Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§1702 Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War

Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 17— - HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL › § 1702

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Treats veterans of World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, and the Persian Gulf War who develop active psychosis as having gotten that condition while serving if it began within two years after they left the military and before certain cutoff dates: July 26, 1949 for World War II, February 1, 1957 for the Korean conflict, May 8, 1977 for the Vietnam era, and before the end of the two‑year period that starts on the last day of the Persian Gulf War for Gulf War veterans. Also treats Persian Gulf War veterans who develop an active mental illness other than psychosis as having it from their service if it appears within two years after discharge and before the end of the two‑year period that starts on the last day of the Persian Gulf War.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §1702

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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 July 26, 1949, in the case of a veteran of World War II, before February 1, 1957, in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, before May 8, 1977, 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)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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(2), 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. Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(1), designated existing text as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b). 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 602 of this title 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
May 8, 1977”, 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,”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–576 struck out “his” before “discharge”. 1982—Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “before
February 1, 1957, in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before
May 8, 1977,” for “or
February 1, 1957, in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before the expiration of two years following termination of the Vietnam era”. 1967—Pub. L. 90–77 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 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 1702

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73