minutes
Frequency of Response: Once.
Estimated Number of Responses:
425,000 total.
Program Satisfaction Surveys:
125,000.
Focus Groups: 35,000.
Customer Comment Cards: 15,000.
Small Discussion Groups: 10,000.
Qualitative Customer Satisfaction
Surveys: 125,000.
In-Person Observation Testing:
15,000.
Patient Surveys: 100,000.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
Shunda Willis,
Alternate, VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office
of Information Technology, Data Governance
Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2026–15456 Filed 7–30–26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0829]

Agency Information Collection
Activity: Income and Asset Statement
in Support of Claim for Pension or
Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (D.I.C.)
AGENCY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.

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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 146 / Friday, July 31, 2026 / Notices

ACTION: Notice.

khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICE

SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the
proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, Federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information, including each proposed
extension of a currently approved
collection, and allow 60 days for public
comment in response to the notice.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before September 29, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be
submitted through www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Program-Specific information: Kendra
Mccleave, 202–461–9568,
[email protected].
VA PRA information: Dorothy
Glasgow, 202–461–1084, VAPRA@
va.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must
obtain approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for each
collection of information they conduct
or sponsor. This request for comment is
being made pursuant to Section
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA. With respect
to the following collection of
information, VBA invites comments on:
(1) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of VBA’s functions,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of
VBA’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or the use of other forms of information
technology.
Title: 21P–0969, Income and Asset
Statement in Support of Claim for
Pension or Parents’ Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation (D.I.C.).
OMB Control Number: 2900–0829.
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRASearch (Once at this link, you can
enter the OMB Control Number to find
the historical versions of this
Information Collection).
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: VA Form 21P–0969 allows
claimants and beneficiaries to report
unreimbursed medical expenses to
reduce their countable income for

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needs-based benefit programs, such as
VA Pension and Parents’ Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
These expenses are deducted from
otherwise countable income to
determine eligibility for income-based
benefits and the rate payable. Veteran
Service Representatives use the
information on the form to adjust
benefits.
Affected Public: Individuals and
households.
Estimated Annual Burden: 22,917
hours.
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent: 30 minutes.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
55,000.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
Shunda Willis,
Alternate, VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office
of Information Technology/Data Governance
Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2026–15453 Filed 7–30–26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Rehabilitation Research, Development,
and Translation (RRDT) Scientific Merit
Review Board; Federal Register Notice
of Meeting
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) gives notice under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5
U.S.C. Ch. 10, that a meeting of the
RRDT Scientific Merit Review Board
(Board) will be held August 19, 2026,
from 1–1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(EST), via Webex. The meeting will be
open to the public from 1–1:10 p.m.
EST. The remainder of the meeting,
from 1:10–1:30 p.m. EST, will be closed
to the public and used for scientific
review and discussion, examination of,
and reference to the research
applications. Discussions will involve
staff and consultant critiques of research
proposals. Discussions will also cover
the scientific merit of each proposal and
the qualifications of the personnel
conducting the studies, the disclosure of
which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of personal
privacy. Additionally, premature
disclosure of research information could
significantly obstruct implementation of
proposed agency action regarding the
research proposals. Therefore, portions
of the Board meeting will be closed to
the public in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(4), (6), and (9)(B).
The objective of the Board is to
provide for the impartial selection of the
most meritorious research projects for

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support by VA research funds and to
offer advice for research program
officials on program priorities and
policies. The ultimate objective of the
Board is to ensure through
recommendations that the VA Office of
Research and Development (ORD) RRDT
portfolio advances scientific knowledge
and fosters innovations to maximize
Veterans’ functional independence,
quality of life, and participation in their
lives and community.
The Board evaluates and advises the
Acting Deputy Chief Research and
Development Officer (Deputy CRADO)
for Investigators, Scientific Review, and
Management, and the Acting ORD
CRADO, on strategies, goals, and
direction to support emerging issues
and topics in Veteran health care
through research and the scientific and
technical merit, mission relevance, and
protection of human and animal
subjects of rehabilitation research
proposals. The Board does not consider
grants, contracts, or other forms of
extramural research.
Members of the public may attend the
open portion of the meeting from 1–1:10
p.m. EST via Webex (in listen-only
mode, as the time-limited agenda does
not allow for public comment or
presentations). To attend the open
portion of the meeting, the public may
dial the Webex phone number (1–833–
558–0712) and enter the meeting access
code (2825 167 1146).
Written comments from members of
the public should be sent to Kristy
Benton-Grover, Designated Federal
Officer, RRDT, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20420, or to
[email protected], at least 5
days before the meeting. The written
public comments will be shared with
the Board members. The public may not
attend the closed portion of the meeting.
Dated: July 29, 2026.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026–15489 Filed 7–30–26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0059]

Agency Information Collection
Activity: Statement of Person Claiming
to Have Stood in Relation of Parent
AGENCY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.

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