---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1712B"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1712B"
heading: "Counseling for former prisoners of war"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1712B"
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"
---

# §1712B. Counseling for former prisoners of war


The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may establish a program under which, upon the request of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who is a [former prisoner of war](/usc/38/101.md?p=32), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), within the limits of [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) facilities, furnishes counseling to such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) to assist such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) in overcoming the psychological effects of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s detention or internment as a prisoner of war.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–166, title I, § 107(a), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 945, § 612B; renumbered § 1712B and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 612B of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.