Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1117&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2020-01-26 07:45:06
Document Index: 555154166

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1117', '§106', '§1602', '§202', '§503', '§202', '§202', '§203', '§106', '§101', '§806', '§105', '§1603', '§202', '§806', '§806', '§102', '§352', '§107', '§205', '§144', '§144', '§352']

[USC02] 38 USC 1117: Compensation for disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf War veterans
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38 USC 1117: Compensation for disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf War veterans Text contains those laws in effect on January 25, 2020
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(a)(1) The Secretary may pay compensation under this subchapter to a Persian Gulf veteran with a qualifying chronic disability that became manifest-
(c)(1) Whenever the Secretary determines under section 1118(c) of this title that a presumption of service connection previously established under this section is no longer warranted-
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in a case in which-
(Added Pub. L. 103–446, title I, §106(a)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4650 ; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XVI, §1602(c), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–744 ; Pub. L. 107–103, title II, §§202(a), (b)(1), (d)(1), 203(a), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 988 , 989; Pub. L. 109–233, title V, §503(1), June 15, 2006, 120 Stat. 415 .)
2006-Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 109–233 substituted "notwithstanding" for "nothwithstanding".
2001-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–103, §202(a)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "The Secretary may pay compensation under this subchapter to any Persian Gulf veteran suffering from a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness (or combination of undiagnosed illnesses) that-
1998-Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 105–277 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f), respectively.
Pub. L. 107–103, title II, §202(c), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 989 , provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 1118 of this title] shall take effect on March 1, 2002."
Pub. L. 107–103, title II, §203(b), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 990 , provided that: "The authority provided by subsection (h) of section 1117 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to any medical research project of the Department of Veterans Affairs, whether commenced before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2001]."
Pub. L. 103–446, title I, §106(d), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4651 , provided that: "If the Secretary states in the report under subsection (c) [set out below] that the Secretary intends to pay compensation as provided in section 1117 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which such report is submitted, publish in the Federal Register proposed regulations under subsections (b) and (c) of that section."
Pub. L. 105–368, title I, §101, Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3317 , as amended by Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, §806(b)(1), (2), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2891 , provided that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs was to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to review and evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding associations between illness and service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and that the section would cease to be effective on Oct. 1, 2018.
Pub. L. 105–368, title I, §105, Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3324 , provided that:
"(a) Assessment by National Academy of Sciences.-Not later than April 1, 1999, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review the available scientific data in order to-
"(b) Action on Report.-(1) After receiving the final report of the National Academy of Sciences under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, if a reasonable and scientifically feasible methodology is identified by the Academy, develop an appropriate mechanism to monitor and study the effectiveness of treatments furnished to, and health outcomes of, Persian Gulf War veterans who suffer from diagnosed and undiagnosed illnesses which may be associated with their service in the Persian Gulf War.
Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XVI, §§1603–1605, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–745 to 2681-748, as amended by Pub. L. 107–103, title II, §202(d)(2), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 989 ; Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, §806(a), (b)(3), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2890 , 2893, provided that:
"(a) Purpose.-The purpose of this section is to provide for the National Academy of Sciences, an independent nonprofit scientific organization with appropriate expertise, to review and evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding associations between illnesses and exposure to toxic agents, environmental or wartime hazards, or preventive medicines or vaccines associated with Gulf War service.
"(b) Agreement.-The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the Academy to perform the activities covered by this section. The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement not later than two months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].
"(c) Identification of Agents and Illnesses.-(1) Under the agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall-
"(d) Initial Consideration of Specific Agents.-(1) In identifying under subsection (c) the agents, hazards, or preventive medicines or vaccines to which members of the Armed Forces may have been exposed for purposes of the first report under subsection (i), the National Academy of Sciences shall consider, within the first six months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], the following:
"(e) Determinations of Associations Between Agents and Illnesses.-(1) For each agent, hazard, or medicine or vaccine and illness identified under subsection (c), the National Academy of Sciences shall determine, to the extent that available scientific data permit meaningful determinations-
"(f) Review of Potential Treatment Models for Certain Illnesses.-Under the agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall separately review, for each chronic undiagnosed illness identified under subsection (c)(1)(B) and for any other chronic illness that the Academy determines to warrant such review, the available scientific data in order to identify empirically valid models of treatment for such illnesses which employ successful treatment modalities for populations with similar symptoms.
"(g) Recommendations for Additional Scientific Studies.-(1) Under the agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall make any recommendations that it considers appropriate for additional scientific studies (including studies relating to treatment models) to resolve areas of continuing scientific uncertainty relating to the health consequences of exposure to toxic agents, environmental or wartime hazards, or preventive medicines or vaccines associated with service described in subsection (c)(1)(A).
"(h) Subsequent Reviews.-(1) Under the agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct on a periodic and ongoing basis additional reviews of the evidence and data relating to its activities under this section.
"(2) As part of each review under this subsection, the Academy shall-
"(i) Reports.-(1) Under the agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the committees and officials referred to in paragraph (6) periodic written reports regarding the Academy's activities under the agreement.
"(2) The first report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998]. That report shall include-
"(j) Sunset.-This section shall cease to be effective on October 1, 2015.
"(k) Alternative Contract Scientific Organization.-(1) If the Secretary is unable within the time period set forth in subsection (b) to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the purposes of this section on terms acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement for purposes of this section with another appropriate scientific organization that is not part of the Government, operates as a not-for-profit entity, and has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the National Academy of Sciences.
"[SEC. 1604. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, §806(b)(3), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893 .]
