---
kind: "unit"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
key: "chI/part1"
level: "part"
label: "Part 1"
heading: "General Provisions"
release: "ecfr-current"
date: "2026-08-27"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/chI-part1"
sections_count: 218
---

# Part 1 — General Provisions

Title 38 C.F.R. — Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief › Chapter I — Department of Veterans Affairs

## Sections

- [§1.9. Description, use, and display of VA seal and flag.](/cfr/38/1.9.md)
- [§1.10. Eligibility for and disposition of the United States flag for burial purposes.](/cfr/38/1.10.md)
- [§1.11. Quarters for Department of Veterans Affairs employees in Government-owned or -rented buildings overseas.](/cfr/38/1.11.md)
- [§1.15. Standards for program evaluation.](/cfr/38/1.15.md)
- [§1.17. Evaluation of studies relating to health effects of radiation exposure.](/cfr/38/1.17.md)
- [§1.18. Guidelines for establishing presumptions of service connection for former prisoners of war.](/cfr/38/1.18.md)
- [§1.200. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.200.md)
- [§1.201. Employee's duty to report.](/cfr/38/1.201.md)
- [§1.203. Information to be reported to VA Police.](/cfr/38/1.203.md)
- [§1.204. Information to be reported to the Office of Inspector General.](/cfr/38/1.204.md)
- [§1.205. Notification to the Attorney General or United States Attorney's Office.](/cfr/38/1.205.md)
- [§1.218. Security and law enforcement at VA facilities.](/cfr/38/1.218.md)
- [§1.220. On-site activities by pharmaceutical company representatives at VA medical facilities.](/cfr/38/1.220.md)
- [§1.300. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.300.md)
- [§1.301. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.301.md)
- [§1.302. Applicability and scope.](/cfr/38/1.302.md)
- [§1.303. Policy.](/cfr/38/1.303.md)
- [§1.460. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.460.md)
- [§1.461. Applicability.](/cfr/38/1.461.md)
- [§1.462. Confidentiality restrictions.](/cfr/38/1.462.md)
- [§1.463. Criminal penalty for violations.](/cfr/38/1.463.md)
- [§1.464. Minor patients.](/cfr/38/1.464.md)
- [§1.465. Incompetent and deceased patients.](/cfr/38/1.465.md)
- [§1.466. Security for records.](/cfr/38/1.466.md)
- [§1.467. Restrictions on the use of identification cards and public signs.](/cfr/38/1.467.md)
- [§1.468. Relationship to Federal statutes protecting research subjects against compulsory disclosure of their identity.](/cfr/38/1.468.md)
- [§1.469. Patient access and restrictions on use.](/cfr/38/1.469.md)
- [§1.470-1.474. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.470-1.474.md)
- [§1.475. Form of written consent.](/cfr/38/1.475.md)
- [§1.476. Prohibition on redisclosure.](/cfr/38/1.476.md)
- [§1.477. Disclosures permitted with written consent.](/cfr/38/1.477.md)
- [§1.478. Disclosures to prevent multiple enrollments in detoxification and maintenance treatment programs; not applicable to records relating to sickle cell anemia or infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.](/cfr/38/1.478.md)
- [§1.479. Disclosures to elements of the criminal justice system which have referred patients.](/cfr/38/1.479.md)
- [§1.480. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.480.md)
- [§1.481. Disclosure of medical records of veterans who receive non-VA health care.](/cfr/38/1.481.md)
- [§1.482. Disclosure of medical records to recover or collect reasonable charges.](/cfr/38/1.482.md)
