Section 49.1 - [Effective 11/18/2024] Purpose and authority(a) Under 22 U.S.C. 2680b(i) , the Secretary of Defense may provide a payment for a qualifying injury to the brain to a covered employee or covered dependent, as defined in this part, who incurred a qualifying injury to the brain on or after January 1, 2016. The authority to provide such payments is at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary's designees.(b) These regulations are issued in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 2680b(i)(4) and apply to covered employees of the Department of Defense (current and former employees) and covered dependents.