38 U.S.C. § 1501 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS)
§ 1501. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter—
(1) The term “Indian Wars” means the campaigns, engagements, and expeditions of the United States military forces against Indian tribes or nations, service in which has been recognized heretofore as pensionable service.
(2) The term “World War I” includes, in the case of any veteran, any period of service performed by such veteran after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, if such veteran served in the active military, naval, or air service after April 5, 1917, and before November 12, 1918.
(3) The term “Civil War veteran” includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term “active military or naval service” includes active service in those forces.
(4) The term “period of war” means the Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, and the period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the Congress and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1134, § 501; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(1), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017; Pub. L. 95–588, title I, § 101, Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2497; Pub. L. 102–25, title III, § 333(a), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 88; renumbered § 1501, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)
heading: Prior Provisions
text: Prior sections 1500 and 1501 were renumbered sections 3100 and 3101 of this title, respectively.
Another prior section 1501, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 93–508, title I, § 101(1), Dec. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1578, defined “World War II” and “vocational rehabilitation” for purposes of chapter 31 of this title, prior to the general revision of chapter 31 of this title by Pub. L. 96–466. Section 802(a)(3) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3100 of this title, provided that this prior section 1501 continue in effect until Mar. 31, 1981.
heading: Amendments
text: 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 501 of this title as this section.
Par. (4). Pub. L. 102–25 inserted “the Persian Gulf War,” after “the Vietnam era,”.
1978—Par. (4). Pub. L. 95–588 added par. (4).
1975—Par. (2). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “him”.
heading: Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 95–588 effective Jan. 1, 1979, see section 401 of Pub. L. 95–588, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1975 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.
heading: Pension Program for Nonservice-Connected Disability or Death; Report by Administrator
text: Pub. L. 94–432, title IV, § 404, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1372, provided that, due to certain insufficiencies in pension program for nonservice-connected disability or death authorized by this chapter, and lack of sufficient long-range information as to actual and anticipated financial characteristics of potential pensioners and their families upon which to estimate costs of existing alternative pension programs, it was necessary for Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to study existing and alternative nonservice-connected pension programs and to submit a report to Congress and the President not later than Oct. 1, 1977, on alternative courses of legislative and administrative action and long-range cost estimates therefor.
heading: Study of Needs and Problems of Veterans and Their Widows Seventy-Two Years of Age or Older; Report by Administrator
text: Pub. L. 93–527, § 8, Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 1705, directed Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to study needs and problems of veterans and their widows seventy-two years of age or older and required him to report to Congress and President not later than one hundred and eighty days after convening of Ninety-fourth Congress results of study together with any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.