- [§1.483. Disclosure of information to participate in state prescription drug monitoring programs.](/cfr/38/1.483.md)
- [§1.484. Disclosure of medical information to the surrogate of a patient who lacks decision-making capacity.](/cfr/38/1.484.md)
- [§1.485. Medical emergencies.](/cfr/38/1.485.md)
- [§1.485a. Eye, organ and tissue donation.](/cfr/38/1.485a.md)
- [§1.486. Disclosure of information related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus to public health authorities.](/cfr/38/1.486.md)
- [§1.487. Disclosure of information related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus to the spouse or sexual partner of the patient.](/cfr/38/1.487.md)
- [§1.488. Research activities.](/cfr/38/1.488.md)
- [§1.489. Audit and evaluation activities.](/cfr/38/1.489.md)
- [§1.490. Legal effect of order.](/cfr/38/1.490.md)
- [§1.491. Confidential communications.](/cfr/38/1.491.md)
- [§1.492. Order not applicable to records disclosed without consent to researchers, auditors and evaluators.](/cfr/38/1.492.md)
- [§1.493. Procedures and criteria for orders authorizing disclosures for noncriminal purposes.](/cfr/38/1.493.md)
- [§1.494. Procedures and criteria for orders authorizing disclosure and use of records to criminally investigate or prosecute patients.](/cfr/38/1.494.md)
- [§1.495. Procedures and criteria for orders authorizing disclosure and use of records to investigate or prosecute VA or employees of VA.](/cfr/38/1.495.md)
- [§1.496. Orders authorizing the use of undercover agents and informants to criminally investigate employees or agents of VA.](/cfr/38/1.496.md)
- [§1.497-1.499. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.497-1.499.md)
- [§1.500. General.](/cfr/38/1.500.md)
- [§1.501. Release of information by the Secretary.](/cfr/38/1.501.md)
- [§1.502. Disclosure of the amount of monetary benefits.](/cfr/38/1.502.md)
- [§1.503. Disclosure of information to a veteran or his or her duly authorized representative as to matters concerning the veteran alone.](/cfr/38/1.503.md)
- [§1.504. Disclosure of information to a widow, child, or other claimant.](/cfr/38/1.504.md)
- [§1.505. Genealogy.](/cfr/38/1.505.md)
- [§1.506. Disclosure of records to Federal Government departments, State unemployment compensation agencies, and the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.](/cfr/38/1.506.md)
- [§1.507. Disclosures to members of Congress.](/cfr/38/1.507.md)
- [§1.508. Disclosure in cases where claimants are charged with or convicted of criminal offenses.](/cfr/38/1.508.md)
- [§1.509. Disclosure to courts in proceedings in the nature of an inquest.](/cfr/38/1.509.md)
- [§1.510. Disclosure to insurance companies cooperating with the Department of Justice in the defense of insurance suits against the United States.](/cfr/38/1.510.md)
- [§1.511. Disclosure of claimant records in connection with judicial proceedings generally.](/cfr/38/1.511.md)
- [§1.512. Disclosure of loan guaranty information.](/cfr/38/1.512.md)
- [§1.513. Disclosure of information contained in Armed Forces service and related medical records in Department of Veterans Affairs custody.](/cfr/38/1.513.md)
- [§1.514. Disclosure to private physicians and hospitals other than Department of Veterans Affairs.](/cfr/38/1.514.md)
- [§1.514a. Disclosure to private psychologists.](/cfr/38/1.514a.md)
- [§1.514b. Disclosures to procurement organizations.](/cfr/38/1.514b.md)
- [§1.515. Disclosure of information to participate in state prescription drug monitoring programs.](/cfr/38/1.515.md)
- [§1.516. Disclosure of information to undertaker concerning burial of a deceased veteran.](/cfr/38/1.516.md)
- [§1.517. Disclosure of vocational rehabilitation and education information to educational institutions cooperating with the Department of Veterans Affairs.](/cfr/38/1.517.md)
- [§1.518. Addresses of claimants.](/cfr/38/1.518.md)
- [§1.519. Lists of names and addresses.](/cfr/38/1.519.md)
- [§1.520. Confidentiality of social data.](/cfr/38/1.520.md)
- [§1.521. Special restrictions concerning social security records.](/cfr/38/1.521.md)
- [§1.522. Determination of the question as to whether disclosure will be prejudicial to the mental or physical health of claimant.](/cfr/38/1.522.md)
- [§1.523. To commanding officers of State soldiers' homes.](/cfr/38/1.523.md)
- [§1.524. Persons authorized to represent claimants.](/cfr/38/1.524.md)
- [§1.525. Inspection of records by or disclosure of information to recognized representatives of organizations and recognized attorneys.](/cfr/38/1.525.md)
- [§1.526. Copies of records and papers.](/cfr/38/1.526.md)
- [§1.527. Administrative review.](/cfr/38/1.527.md)
- [§1.550. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.550.md)
- [§1.551. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.551.md)
- [§1.552. General provisions.](/cfr/38/1.552.md)
- [§1.553. Public reading rooms and discretionary disclosures.](/cfr/38/1.553.md)
- [§1.554. Requirements for making requests.](/cfr/38/1.554.md)
- [§1.555. Responsibility for responding to requests.](/cfr/38/1.555.md)
- [§1.556. Timing of responses to requests.](/cfr/38/1.556.md)
- [§1.557. Responses to requests.](/cfr/38/1.557.md)
- [§1.558. Business information.](/cfr/38/1.558.md)
- [§1.559. Appeals.](/cfr/38/1.559.md)
- [§1.560. Maintenance and preservation of records.](/cfr/38/1.560.md)
- [§1.561. Fees.](/cfr/38/1.561.md)
- [§1.562. Other rights and services.](/cfr/38/1.562.md)
- [§1.575. Social security numbers in veterans' benefits matters.](/cfr/38/1.575.md)
- [§1.576. General policies, conditions of disclosure, accounting of certain disclosures, and definitions.](/cfr/38/1.576.md)
- [§1.577. Access to records.](/cfr/38/1.577.md)
- [§1.578. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.578.md)
- [§1.579. Amendment of records.](/cfr/38/1.579.md)
- [§1.580. Administrative review.](/cfr/38/1.580.md)
- [§1.581. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.581.md)
- [§1.582. Exemptions.](/cfr/38/1.582.md)
- [§1.583-1.584. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.583-1.584.md)
- [§1.600. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.600.md)
- [§1.601. Qualifications for access.](/cfr/38/1.601.md)
- [§1.602. Utilization of access.](/cfr/38/1.602.md)
- [§1.603. Revocation and reconsideration.](/cfr/38/1.603.md)
- [§1.650. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.650.md)
- [§1.651. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.651.md)
- [§1.652. Criteria for determining rights to employee inventions.](/cfr/38/1.652.md)
- [§1.653. Delegation of authority.](/cfr/38/1.653.md)
- [§1.654. Patenting of inventions.](/cfr/38/1.654.md)
- [§1.655. Government license in invention of employee.](/cfr/38/1.655.md)
- [§1.656. Information to be submitted by inventor.](/cfr/38/1.656.md)
- [§1.657. Determination of rights.](/cfr/38/1.657.md)
- [§1.658. Right of appeal.](/cfr/38/1.658.md)
- [§1.659. Relationship to incentive awards program.](/cfr/38/1.659.md)
