Veterans' Radiation Exposure Amendments of 1992
PL 102-578 (S.775), enacted 10/30/1992

106 STAT. 4774 
PUBLIC LAW 102-578—OCT. 30, 1992 
Public Law 102-578 
102d Congress 
Oct. 30, 1992 
[S. 775] 
Veterans' 
Radiation 
Exposure 
Amendments 
of 1992. 
38 use 101 note. 
38 u s e 1112 
note. 
38 use 1154 
note. 
An Act 
To improve the progrcun of compensation for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation 
while in miUtary service. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the '^Veterans' Radiation Exposure 
Amendments of 1992". 
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF LIST OF DISEASES PRESUMED TO BE SERVICE 
CONNECTED FOR CERTAIN RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERANS 
AND ELIMINATION OF LATENCY-PERIOD LIMITATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1112(c) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking out "to a degree" and 
all that follows through "subsection)"; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraphs: 
"(N) Cancer of the salivary gland. 
"(O) Cancer of the urinary tract."; 
(3) by striking out paragraph (3); and 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect on October 1,1992. 
SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES RELATING TO EXPO-
SURE TO IONIZING RADIATION. 
The Veterans' Dioxin and Radiation Exposure Compensation 
Standards Act (38 U.S.C. 1154 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
"IDENTIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES INVOLVING EXPOSURE BEFORE 
JANUARY 1, 1970 
"SEC. 10. (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) In order to determine whether 
activities (other than the tests or occupation activities referred 
to in section 5(a)(1)(B)) resulted in the exposure of veterans to 
ionizing radiation during the service of such veterans that occurred 
before January 1, 1970, and whether adverse health effects have 
been observed or may have resulted from such exposure in a signifi-
cant number of such veterans, the Advisory Committee established 
under section 6 shall— 
"(A) review all available scientific studies and other rel-
evant information relating to the exposure of such veterans 
to ionizing radiation during such service; 
PUBLIC LAW 102-578—OCT. 30, 1992 
106 STAT. 4775 
"(B) identify any activity during which significant numbers 
of veterans received exposure; and 
"(C) on the basis of such review, submit to the Secretary Reports, 
of Veterans Affairs a report containing the recommendation 
of the Advisory Committee on the feasibiUty and appropriate-
ness for the purpose of the determination under this paragraph 
of any additional investigation with respect to any activity 
of such veterans during such service. 
"(2) Upon the request of the Advisory Committee, the Secretary Records, 
of Veterans Affairs (after seeking such assistance from the Secretary 
of Defense as is necessary and appropriate) shall make available 
to the Advisory Committee records and other information relating 
to the service referred to in paragraph (1) that may assist the 
Advisory Committee in carrying out the review and recommendation 
referred to in that paragraph. 
"(3) The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Secretary 
of VeterEuis Affairs the report referred to in paragraph (1)(C) not 
later than August 1,1993. 
"(b) INVESTIGATION PLAN AND REPORT.—(1) Upon receipt of 
the report referred to in subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(1), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
"(A) identify which of the activities referred to in that 
subparagraph, if anjr, that the Secretary intends to investigate 
more fully for the purpose of making the determination referred 
to in that subsection; and 
"(B) prepare a plan (including a deadline for the plan) 
to carry out that investigation and make that determination. 
"(2) Not later than December 1, 1993, the Secretary shall sub- Reports, 
mit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report containing— 
"(A) a list of the activities identified by the Secretary pursu-
ant to paragraph (1)(A) and the basis of such identification; 
"(B) a copy of the report of the Advisory Committee referred 
to in subsection (a)(1)(C); and 
"(C) the plan referred to in paragraph (1)(B).". 
SEC. 4. REVIEW OF BRONCHIO-ALVEOLAR CARCINOMA. 
(a) ADVISORY COMMITTEE REVIEW.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall direct the Advisory Committee on Environmental Haz-
ards to review pertinent scientific data relating to bronchio-alveolar 
carcinoma to determine whether such disease entity should be 
considered to be radiogenic. Based on its review, the Advisory Reports. 
Committee shall report its findings to the Secretary. 
106 STAT. 4776 
PUBLIC LAW 102-578—OCT. 30, 1992 
Reports. 
(b) DECISION BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary, based on the 
Advisory Committee's findings, shall, not later than April 1, 1993, 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report setting forth the Secretarjr's 
decision as to whether such disease entity should be presumed 
^ 
to be service connected if suffered by a radiation-exposea veteran 
(as defined by section 1112(c)(4)(A) of title 38, United States Code). 
Approved October 30, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 775: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-139 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 137 (1991): Nov. 20, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 138 (1992): Sept. 30, considered and passed House, amended: 
Oct. 7, Senate concurred in House amendments.