Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program--Duty To Assist

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the vocational rehabilitation and employment regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning VA's responsibility to provide notification regarding information or evidence needed for an individual to substantiate a claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits and services, and regarding applicable time periods. VA's duty to assist claimants in substantiating their claims for benefits is expanded by The Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and is incorporated in this rulemaking. Specifically, upon receipt of a substantially complete application for benefits, VA will make reasonable efforts to help the claimant obtain the evidence necessary to substantiate the claim. In addition, VA proposes to make changes to improve readability and other clarifying changes that are nonsubstantive. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 2, 2008.