Us Code § 1323 - Certifications with respect to circumstances of death
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1323 — Certifications with respect to circumstances of death, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1323. Certifications with respect to circumstances of death
Whenever the Secretary determines on the basis of a claim for benefits filed with the Secretary that a death occurred under the circumstances referred to in section 1476(a) of title 10, the Secretary shall certify that fact to the Secretary concerned. In all other cases, the Secretary shall make the determination referred to in such section at the request of the Secretary concerned.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1133, §423; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, §405(19), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1380; Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(4), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 283; renumbered §1323 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§4(b)(1), (2)(E), (3)(A), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Prior sections 1401, 1402, 1411 to 1419, 1421 to 1423, 1431 to 1436, and 1500 were renumbered sections 3001, 3002, 3011 to 3019, 3021 to 3023, 3031 to former 3036, and 3100 of this title, respectively.
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), renumbered section 423 of this title as this section.
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(3)(A), substituted "Certifications with respect to circumstances of death" for "Certifications by Administrator" in section catchline.
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary determines" for "Administrator determines", "Secretary that" for "Administrator that", and in two places "Secretary shall" for "Administrator shall".
Pub. L. 102–54 struck out "or section 321(b) of title 32," after "title 10," and "1476(a) or 321(b)" after "such section".
1976—Pub. L. 94–433 substituted "with the Administrator" for "with him" and "the Administrator" for "he" before "shall certify" and "shall make".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–433 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 406 of Pub. L. 94–433, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
CHAPTER 15—PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL
SUBCHAPTER II—VETERANS' PENSIONS
Service Pension
Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension
SUBCHAPTER III—PENSIONS TO SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN
Wars Before World War I
Other Periods of War
SUBCHAPTER IV—ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD MEDAL OF HONOR ROLL
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2013—Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, §563(c)(2), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 768, struck out items 1560 "Medal of Honor Roll; persons eligible" and 1561 "Certificate".
2001—Pub. L. 107–103, title II, §207(a)(2), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 991, added item 1513.
1992—Pub. L. 102–568, title IV, §§402(c)(2)(B), 403(b)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4337, 4338, substituted "Vocational training for certain pension recipients" for "Temporary program of vocational training for certain new pension recipients" in item 1524 and "Protection" for "Temporary protection" in item 1525.
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, §5(b)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, renumbered items 501 to 562 as 1501 to 1562, respectively.
Pub. L. 102–25, title III, §333(c)(2), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 88, substituted "
1986—Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, §703(b)(3), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3303, inserted "program of" after "Temporary" in item 524.
1984—Pub. L. 98–543, title III, §301(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 2746, added items 524 and 525.
1982—Pub. L. 97–295, §4(14), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1305, substituted "Honor Roll" for "honor roll" in item 560.
1978—Pub. L. 95–588, title I, §§104(b), 106(b), 109(b), 110(b), 112(b), Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2499, 2502, 2504, 2505, added item 508, substituted "Veterans of a period of war" for "Veterans of the Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam era" in item 521, substituted "Surviving spouses of veterans of a period of war" for "Surviving spouses of Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, Korean conflict, or Vietnam era veterans" in item 541, substituted "Children of veterans of a period of war" for "Children of Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, Korean conflict, or Vietnam era veterans" in item 542, struck out heading "
1975—Pub. L. 94–169, title I, §§101(2)(J), 106(24), (30), (38), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1014, 1018, 1019, struck out items 510 relating to confederate forces veterans, and 531 relating to widows of Mexican War veterans, substituted "Surviving Spouses" for "Widows" in heading of Subchapter III and subheading preceding item 544, and substituted "Surviving spouses" for "Widows" in items 532, 534, 536 and 541.
1970—Pub. L. 91–588, §9(h), Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1585, inserted references to the Mexican border period in subheading preceding item 541 and in items 521, 541, and 542, respectively.
1967—Pub. L. 90–77, title I, §108(b), title II, §202(i), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 180, 183, added item 544 and included references to Vietnam era in subheading preceding item 541 and in items 521, 541, and 542, respectively.
1966—Pub. L. 89–467, §1(b), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 218, added item 507.
1963—Pub. L. 88–77, §5(3), July 25, 1963, 77 Stat. 96, substituted "ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD" for "ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE", in heading of Subchapter IV.
1961—Pub. L. 87–138, §2(b), Aug. 14, 1961, 75 Stat. 339, struck out "entitling holder to pension" after "Certificate" in item 561.
1959—Pub. L. 86–211, §7(a), Aug. 29, 1959, 73 Stat. 436, substituted "Determinations with respect to annual income" for "Items not considered in determining income" in item 503, "Net worth limitation" for "Income limitations" in item 522, and "Net worth limitation" for "Widows of World War II or Korean conflict veterans" in item 543, included widows of World War II and Korean conflict veterans in item 541 and children of World War II and Korean conflict veterans in item 542, added item 506, and struck out items 544 and 545 which related to children of World War II or Korean conflict veterans and to income limitations.
SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL
About This Section
38 U.S.C. § 1323 is part of Title 38 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 38 U.S.C. § 1323. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.