Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§1811 Definitions
Title 38 › PART II — GENERAL BENEFITS › CHAPTER 18 — BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN OTHER VETERANS › SUBCHAPTER II — CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS › § 1811
Summary
Says who counts as an eligible child and what a covered birth defect is. Eligible child: a person who is the child of a woman Vietnam veteran (the word "child" is defined elsewhere) and who was born with one or more covered birth defects. Covered birth defect: a birth defect that the Secretary has identified or listed under the law.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1811
Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In this subchapter:
(1)The term “eligible child” means an individual who—
(A)is the child (as defined in section 1831(1) of this title) of a woman Vietnam veteran; and
(B)was born with one or more covered birth defects.
(2)The term “covered birth defect” means a birth defect identified by the Secretary under section 1812 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1811 was renumbered section 3711 of this title.
Amendments
2003—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 108–183 substituted “section 1831(1)” for “section 1821(1)”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 401(g), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1861, provided that: “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Amendments
made by this section [enacting this subchapter and subchapter III of this chapter, amending section 1802 and 1805 of this title, and repealing section 1801 and 1806 of this title] shall take effect on the first day of the first month beginning more than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 2000]. “(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall identify birth defects under section 1812 of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), and shall prescribe the
Regulations
required by subchapter II of chapter 18 of that title (as so added), not later than the
Effective Date
specified in paragraph (1).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1811
Title 38, Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102