---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1702"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1702"
heading: "Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1702"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §1702. Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War

- (a) **Psychosis.—** For the purposes of this chapter, any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of [World War II](/usc/38/101.md?p=8), the [Korean conflict](/usc/38/101.md?p=9), the [Vietnam era](/usc/38/1831.md?p=5), or the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33) who developed an active psychosis (1) within two years after [discharge or release](/usc/38/101.md?p=18) from the active military, naval, or air service, and (2) before July 26, 1949, in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of [World War II](/usc/38/101.md?p=8), before February 1, 1957, in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of the [Korean conflict](/usc/38/101.md?p=9), before May 8, 1977, in the case of a [Vietnam era](/usc/38/1831.md?p=5) [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1), or before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33), in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33), shall be deemed to have incurred such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) in the active military, naval, or air service.
- (b) **Mental Illness.—** For purposes of this chapter, any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33) who develops an active mental [illness](/usc/38/1171.md?p=b-1) (other than psychosis) shall be deemed to have incurred such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) in the active military, naval, or air service if such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) develops such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1)—
  - (1) within two years after [discharge or release](/usc/38/101.md?p=18) from the active military, naval, or air service; and
  - (2) before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1141, § 602; Pub. L. 90–77, title II, § 203(a), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 183; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(16), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1306; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(20), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3292; Pub. L. 102–25, title III, § 334(b), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 88; renumbered § 1702, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVII, § 1708(a)(1), (2), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 493, 494.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(2), substituted “Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness after service in the Persian Gulf War” for “Presumption relating to psychosis” in section catchline.

Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1708(a)(1), designated existing text as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 602 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–25 substituted “the Vietnam era, or the Persian Gulf War” for “or the Vietnam era”, struck out “or” before “before May 8, 1977”, and inserted “or before the end of the two-year period beginning on the last day of the Persian Gulf War, in the case of a veteran of the Persian Gulf War,” after “Vietnam era veterans,”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 struck out “his” before “discharge”.

1982—Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “before February 1, 1957, in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before May 8, 1977,” for “or February 1, 1957, in the case of a veteran of the Korean conflict, or before the expiration of two years following termination of the Vietnam era”.

1967—Pub. L. 90–77 made the presumption relating to psychosis applicable to any veteran of the Vietnam era who developed an active psychosis within two years after his discharge from active service and before the expiration of two years following termination of the Vietnam era.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.