§ 503. Administrative error; equitable relief
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/usc/title-38/section-503A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(a)If the Secretary determines that benefits administered by the Department have not been provided by reason of administrative error on the part of the Federal Government or any of its employees, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
(b)If the Secretary determines that a veteran, surviving spouse, child of a veteran, or other person has suffered loss as a consequence of reliance upon a determination by the Department of eligibility or entitlement to benefits, without knowledge that it was erroneously made, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines is equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
(c)Not later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing a statement as to the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief under this section during the preceding calendar year. No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2026.
(Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 386; amended Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(1), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1864; Pub. L. 109–233, title IV, § 403, June 15, 2006, 120 Stat. 411; Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, § 808, Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, § 403, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, § 404, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, § 404, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 940; Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 404, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164;
Pub. L. 115–251, title I, § 164, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171; Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title IV, § 5402, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title II, § 203, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2137; Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, § 335, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1542; Pub. L. 119–37, div. G, title IV, § 7402, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 654.)
Connections20 cite this · traces to 10
Cited by 20 sections · top 17
U.S. Code
statutes-at-large
- Public Law 199
- Public Law 356
- Public Law 85–311
- Public Law 308
- Public Law 97–295To amend titles 10, 14, 37, and 38, United States Code, to codify recent law and to improve the Code
- Public Law 96–466To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for updated and expanded rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities, to provide a 10-percent increase in the rates of educational assistance under the GI bill, to make certain improvements in the educational assistance p
- Public Law 96–151To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorizations of appropriations for certain grant programs and to revise certain provisions regarding such programs, to revise and clarify eligibility for certain health-care benefits, to revise certain provisions relating to the personnel system
- Public Law 198for the grading and classification of clerks in the Foreign Service of the United States of America, and providing compensation therefor”, approved February 23, 1931, as amended, is amended to read as follows: " “(n) Any diplomatic secretary or consular officer who has been, Officers promoted to Amb
Traces to 10 documents
public-private-law
- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014Public Law 113-175
- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015Public Law 114-58
- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016Public Law 114-228
- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017Public Law 115-62
- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018Public Law 115-251
- Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions ActPublic Law 116-159
- Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023Public Law 117-180
- Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025Public Law 118-83
- Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026Public Law 119-37
20 references not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a)
- 105 Stat. 386
- Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(1)
- 114 Stat. 1864
- Pub. L. 109–233, title IV, § 403
- 120 Stat. 411
- Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, § 808
- 124 Stat. 2893
- 128 Stat. 1905
- 129 Stat. 535
- 130 Stat. 940
- 131 Stat. 1164
- 132 Stat. 3171
- 134 Stat. 751
- 136 Stat. 2137
- 138 Stat. 1542
- 139 Stat. 654
- Pub. L. 111–275
- Pub. L. 109–233
- Pub. L. 106–419
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cites case law
§ 503
Administrative error; equitable relief
Fed. Reg.×10
Stat.×8
C.F.R.×1
U.S.C.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a)
Stat.105 Stat. 386
Pub. L.Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(1)
Cites 30 · showing 12Cited by 20 across 4 sources