---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1167"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1167"
heading: "Outreach pursuant to changes in presumptions of service connection"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1167"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 11 — Compensation for Service-Connected Disability or Death"
  - "Subchapter VI — General Compensation Provisions"
---

# §1167. Outreach pursuant to changes in presumptions of service connection

- (a) **In General.—** Whenever a law, including through a regulation or Federal court decision or settlement, establishes or modifies a presumption of service connection, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) identify all claims for [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) under this chapter that—
    - (A) were submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1);
    - (B) were evaluated and denied by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) before the date on which such provision of law went into effect; and
    - (C) might have been evaluated differently had the establishment or modification been applicable to the claim; and
  - (2) pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b), conduct outreach to the claimants.
- (b) **Outreach.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall conduct outreach to inform claimants identified under [subsection (a)](#a) that they may submit a [supplemental claim](/usc/38/101.md?p=36) in light of the establishment or modification of a presumption of service connection described in [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) Outreach under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include the following:
    - (A) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall publish on the internet website of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) a notice that such [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) may elect to file a [supplemental claim](/usc/38/101.md?p=36).
    - (B) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall notify, in writing or by electronic means, [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) service organizations of the ability of such [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) to file a [supplemental claim](/usc/38/101.md?p=36).
    - (C) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall contact each claimant identified under [subsection (a)](#a) in the same manner that the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) last provided notice of a decision.

## Footnotes

[^1]: Another section 1167 is set out after section 1168.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–168, title II, § 203(a), Aug. 10, 2022, 136 Stat. 1775.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 117–168, title II, § 203(b), Aug. 10, 2022, 136 Stat. 1776, provided that: “Section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to presumptions of service connection established or modified on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2022], including pursuant to amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title].”

### Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 117–168, title II, § 203(c), Aug. 10, 2022, 136 Stat. 1776, provided that: “Nothing in this section [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note above] shall be construed as— modifying the obligations of the Department of Veterans Affairs under Federal court decisions or settlements in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2022]; or requiring a retroactively applied effective date of a supplemental claim earlier than the date a presumption of service connection is established or modified.”