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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§7312 Special Medical Advisory Group

Title 38 › PART V — BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES › CHAPTER 73 — VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION › § 7312

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create a special medical advisory group to give advice to the Secretary and to the Under Secretary for Health about caring for disabled veterans and other VA health matters. Members are chosen by the Secretary after the Under Secretary for Health recommends them. The group includes doctors and other health professionals (like dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, and related scientists), other people with relevant experience, and one disabled veteran. The group must meet regularly as the Secretary decides. How many members there are, how long they serve, and any pay or allowances follow current law and rules. By February 1 each year the group must send a report to the Secretary and to Congress about what it did in the prior fiscal year. No reports are required after December 31, 2004.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §7312

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the special medical advisory group. The advisory group shall advise the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, and the Under Secretary for Health directly, relative to the care and treatment of disabled veterans and other matters pertinent to the Administration.
(b)Members of the special medical advisory group shall be appointed by the Secretary upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health. The special medical advisory group shall be composed of—
(1)members of the medical, dental, podiatric, optometric, and allied scientific professions;
(2)other individuals considered by the Under Secretary for Health to have experience pertinent to the mission of the Administration; and
(3)a disabled veteran.
(c)The special medical advisory group shall meet on a regular basis as prescribed by the Secretary. The number, terms of service, pay, and allowances of members of the advisory group shall be prescribed in accordance with existing law and regulations.
(d)Not later than February 1 of each year, the special medical advisory group shall submit to the Secretary and the Congress a report on the activities of the advisory group during the preceding fiscal year. No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2004.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–419 inserted at end “No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2004.” 1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “the activities of the advisory group” for “the advisory groups activities”. 1992—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director” wherever appearing.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 7312

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102