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38 U.S.C. § 1503 — Determinations with respect to annual income
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** In determining annual income under this chapter, all payments of any kind or from any source (including salary, retirement or annuity payments, or similar income, which has been waived, irrespective of whether the waiver was made pursuant to statute, contract, or otherwise) shall be included except—
(1) donations from public or private relief or welfare organizations;
(2) payments under this chapter;
(3) amounts equal to amounts paid by a spouse of a veteran for the expenses of such veteran’s last illness, and by a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran for—
(A) such veteran’s just debts,
(B) the expenses of such veteran’s last illness, and
(C) the expenses of such veteran’s burial to the extent such expenses are not reimbursed under chapter 23 of this title;
(4) amounts equal to amounts paid—
(A) by a veteran for the last illness and burial of such veteran’s deceased spouse or child, or
(B) by the spouse of a living veteran or the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran for the last illness and burial of a child of such veteran;
(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any kind (including insurance settlement payments) for expenses related to the repayment, replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles, items, money, or property resulting from—
(A) any accident (as defined by the Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subparagraph shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement value of the equipment or vehicle involved at the time immediately preceding the accident;
(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subparagraph shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement value of the item or the amount of the money
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_28970ae182315f65ccb000fb
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-38/section-1503-determinations-with-respect-to-annual-income--c8f4130374.md
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Source location: Title 38, Chapter 15, § 1503; chapter-015-pension-for-non-service-connected-disability-or-death-or-for-service.md
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**(a)** In determining annual income under this chapter, all payments of any kind or from any source (including salary, retirement or annuity payments, or similar income, which has been waived, irrespective of whether the waiver was made pursuant to statute, contract, or otherwise) shall be included except—
(1) donations from public or private relief or welfare organizations;
(2) payments under this chapter;
(3) amounts equal to amounts paid by a spouse of a veteran for the expenses of such veteran’s last illness, and by a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran for—
(A) such veteran’s just debts,
(B) the expenses of such veteran’s last illness, and
(C) the expenses of such veteran’s burial to the extent such expenses are not reimbursed under chapter 23 of this title;
(4) amounts equal to amounts paid—
(A) by a veteran for the last illness and burial of such veteran’s deceased spouse or child, or
(B) by the spouse of a living veteran or the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran for the last illness and burial of a child of such veteran;
(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any kind (including insurance settlement payments) for expenses related to the repayment, replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles, items, money, or property resulting from—
(A) any accident (as defined by the Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subparagraph shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement value of the equipment or vehicle involved at the time immediately preceding the accident;
(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subparagraph shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement value of the item or the amount of the money (including legal tender of the United States or of a foreign country) involved at the time immediately preceding the theft or loss; or
(C) any casualty loss (as defined by the Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subparagraph shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement value of the property involved at the time immediately preceding the casualty loss;
(6) profit realized from the disposition of real or personal property other than in the course of a business;
(7) amounts in joint accounts in banks and similar institutions acquired by reason of death of other joint owner;
(8) amounts equal to amounts paid by a veteran, veterans’ spouse, or surviving spouse or by or on behalf of a veteran’s child for unreimbursed medical expenses, to the extent that such amounts exceed 5 percent of the maximum annual rate of pension (including any amount of increased pension payable on account of family members but not including any amount of pension payable because a person is in need of regular aid and attendance or because a person is permanently housebound) payable to such veteran, surviving spouse, or child;
(9) in the case of a veteran or surviving spouse pursuing a course of education or vocational rehabilitation or training, amounts equal to amounts paid by such veteran or surviving spouse for such course of education or vocational rehabilitation or training, including (A) amounts paid for tuition, fees, books, and materials, and (B) in the case of such a veteran or surviving spouse in need of regular aid and attendance, unreimbursed amounts paid for unusual transportation expenses in connection with the pursuit of such course of education or vocational rehabilitation or training, to the extent that such amounts exceed the reasonable expenses which would have been incurred by a nondisabled person using an appropriate means of transportation (public transportation, if reasonably available);
(10) in the case of a child, any current-work income received during the year, to the extent that the total amount of such income does not exceed an amount equal to the sum of—
(A) the lowest amount of gross income for which an income tax return is required under section 6012(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to be filed by an individual who is not married (as determined under section 7703 of such Code), is not a surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a) of such Code), and is not a head of household (as defined in section 2(b) of such Code); and
(B) if the child is pursuing a course of postsecondary education or vocational rehabilitation or training, the amount paid by such child for such course of education or vocational rehabilitation or training, including the amount paid for tuition, fees, books, and materials;
(11) payment of a monetary amount of up to $5,000 to a veteran from a State or municipality that is paid as a veterans’ benefit due to injury or disease; and
(12) lump-sum proceeds of any life insurance policy on a veteran, for purposes of pension under subchapter III of this chapter.
