[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27384-27385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10902]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0605]


Agency Information Collection (Application for Accreditation as a 
Claims Agent or Attorney) Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Office of the 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has submitted 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 June 12, 2014.

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 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0605'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records 
Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-7492 or email 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0605.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Titles:
    a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, VA 
Form 21a.
    b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements.
    c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0605.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Applicants seeking accreditation as claims agents or 
attorneys to represent benefits claimants before VA must complete VA 
Form 21a. The applicant is required to file the application with VA's 
Office of the General Counsel to establish initial eligibility for 
accreditation. The information requested is necessary to establish the 
statutory and regulatory eligibility requirements, e.g., good character 
and reputation which includes basic identifying information, 
information concerning past representation, military service, 
employment, criminal activity and mental health of the applicant. The 
data is used to determine the applicant's eligibility for accreditation 
as a claims agent or attorney.
    The data collected under Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements 
is used to determine whether a fee agreement between claimants and 
their representative is in compliance with the law governing 
representation. The data collected under Motions for Review of Such Fee 
Agreements is used to determine the reasonableness of an agent or 
attorney fee from a claimant's award of VA benefits.
    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 February 10, 2014, at pages 7743-7744.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden:
    a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent, VA Form 21a--
1,987.50 hours.
    b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements--2,500 hours.
    c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements--42 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:
    a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, VA 
Form 21a--45 minutes.

[[Page 27385]]

    b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements--0.2 hour.
    c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements--2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
    a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent, VA Form 21a--
2,650.
    b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements--12,000.
    c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements--21.

    Dated: May 8, 2014.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Crystal Rennie,
Department Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-10902 Filed 5-12-14; 8:45 am]
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