---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1726"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1726"
heading: "Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1726"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter III — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Hospital and Nursing Home Care and Medical Treatment of Veterans"
---

# §1726. Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster


The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall, under regulations which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall prescribe, reimburse [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) in [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) hospitals and domiciliaries for any loss of personal effects sustained by fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster while such effects were stored in designated locations in [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) hospitals or domiciliaries.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1144, § 627; Pub. L. 93–82, title I, § 105, Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 183; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 210(a)(12), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2863; renumbered § 1726 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

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 1726, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1197, provided for control by agencies of United States, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(3), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 20. See section 3689 of this title.

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 626 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” in two places.

1976—Pub. L. 94–581 substituted “the Administrator shall prescribe” for “he shall prescribe”.

1973—Pub. L. 93–82 substituted “natural disaster” for “fire” in section catchline and extended reimbursement provisions to earthquake and other natural disasters also.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–82 effective Jan. 1, 1971, see section 501 of Pub. L. 93–82, set out as a note under section 1701 of this title.