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

38 U.S.C. § 2304

Claims for reimbursement

section 2303 of this titleApplications for payments under regarding veterans described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) of such section must be filed within two years after the burial of the veteran. If the burial allowance was not payable at the death of the veteran because of the nature of the veteran’s discharge from the service, but after the veteran’s death the veteran’s discharge has been corrected by competent authority so as to reflect a discharge from the service under conditions other than dishonorable, then the burial allowance may be paid if a claim is filed within two years from the date of correction of the discharge. If a claimant’s application is incomplete at the time it is originally submitted, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the evidence necessary to complete the application. If such evidence is not received within one year from the date of such notification, no allowance may be paid.

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1170Pub. L. 88–377 Stat. 4Pub. L. 91–24, § 783 Stat. 34Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(51)100 Stat. 3295Pub. L. 101–237, title III, § 313(b)(1)103 Stat. 2077Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406Pub. L. 116–315, title II, § 2202(b)(1)(A)134 Stat. 4985(, , , § 904; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 2304 and amended , (c)(1), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–315section 2303 of this titlesection 2302 of this title2021— substituted “Applications for payments under regarding veterans described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) of such section” for “Applications for payments under ”.

Pub. L. 102–83section 904 of this title1991— renumbered as this section and substituted “2302” for “902”.

Pub. L. 101–2371989— substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 99–5761986— substituted “the veteran’s” for “his” in three places.

Pub. L. 91–241969— substituted “two years from the date of correction of the discharge” for “two years from whichever last occurs, the date of correction of the discharge or the date of enactment of this sentence”.

Pub. L. 88–3Pub. L. 88–31963— authorized payment of a burial allowance in cases where it was not payable at death because of the nature of the veteran’s discharge, where such discharge has been corrected by competent authority to reflect conditions other than dishonorable, and the claim is filed within two years from whichever last occurs, the date of correction of the discharge or the date of enactment of [approved ].

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–315section 2202(d) of Pub. L. 116–315section 113 of this titleAmendment by applicable to deaths that occur on or after the date that is two years after , see , set out as a note under .