FINAL RULE: Disease Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents: Peripheral Neuropathy

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-06/html/2013-21674.htm

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 3
RIN 2900-AO32
Disease Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents: 
Peripheral Neuropathy
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as a final rule 
its proposal to amend its adjudication regulations by clarifying and 
expanding the terminology regarding presumptive service connection for 
acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy associated with exposure to 
certain herbicide agents. This amendment implements a decision by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs based on findings from the National 
Academy of Sciences (NAS) Institute of Medicine report, Veterans and 
Agent Orange: Update 2010. It also amends VA's regulation governing 
retroactive awards for certain diseases associated with herbicide 
exposure as required by court orders in the class action litigation of 
Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective September 6, 2013.
    Applicability Date: This final rule shall apply to claims received 
by VA on or after September 6, 2013 and to claims pending before VA on 
that date. Additionally, VA will apply this rule in readjudicating 
certain previously denied claims as required by court orders in Nehmer 
v. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

READ THE ENTIRE FINAL RULE: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-06/html/2013-21674.htm