**(b)** Where a fraction of a dollar is involved, annual income shall be fixed at the next lower dollar.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
As a condition of granting or continuing pension under section 1521, 1541, or 1542 of this title, the Secretary—
(1) may require from any person who is an applicant for or a recipient of pension such information, proofs, and evidence as the Secretary determines to be necessary in order to determine the annual income and the value of the corpus of the estate of such person, and of any spouse or child for whom the person is receiving or is to receive increased pension (such a child is hereinafter in this subsection referred to as a “dependent child”), and, in the case of a child applying for or in receipt of pension under [section 1542 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1542&num=0&edition=prelim) (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as a “surviving child”), of any person with whom such child is residing who is legally responsible for such child’s support;
(2) may require that any such applicant or recipient file for a calendar year with the Department (on such form as may be prescribed for such purpose by the Secretary) a report showing—
(A) the annual income which such applicant or recipient (and any such spouse or dependent child) received during the preceding year, the corpus of the estate of such applicant or recipient (and of any such spouse or dependent child) at the end of such year, and in the case of a surviving child, the income and corpus of the estate of any person with whom such child is residing who is legally responsible for such child’s support;
(B) such applicant’s or recipient’s estimate for the then current year of the annual income such applicant or recipient (and any such spouse or dependent child) expects to receive and of any expected increase in the value of the corpus of the es
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1506
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** In the case of any veteran—
(1) who dies after December 31, 1956, and is not a fully and currently insured individual (as defined in section 214 of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 414](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section414&num=0&edition=prelim))) at the time of such veteran’s death; and
(2) whose death occurs—
(A) while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; or
(B) as the result of a service-connected disability incurred after September 15, 1940; and
(3) who leaves one or more survivors who are not entitled for any month to monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 402](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section402&num=0&edition=prelim)) on the basis of such veteran’s wages and self-employment income but who would, upon application therefor, be entitled to such benefits if such veteran had been fully and currently insured at the time of such veteran’s death;
the Secretary shall pay for such month benefits under this section to each such survivor in an amount equal to the amount of the benefits which would have been paid for such month to such survivor under title II of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 401](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section401&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.), if such veteran had been both fully and currently insured at the time of such veteran’s death and if such survivor had filed application therefor on the same date on which application for benefits under this section is filed with the Secretary.
**(b)** In any case where the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation payable under this chapter to a surviving spouse who has children is less than
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1312
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The Secretary shall pay to each veteran of a period of war who meets the service requirements of this section (as prescribed in subsection (j) of this section) and who is permanently and totally disabled from non-service-connected disability not the result of the veteran’s willful misconduct, pension at the rate prescribed by this section, as increased from time to time under [section 5312 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5312&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b)** If the veteran is unmarried (or married but not living with or reasonably contributing to the support of such veteran’s spouse) and there is no child of the veteran in the custody of the veteran or to whose support the veteran is reasonably contributing, and unless the veteran is entitled to pension at the rate provided by subsection (d)(1) or (e) of this section, pension shall be paid to the veteran at the annual rate of $11,830, reduced by the amount of the veteran’s annual income.
**(c)** If the veteran is married and living with or reasonably contributing to the support of such veteran’s spouse, or if there is a child of the veteran in the custody of the veteran or to whose support the veteran is reasonably contributing, pension shall be paid to the veteran at the annual rate of $15,493, unless the veteran is entitled to pension at the rate provided by subsection (d)(2), (e), or (f) of this section. If the veteran has two or more such family members, such annual rate shall be increased by $2,020 for each such family member in excess of one. The rate payable shall be reduced by the amount of the veteran’s annual income and, subject to subsection (h)(1) of this section, the amount of annual income of such family members.
**(d)**
(1) If the vetera
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1521
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
For the purposes of this title—
(1) The terms “Secretary” and “Department” mean the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, respectively.
(2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
(3) The term “surviving spouse” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title) a person who was the spouse of a veteran at the time of the veteran’s death, and who lived with the veteran continuously from the date of marriage to the date of the veteran’s death (except where there was a separation which was due to the misconduct of, or procured by, the veteran without the fault of the spouse) and who has not remarried.
