US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1702

Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War

(a)

Psychosis .—

For the purposes of this chapter, any veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, or the Persian Gulf War who developed an active psychosis (1) within two years after discharge or release from the active military, naval, or air service, and (2) before , in the case of a veteran of World War II, before , in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, before , in the case of a Vietnam era veteran, or before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the Persian Gulf War, in the case of a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, shall be deemed to have incurred such disability in the active military, naval, or air service.
(b)

Mental Illness .—

For purposes of this chapter, any veteran of the Persian Gulf War who develops an active mental illness (other than psychosis) shall be deemed to have incurred such disability in the active military, naval, or air service if such veteran develops such disability—
(1)
within two years after discharge or release from the active military, naval, or air service; and
(2)
before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the Persian Gulf War.

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1141Pub. L. 90–77, title II, § 203(a)81 Stat. 183Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(16)96 Stat. 1306Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(20)100 Stat. 3292Pub. L. 102–25, title III, § 334(b)105 Stat. 88Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVII, § 1708(a)(1)122 Stat. 493(, , , § 602; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 1702, , , ; , (2), , , 494.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(2)2008—, substituted “Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War” for “Presumption relating to psychosis” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(1)Subsecs. (a), (b). , designated existing text as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 102–83section 602 of this title1991— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–25 substituted “the Vietnam era, or the Persian Gulf War” for “or the Vietnam era”, struck out “or” before “before ”, and inserted “or before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the Persian Gulf War, in the case of a veteran of the Persian Gulf War,” after “Vietnam era veterans,”.

Pub. L. 99–5761986— struck out “his” before “discharge”.

Pub. L. 97–2951982— substituted “before , in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before ,” for “or , in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before the expiration of two years following termination of the Vietnam era”.

Pub. L. 90–771967— made the presumption relating to psychosis applicable to any veteran of the Vietnam era who developed an active psychosis within two years after his discharge from active service and before the expiration of two years following termination of the Vietnam era.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–77section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after , see , set out as a note under .