Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§7333 Nondiscrimination against alcohol and drug abusers and persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Title 38 › Part PART V— - BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - PROTECTION OF PATIENT RIGHTS › § 7333

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

VA health facilities must not deny admission or treatment to veterans eligible under chapter 17 just because they abuse alcohol or drugs or have HIV. The Secretary must make rules to enforce this, and rules about treating substance abusers must follow section 7334.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §7333

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Veterans eligible for treatment under chapter 17 of this title who are alcohol or drug abusers or who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus shall not be discriminated against in admission or treatment by any Department health-care facility solely because of their alcohol or drug abuse or dependency or because of their viral infection.
(b)The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the enforcement of this section. Such regulations, with respect to the admission and treatment of such veterans who are alcohol or drug abusers, shall be prescribed in accordance with section 7334 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40, § 401(a)(4)(A), renumbered section 4133 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(2), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–40, §§ 402(d)(1), 403(a)(1), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” and “7334” for “4134”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–322 substituted “Nondiscrimination against alcohol and drug abusers and persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus” for “Nondiscrimination in the admission of alcohol and drug abusers to Veterans’ Administration health care facilities” as section catchline, and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Veterans eligible for treatment under chapter 17 of this title who are alcohol or drug abusers and who are suffering from medical disabilities shall not be discriminated against in admission or treatment, solely because of their alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, by any Veterans’ Administration health care facility. The Administrator, pursuant to the provisions of section 4134 of this title, shall prescribe

Regulations

for the

Enforcement

of this nondiscrimination policy with respect to the admission and treatment of such eligible veterans who are alcohol or drug abusers.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Restriction on Testing for Infection With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pub. L. 100–322, title I, § 124, May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 505, as amended by Pub. L. 102–83, § 6(j)(3), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 409, provided that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs could not conduct a widespread program to test for the human immunodeficiency virus unless funds for the program were appropriated, with an exception for voluntary testing, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–387, title IV, § 407, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4130.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 7333

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73