{"abstract":"This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral language. The amendments are necessary to conform the adjudication regulations with the VA policy that all of its publications will be stated in a manner that does not seem to preclude benefits for female veterans, dependents or beneficiaries.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS","name":"Veterans Affairs Department","id":520,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/veterans-affairs-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/520","parent_id":null,"slug":"veterans-affairs-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1997/02/06/97-2903.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"3","title":38}],"citation":"62 FR 5528","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This amendment is effective February 6, 1997.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"97-2903","effective_on":"1997-02-06","end_page":5530,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/02/06/97-2903/spouse-and-surviving-spouse","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/97-2903?publication_date=1997-02-06","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1997-02-06/97-2903/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":3,"page_views":{"count":117,"last_updated":"2026-09-22 06:15:08 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-02-06/pdf/97-2903.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1997-02-06","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1997/02/06/97-2903.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2900-AI36":{"issue":"199704","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AI36/spouse-and-surviving-spouse","title":"Spouse and Surviving Spouse","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=199704&RIN=2900-AI36&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2900-AI36"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-20T23:56:44Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":5528,"subtype":null,"title":"Spouse and Surviving Spouse","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":62}