DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)

Statement of Regulatory Priorities

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers benefit programs that recognize the important public obligations to those who served this Nation. VA's regulatory responsibility is almost solely confined to carrying out mandates of the laws enacted by Congress relating to programs for veterans and their families. VA's major regulatory objective is to implement these laws with fairness, justice, and efficiency.

Most of the regulations issued by VA involve at least one of three VA components: The Veterans Benefits Administration, the Veterans Health Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. The primary mission of the Veterans Benefits Administration is to provide high-quality and timely nonmedical benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. The primary mission of the Veterans Health Administration is to provide high-quality health care on a timely basis to eligible veterans through its system of medical centers, nursing homes, domiciliaries, and outpatient medical and dental facilities. The primary mission of the National Cemetery Administration is to bury eligible veterans, members of the Reserve components, and their dependents in VA National Cemeteries and to maintain those cemeteries as national shrines in perpetuity as a final tribute of a grateful Nation to commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation.

VA's regulatory priority plan consists of five high priority regulations with statutory deadlines. Four of the five are Veterans Health Administration (VHA) regulations and the fifth one is a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Loan Guaranty regulation.

Three of the VHA regulations intend to codify the VA Mission Act of 2018, in accordance with section 101, 102 and 105 of Public Law 115-182 (hereafter referred to as the "Mission Act"). VA is required to implement the Veterans Community Care Program by June 6, 2019, under which VA will provide care to eligible Veterans through non-VA providers in the community. Under the Mission Act VA is also required to establish procedures to ensure eligible Veterans are able to access walk-in care from certain community providers by June 6, 2019.

The other VHA regulation intends to implement provisions from the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, Public Law. 115-55. This act allows VA to revise and enhance VA's rules for processing claims and appeals and is effective February 19, 2019.

The remaining VBA regulation is required to promulgate regulations governing cash-out home loans in accordance with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act by November 20, 2018. This rule defines the parameters of when VA will permit cash-out home loans, to include defining net tangible benefit, recoupment, and seasoning requirements.