Pub. L. 103–446, title I, §§102–105, 107, 109, 110, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4647–4650 , 4652-4654, as amended by Pub. L. 104–262, title III, §352(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3210 ; Pub. L. 105–368, title I, §107, Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3325 ; Pub. L. 106–117, title II, §205(b), (c), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1563 ; Pub. L. 115–182, title I, §144(a)(3), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1430 , provided that:
"The purposes of this title [see Short Title of 1994 Amendments note under section 101 of this title] are-
"(a) Uniform Medical Evaluation Protocol.-(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a uniform and comprehensive medical evaluation protocol that will ensure appropriate medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Persian Gulf War veterans who are suffering from illnesses the origins of which are (as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 2, 1994]) unknown and that may be attributable to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The protocol shall include an evaluation of complaints relating to illnesses involving the reproductive system.
"(b) Relationship to Other Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Protocols.-The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure that the information collected through the protocol described in this section is collected and maintained in a manner that permits the effective and efficient cross-reference of that information with information collected and maintained through the comprehensive clinical protocols of the Department of Defense for Persian Gulf War veterans.
"(c) Case Definitions and Diagnoses.-The Secretary shall develop case definitions or diagnoses for illnesses associated with the service described in subsection (a)(1). The Secretary shall develop such definitions or diagnoses at the earliest possible date.
[ Pub. L. 115–182, title I, §144(a)(3), (b), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1430 , provided that, effective on the date described in section 101(b), set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment note under section 1703 of this title, section 104(a)(4)(A) of Pub. L. 103–446, set out above, is amended by substituting "in sections 1703A, 8111, and 8153" for "in section 1703".]
"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement a comprehensive outreach program to inform Persian Gulf War veterans and their families of the medical care and other benefits that may be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense arising from service in the Persian Gulf War.
"(b) Newsletter.-(1) The outreach program shall include a newsletter which shall be updated and distributed at least semi-annually and shall be distributed to the veterans listed on the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry. The newsletter shall include summaries of the status and findings of Government sponsored research on illnesses of Persian Gulf War veterans and their families, as well as on benefits available to such individuals through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The newsletter shall be prepared in consultation with veterans service organizations.
"(c) Toll-Free Number.-The outreach program shall include establishment of a toll-free telephone number to provide Persian Gulf War veterans and their families information on the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry, health care and other benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate. Such toll-free telephone number shall be established not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 2, 1994].
"(a) Evaluation Program.-Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a program to evaluate the health status of spouses and children of Persian Gulf War veterans. Under the program, the Secretary shall provide for the conduct of diagnostic testing and appropriate medical examinations of any individual-
"(1) who is the spouse or child of a veteran who-
"(b) Duration of Program.-The program shall be carried out during the period beginning on November 1, 1994, and ending on December 31, 2003.
"(c) Funding Limitation.-The amount spent for the program under subsection (a) may not exceed $2,000,000.
"(d) Contracting.-The Secretary may provide for the conduct of testing and examinations under subsection (a) through appropriate contract arrangements, including fee arrangements described in section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
"(e) Standard Protocols and Guidelines.-The Secretary shall seek to ensure uniform development of medical data through the development of standard protocols and guidelines for such testing and examinations. If such protocols and guidelines have not been adopted before the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 2, 1994], the Secretary shall, before the end of such period, submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report as to why such protocols and guidelines have not yet been developed.
"(f) Entry of Results in Registry.-The results of diagnostic tests, medical histories, and medical examinations conducted under subsection (a) shall be entered into the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry.
"(g) Outreach.-The Secretary shall conduct such outreach activities as the Secretary determines necessary for the purposes of the program. In conducting such outreach activities, the Secretary shall advise that medical treatment is not available under the program.
"(h) Use Outside Department of Standard Protocols and Guidelines.-The Secretary shall-
"(i) Report to Congress.-Not later than July 31, 1999, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on activities with respect to the program, including the provision of services under subsection (d).
"(j) Definitions.-For purposes of this section, the terms 'child' and 'spouse' have the meanings given those terms in paragraphs (4) and (31), respectively, of section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a survey of Persian Gulf veterans to gather information on the incidence and nature of health problems occurring in Persian Gulf veterans and their families.
"(b) Coordination With Department of Defense.-Any survey under subsection (a) shall be carried out in coordination with the Secretary of Defense.
"(c) Persian Gulf Veteran.-For purposes of this section, a Persian Gulf veteran is an individual who served on active duty in the Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War as defined in section 101(33) of title 38, United States Code.
"(a) Study of Health Consequences of Persian Gulf Service.-If the National Academy of Sciences includes in the report required by section 706(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–585) [set out in a note under section 527 of this title] a finding that there is a sound basis for an epidemiological study or studies on the health consequences of service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and recommends the conduct of such a study or studies, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to carry out such study.
"(b) Oversight.-(1) The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Medical Follow-Up Agency (MFUA) of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences for (A) the review of proposals to conduct the research referred to in subsection (a), (B) oversight of such research, and (C) review of the research findings.
"(c) Access to Data.-The Secretary shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make available for the purposes of any study described in subsection (a) all data that the Secretary, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences and the contractor for the study, considers relevant to the study.
"(d) Authorization.-There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department such sums as are necessary for the conduct of studies described in subsection (a)."
[ Pub. L. 104–262, title III, §352(b), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3211 , provided that: "Any diagnostic testing and medical examinations undertaken by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of the study required by subsection (a) of such section [section 107(a) of Pub. L. 103–446, set out above] during the period beginning on October 1, 1996, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1996] is hereby ratified."]