The Secretary may repair or replace any artificial limb, truss, brace, hearing aid, spectacles, or similar appliance (not including dental appliances) reasonably necessary to a veteran and belonging to such veteran which was damaged or destroyed by a fall or other accident caused by a service-connected disability for which such veteran is in receipt of, or but for the receipt of retirement pay would be entitled to, disability compensation.
38 U.S.C. § 1719
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS1991- Pub. L. 102-83, §5(a), renumbered section 619 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102-83, §4(b)(1), (2) (E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator".1976- Pub. L. 94-581 substituted "belonging to such veteran" for "belonging to him".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 94-581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94-581 set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE Pub. L. 87-850, §2, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1126, provided that: "The amendment made by this Act [enacting this section] shall apply only with respect to the repair or replacement of artificial limbs, trusses, braces, hearing aids, spectacles, and similar devices damaged or destroyed after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1962]."