2021 US Code
Title 38 - Veterans' Benefits
Part II - General Benefits
Chapter 23 - Burial Benefits
Sec. 2304 - Claims for reimbursement

Applications for payments under section 2302 of this title must be filed within two years after the burial of the veteran. If the burial allowance was not payable at the death of the veteran because of the nature of the veteran's discharge from the service, but after the veteran's death the veteran's discharge has been corrected by competent authority so as to reflect a discharge from the service under conditions other than dishonorable, then the burial allowance may be paid if a claim is filed within two years from the date of correction of the discharge. If a claimant's application is incomplete at the time it is originally submitted, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the evidence necessary to complete the application. If such evidence is not received within one year from the date of such notification, no allowance may be paid.

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1170, §904; Pub. L. 88–3, Apr. 2, 1963, 77 Stat. 4; Pub. L. 91–24, §7, June 11, 1969, 83 Stat. 34; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, §701(51), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3295; Pub. L. 101–237, title III, §313(b)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2077; renumbered §2304 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 116–315, title II, §2202(b)(1)(A), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4985.)

Pub. L. 116–315, title II, §2202(b)(1)(A), (d), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4985, provided that, applicable to deaths that occur on or after the date that is two years after Jan. 5, 2021, this section is amended by striking "Applications for payments under section 2302 of this title" and inserting "Applications for payments under section 2303 of this title regarding veterans described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) of such section". See 2021 Amendment note below.

2021—Pub. L. 116–315 substituted "Applications for payments under section 2303 of this title regarding veterans described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) of such section" for "Applications for payments under section 2302 of this title".

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 904 of this title as this section and substituted "2302" for "902".

1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator".

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted "the veteran's" for "his" in three places.

1969—Pub. L. 91–24 substituted "two years from the date of correction of the discharge" for "two years from whichever last occurs, the date of correction of the discharge or the date of enactment of this sentence".

1963—Pub. L. 88–3 authorized payment of a burial allowance in cases where it was not payable at death because of the nature of the veteran's discharge, where such discharge has been corrected by competent authority to reflect conditions other than dishonorable, and the claim is filed within two years from whichever last occurs, the date of correction of the discharge or the date of enactment of Pub. L. 88–3 [approved Apr. 2, 1963].

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–315 applicable to deaths that occur on or after the date that is two years after Jan. 5, 2021, see section 2202(d) of Pub. L. 116–315, set out as a note under section 113 of this title.