Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§7432 Pay of Under Secretary for Health

Title 38 › Part V— BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES › Chapter 74— VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—PERSONNEL › Subchapter III— PAY FOR PHYSICIANS, PODIATRISTS, OPTOMETRISTS, AND DENTISTS › § 7432

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Under Secretary for Health is paid the same annual basic rate as jobs at Level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5314). If the Under Secretary is a physician, podiatrist, optometrist, or dentist, they may also receive the extra market-based pay that physicians and dentists get under section 7431(c). The Secretary sets how much that extra pay is and must use an appropriate health-care labor market to decide the amount. All pay here counts for everything, including retirement under chapters 83 and 84 of title 5 and other benefits.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §7432

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The base pay of the Under Secretary for Health shall be the annual rate of basic pay for positions at Level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5.
(b)(1)In the case of an Under Secretary for Health who is also a physician, podiatrist, optometrist, or dentist, in addition to the base pay specified in subsection (a) the Under Secretary for Health may also be paid the market pay element of pay of physicians and dentists under section 7431(c) of this title.
(2)The amount of market pay of the Under Secretary for Health under this subsection shall be established by the Secretary.
(3)In establishing the amount of market pay of the Under Secretary for Health under this subsection, the Secretary shall utilize an appropriate health care labor market selected by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection.
(c)Pay under this section shall be considered pay for all purposes, including retirement benefits under chapters 83 and 84 of title 5 and other benefits.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7432, added Pub. L. 102–40, title I, § 102, May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 189; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 104–262, title III, § 346, Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3208, related to written agreements for special pay, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 108–445.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 118–210 inserted “, podiatrist, optometrist,” after “physician”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 118–210 applicable to any pay period of the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 180 days after Jan. 2, 2025, see section 142(a)(5) of Pub. L. 118–210, set out as a note under section 7431 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 7432

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60