US Code

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

38 U.S.C. § 1831

Definitions

In this chapter:
(1)
The term “child” means the following:
(A)
For purposes of subchapters I and II of this chapter, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
(i)
is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
(ii)
was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
(B)
section 1821 of this title For purposes of , an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
(i)
is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Korea (as determined for purposes of that section); and
(ii)
was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection (c) of that section.
(C)
section 1822 of this title For purposes of , an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
(i)
is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of that section); and
(ii)
was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection (c) of that section.
(2)
The term “covered child” means a child who is eligible for health care and benefits under this chapter.
(3)
The term “covered veteran” means an individual whose children are eligible for health care and benefits under this chapter.
(4)
The term “Vietnam veteran” means an individual who performed active military, naval, or air service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, without regard to the characterization of that individual’s service.
(5)
The term “Vietnam era” with respect to—
(A)
subchapter I of this chapter, means the period beginning on , and ending on ; and
(B)
subchapter II of this chapter, means the period beginning on , and ending on .

Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 401(b)114 Stat. 1859Pub. L. 108–183, title I, § 102(a)(1)117 Stat. 2653Pub. L. 116–23, § 4(b)133 Stat. 971Pub. L. 118–18, § 1(a)137 Stat. 103(Added , , , § 1821; renumbered § 1831 and amended , (b), , , 2654; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 3731 of this titleA prior section 1831 was renumbered .

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–182023—Pars. (2) to (5). added pars. (2) and (3) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (4) and (5), respectively.

Pub. L. 116–23, § 4(b)(1)(A)section 1821 of this title2019—Par. (1)(B). , substituted “” for “subchapter III of this chapter” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 116–23, § 4(b)(1)(B)section 1821 of this titlePar. (1)(B)(i). , substituted “that section” for “”.

Pub. L. 116–23, § 4(b)(2)Par. (1)(C). , added subpar. (C).

Pub. L. 108–183, § 102(a)(1)section 1821 of this title2003—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 108–183, § 102(b)Par. (1). , added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “The term ‘child’ means an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—

“(A) is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and

“(B) was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–23section 4(f) of Pub. L. 116–23section 1822 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date

section 401(g) of Pub. L. 106–419section 1811 of this titleSubchapter effective on the first day of the first month beginning more than one year after , see , set out as a note under .

Memorandum of Understanding

Pub. L. 118–18, § 1(c)137 Stat. 104

“Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding—
“(1)
section 1831 of title 38 to better assist covered children (as defined in , United States Code, as amended by subsection (a)); and
“(2)
section 1836(c) of title 38 to establish conditions to be included in the report required by , United States Code, as added by subsection (b).”
, , , provided that: