---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1141"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1141"
heading: "Basic entitlement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1141"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 11 — Compensation for Service-Connected Disability or Death"
  - "Subchapter V — Peacetime Death Compensation"
---

# §1141. Basic entitlement


The [surviving spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=3), [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) or children, and [dependent](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d) [parent](/usc/38/101.md?p=5) or [parents](/usc/38/101.md?p=5) of any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who died before January 1, 1957, as the result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by [active military, naval, air, or space service](/usc/38/101.md?p=24), in line of duty, during other than a [period of war](/usc/38/1101.md?p=2), shall be entitled to receive [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) as hereinafter provided in this subchapter.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1123, § 341; Pub. L. 92–197, § 6, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(18), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1379; renumbered § 1141, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(14), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”.

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 341 of this title as this section.

1976—Pub. L. 94–433 substituted “spouse” for “widow”.

1971—Pub. L. 92–197 struck out eligibility clause when the veteran died after April 30, 1957, under circumstances described in section 417(a) of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–433 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 406 of Pub. L. 94–433, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–197 effective Jan. 1, 1972, see section 10 of Pub. L. 92–197, set out as a note under section 1311 of this title.