---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1815"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1815"
heading: "Monetary allowance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1815"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 18 — Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans and Certain Other Veterans"
  - "Subchapter II — Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects"
---

# §1815. Monetary allowance

- (a) **Monetary Allowance.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall pay a monthly allowance to any [eligible child](/usc/38/1811.md?p=1) for any [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) resulting from the [covered birth defects](/usc/38/1811.md?p=2) of that [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1).
- (b) **Schedule for Rating Disabilities.—**
  - (1) The amount of the monthly allowance paid under this section shall be based on the degree of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) suffered by the [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) concerned, as determined in accordance with a schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) resulting from [covered birth defects](/usc/38/1811.md?p=2) that is prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (2) In prescribing a schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) for the purposes of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish four levels of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) upon which the amount of the allowance provided by this section shall be based. The levels of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) established may take into account functional limitations, including limitations on cognition, communication, motor abilities, activities of daily living, and employability.
- (c) **Amount of Monthly Allowance.—** The amount of the monthly allowance paid under this section shall be as follows:
  - (1) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the lowest level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed in the schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)](#b), $100.
  - (2) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the lower intermediate level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed in the schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $214; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the lowest level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed for purposes of that section.
  - (3) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the higher intermediate level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed in the schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $743; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the intermediate level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed for purposes of that section.
  - (4) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the highest level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed in the schedule for rating [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $1,272; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the highest level of [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) prescribed for purposes of that section.
- (d) **Indexing to Social Security Benefit Increases.—** Amounts under paragraphs [(1)](#c-1), [(2)(A)](#c-2-A), [(3)(A)](#c-3-A), and [(4)(A)](#c-4-A) of subsection (c) shall be subject to adjustment from time to time under [section 5312 of this title](/usc/38/5312.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 401(a), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1858.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1815 was renumbered section 3703(a)(2) of this title.