---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1710D"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1710D"
heading: "Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive program for long-term rehabilitation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1710D"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter II — Hospital, Nursing Home, or Domiciliary Care and Medical Treatment"
---

# §1710D. Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive program for long-term rehabilitation

- (a) **Comprehensive Program.—** In developing plans for the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals with traumatic brain injury under [section 1710C of this title](/usc/38/1710C.md), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall develop and carry out a comprehensive program of long-term care and [rehabilitative services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=8) (as defined in [section 1710C of this title](/usc/38/1710C.md)) for post-acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation that includes residential, community, and home-based components utilizing interdisciplinary teams.
- (b) **Location of Program.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall carry out the program developed under [subsection (a)](#a) in each [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) polytrauma rehabilitation center designated by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (c) **Eligibility.—** A [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is eligible for care under the program developed under [subsection (a)](#a) if the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is otherwise eligible to receive [hospital care](/usc/38/1701.md?p=5) and [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) under [section 1710 of this title](/usc/38/1710.md) and—
  - (1) served on [active duty](/usc/38/101.md?p=21) in a theater of combat operations (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense) during a [period of war](/usc/38/1101.md?p=2) after the [Persian Gulf War](/usc/38/101.md?p=33), or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998;
  - (2) is diagnosed as suffering from moderate to severe traumatic brain injury; and
  - (3) is unable to manage routine activities of daily living without supervision or assistance, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (d) **Report.—** Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committees on [Veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the following information:
  - (1) A description of the operation of the program.
  - (2) The number of [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) provided care under the program during the year preceding such report.
  - (3) The cost of operating the program during the year preceding such report.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVII, § 1702(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 488; amended Pub. L. 112–154, title I, § 107(b), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 114–58, title VI, § 601(5), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 538.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–181, which was approved Jan. 28, 2008.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 114–58 struck out “(as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title)” after “hostilities”.

2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–154 inserted “and rehabilitative services (as defined in section 1710C of this title)” after “long-term care” and struck out “treatment” before “teams”.