(4)
(A) The term “child” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title (other than with respect to a child who is an insurable dependent under subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(10) of such chapter) and [section 8502(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section8502/b&num=0&edition=prelim)) a person who is unmarried and—
(i) who is under the age of eighteen years;
(ii) who, before attaining the age of eighteen years, became permanently incapable of self-support; or
(iii) who, after attaining the age of eighteen years and until completion of education or training (but not after attaining the age of twenty-three years), is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution;
and who is a legitimate child, a legally adopted child, a stepchild who is a member of a veteran’s household or was a member at the time of the veteran’s death, or an illegitimate child but, as to the alleged father, onl
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The purposes of this chapter are to provide for all services and assistance necessary to enable veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living and, to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 3100
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** If the Secretary determines that benefits administered by the Department have not been provided by reason of administrative error on the part of the Federal Government or any of its employees, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
**(b)** If the Secretary determines that a veteran, surviving spouse, child of a veteran, or other person has suffered loss as a consequence of reliance upon a determination by the Department of eligibility or entitlement to benefits, without knowledge that it was erroneously made, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines is equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
**(c)** Not later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing a statement as to the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief under this section during the preceding calendar year. No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2026.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 503
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), or (h) 11 See References in Text note below. of this section, a rehabilitation program may not be afforded to a veteran under this chapter after the end of the twelve-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service.
**(b)**
(1) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) of this section because a medical condition of such veteran made it infeasible for such veteran to participate in such a program, the twelve-year period of eligibility shall not run during the period of time that such veteran was so prevented from participating in such a program, and such period of eligibility shall again begin to run on the first day following such veteran’s recovery from such condition on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for such veteran to participate in such a program.
(2) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) of this section because—
(A) such veteran had not met the requirement of a discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service under conditions other than dishonorable before (i) the nature of such discharge or release was changed by appropriate authority, or (ii) the Secretary determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, that such discharge or release was under conditions other th
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 3103
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Under regulations prescribed by the President pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary may pay the actual necessary expense of travel (including lodging and subsistence), or in lieu thereof an allowance based upon mileage (at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile), of any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Actual necessary expense of travel includes the reasonable costs of airfare if travel by air is the only practical way to reach a Department facility. In addition to the mileage allowance authorized by this section, there may be allowed reimbursement for the actual cost of ferry fares, and bridge, road, and tunnel tolls.
**(b)**
(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and notwithstanding subsection (g)(2) of this section or any other provision of law, if, with respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary exercises the authority under this section to make any payments, the Secretary shall make the payments provided for in this section to or for the following persons for travel during such fiscal year for examination, treatment, or care for which the person is eligible:
(A) A veteran or other person whose travel is in connection with treatment or care for a service-connected disability.
(B) A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more.
(C) A veteran receiving pension under [section 1521 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1521&num=0&edition=prelim).
(D) A veteran (i) who is not traveling by air and whose annual income (as determined under [secti
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 111
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** For the purposes of this chapter, a person shall be considered to be permanently and totally disabled if such person is any of the following:
(1) A patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of disability.
(2) Disabled, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security for purposes of any benefits administered by the Commissioner.
(3) Unemployable as a result of disability reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the person.
(4) Suffering from—
(A) any disability which is sufficient to render it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation, but only if it is reasonably certain that such disability will continue throughout the life of the person; or
(B) any disease or disorder determined by the Secretary to be of such a nature or extent as to justify a determination that persons suffering therefrom are permanently and totally disabled.
**(b)** For the purposes of this chapter, a person shall be considered to be in need of regular aid and attendance if such person is (1) a patient in a nursing home or (2) blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.
**(c)** For the purposes of this chapter, the requirement of “permanently housebound” will be considered to have been met when the veteran is substantially confined to such veteran’s house (ward or clinical areas, if institutionalized) or immediate premises due to a disability or disabilities which it is reasonably certain will remain throughout such veteran’s lifetime.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1502
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The Secretary shall pay to the surviving spouse of each veteran of a period of war who met the service requirements prescribed in [section 1521(j) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1521/j&num=0&edition=prelim), or who at the time of death was receiving (or entitled to receive) compensation or retirement pay for a service-connected disability, pension at the rate prescribed by this section, as increased from time to time under [section 5312 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5312&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b)** If no child of the veteran is in the custody of the surviving spouse, pension shall be paid to the surviving spouse at the annual rate of $7,933, reduced by the amount of the surviving spouse’s annual income.
**(c)** If there is a child of the veteran in the custody of the surviving spouse, pension shall be paid to the surviving spouse at the annual rate of $10,385. If the surviving spouse has custody of two or more such children, the annual pension rate shall be increased by $2,020 for each such child in excess of one. In each case, the rate payable shall be reduced by the amount of the surviving spouse’s annual income and, subject to subsection (g) of this section, the annual income of each such child.
**(d)**
(1) If a surviving spouse who is entitled to pension under subsection (b) of this section is in need of regular aid and attendance, the annual rate of pension payable to such surviving spouse shall be $12,681, reduced by the amount of the surviving spouse’s annual income.
(2) If a surviving spouse who is entitled to pension under subsection (c) of this section is in need of regular aid and attendance, the annual rate of pension payab
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1541
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