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GAO-02-399R 1 (2002-02-08)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadwgg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: I Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548 B-289837 February 8, 2002 The Honorable John D. Rockefeller Chairman The Honorable Arlen Specter Ranking Minority Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States Senate The Honorable Christopher H. Smith Chairman The Honorable Lane Evans Ranking Minority Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives Subject: Department of Veterans Affairs: Diseases Specific to Radiation-ExDosed Veterans Pursuant to section 801(a) (2) (A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), entitled Diseases Specific to Radiation-Exposed Veterans (RIN: 2900-AK64). We received the rule on January 18, 2002. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on January 25, 2002. 67 Fed. Reg. 3612. The final rule amends the VA's adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases for veterans who participated in radiation- risk activities during active service or while members of reserve components during active duty for training or inactive duty training. The rule adds cancers of the bone, brain, colon, lung, and ovary to the list of diseases that may be presumptively service connected and amends the definition of the term radiation-risk activity. Enclosed is our assessment of the VA's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the VA complied with the applicable requirements. GAO-02-399R