- [§1.660. Expeditious handling.](/cfr/38/1.660.md)
- [§1.661. Information to be kept confidential.](/cfr/38/1.661.md)
- [§1.662. Provisions of regulations made a condition of employment.](/cfr/38/1.662.md)
- [§1.663. Licensing of Government-owned inventions.](/cfr/38/1.663.md)
- [§1.664-1.666. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.664-1.666.md)
- [§1.670. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.670.md)
- [§1.671. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.671.md)
- [§1.672. Responsibilities.](/cfr/38/1.672.md)
- [§1.673. Responsibility for violations of the administrative subdivision of funds.](/cfr/38/1.673.md)
- [§1.700. Purpose.](/cfr/38/1.700.md)
- [§1.701. Contact person for missing children official mail program.](/cfr/38/1.701.md)
- [§1.702. Policy.](/cfr/38/1.702.md)
- [§1.703. Percentage estimate.](/cfr/38/1.703.md)
- [§1.704. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.704.md)
- [§1.705. Restrictions on use of missing children information.](/cfr/38/1.705.md)
- [§1.710. Homeless claimants: Delivery of benefit payments and correspondence.](/cfr/38/1.710.md)
- [§1.780-1.783. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.780-1.783.md)
- [§1.891. Purpose of program.](/cfr/38/1.891.md)
- [§1.892. Review of positions.](/cfr/38/1.892.md)
- [§1.893. Establishing and converting part-time positions.](/cfr/38/1.893.md)
- [§1.894. Annual goals and timetables.](/cfr/38/1.894.md)
- [§1.895. Review and evaluation.](/cfr/38/1.895.md)
- [§1.896. Publicizing vacancies.](/cfr/38/1.896.md)
- [§1.897. Exceptions.](/cfr/38/1.897.md)
- [§1.900. Prescription of standards.](/cfr/38/1.900.md)
- [§1.901. No private rights created.](/cfr/38/1.901.md)
- [§1.902. Antitrust, fraud, and tax and interagency claims.](/cfr/38/1.902.md)
- [§1.903. Settlement, waiver, or compromise under other statutory or regulatory authority.](/cfr/38/1.903.md)
- [§1.904. Form of payment.](/cfr/38/1.904.md)
- [§1.905. Subdivision of claims not authorized.](/cfr/38/1.905.md)
- [§1.906. Required administrative proceedings.](/cfr/38/1.906.md)
- [§1.907. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.907.md)
- [§1.910. Aggressive collection action.](/cfr/38/1.910.md)
- [§1.911. Collection of debts owed by reason of participation in a benefits program.](/cfr/38/1.911.md)
- [§1.911a. Collection of non-benefit debts.](/cfr/38/1.911a.md)
- [§1.912. Collection by offset.](/cfr/38/1.912.md)
- [§1.912a. Collection by offset—from VA benefit payments.](/cfr/38/1.912a.md)
- [§1.913. Liquidation of collateral.](/cfr/38/1.913.md)
- [§1.914. Collection in installments.](/cfr/38/1.914.md)
- [§1.915. Interest, administrative costs, and penalties.](/cfr/38/1.915.md)
- [§1.916. Disclosure of debt information to consumer reporting agencies (CRA).](/cfr/38/1.916.md)
- [§1.917. Contracting for collection services.](/cfr/38/1.917.md)
- [§1.918. Use and disclosure of mailing addresses.](/cfr/38/1.918.md)
- [§1.919. Administrative offset against amounts payable from Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), final salary check, and lump sum leave payments.](/cfr/38/1.919.md)
- [§1.920. Referral of VA debts.](/cfr/38/1.920.md)
- [§1.921. Analysis of costs.](/cfr/38/1.921.md)
- [§1.922. Exemptions.](/cfr/38/1.922.md)
- [§1.923. Administrative wage garnishment.](/cfr/38/1.923.md)
- [§1.924. Suspension or revocation of eligibility for federal loans, loan insurance, loan guarantees, licenses, permits, or privileges.](/cfr/38/1.924.md)
- [§1.929. Reduction of debt through performance of work-study services.](/cfr/38/1.929.md)
- [§1.930. Scope and application.](/cfr/38/1.930.md)
- [§1.931. Bases for compromise.](/cfr/38/1.931.md)
- [§1.932. Enforcement policy.](/cfr/38/1.932.md)
- [§1.933. Joint and several liability.](/cfr/38/1.933.md)
- [§1.934. Further review of compromise offers.](/cfr/38/1.934.md)
- [§1.935. Consideration of tax consequences to the Government.](/cfr/38/1.935.md)
- [§1.936. Mutual releases of the debtor and VA.](/cfr/38/1.936.md)
- [§1.940. Scope and application.](/cfr/38/1.940.md)
- [§1.941. Suspension of collection activity.](/cfr/38/1.941.md)
- [§1.942. Termination of collection activity.](/cfr/38/1.942.md)
- [§1.943. Exception to termination.](/cfr/38/1.943.md)
- [§1.944. Discharge of indebtedness; reporting requirements.](/cfr/38/1.944.md)
- [§1.945. Authority to suspend or terminate collection action on certain benefit indebtedness; authority for refunds.](/cfr/38/1.945.md)
- [§1.950. Prompt referral.](/cfr/38/1.950.md)
- [§1.951. Claims Collection Litigation Report (CCLR).](/cfr/38/1.951.md)
- [§1.952. Preservation of evidence.](/cfr/38/1.952.md)
- [§1.953. Minimum amount of referrals to the Department of Justice.](/cfr/38/1.953.md)
- [§1.955. Regional office Committees on Waivers and Compromises.](/cfr/38/1.955.md)
- [§1.956. Jurisdiction.](/cfr/38/1.956.md)
- [§1.957. Committee authority.](/cfr/38/1.957.md)
- [§1.958. Finality of decisions.](/cfr/38/1.958.md)
- [§1.959. Records and certificates.](/cfr/38/1.959.md)
- [§1.960. Legal and technical assistance.](/cfr/38/1.960.md)
- [§1.961. Releases.](/cfr/38/1.961.md)
- [§1.962. Waiver of overpayments.](/cfr/38/1.962.md)
- [§1.963. Waiver; other than loan guaranty.](/cfr/38/1.963.md)
- [§1.963a. Waiver; erroneous payments of pay and allowances.](/cfr/38/1.963a.md)
- [§1.964. Waiver; loan guaranty.](/cfr/38/1.964.md)
- [§1.965. Application of standard.](/cfr/38/1.965.md)
- [§1.966. Scope of waiver decisions.](/cfr/38/1.966.md)
- [§1.967. Refunds.](/cfr/38/1.967.md)
- [§1.968. Reserved](/cfr/38/1.968.md)
- [§1.969. Revision of waiver decisions.](/cfr/38/1.969.md)
- [§1.970. Standards for compromise.](/cfr/38/1.970.md)
- [§1.980. Scope.](/cfr/38/1.980.md)
- [§1.981. Definitions.](/cfr/38/1.981.md)
- [§1.982. Salary offsets of debts involving benefits under the laws administered by VA.](/cfr/38/1.982.md)
- [§1.983. Notice requirements before salary offsets of debts not involving benefits under the laws administered by VA.](/cfr/38/1.983.md)
- [§1.984. Request for a hearing.](/cfr/38/1.984.md)
- [§1.985. Form, notice of, and conduct of hearing.](/cfr/38/1.985.md)
- [§1.986. Result if employee fails to meet deadlines.](/cfr/38/1.986.md)
- [§1.987. Review by the hearing official or administrative law judge.](/cfr/38/1.987.md)
- [§1.988. Written decision following a hearing requested under § 1.984.](/cfr/38/1.988.md)
- [§1.989. Review of VA records related to the debt.](/cfr/38/1.989.md)
- [§1.990. Written agreement to repay debt as alternative to salary offset.](/cfr/38/1.990.md)
- [§1.991. Procedures for salary offset: when deductions may begin.](/cfr/38/1.991.md)
- [§1.992. Procedures for salary offset.](/cfr/38/1.992.md)
- [§1.993. Non-waiver of rights.](/cfr/38/1.993.md)
- [§1.995. Requesting recovery through centralized administrative offset.](/cfr/38/1.995.md)
- [§1.1000. Garnishment of payments after disbursement.](/cfr/38/1.1000.md)