---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1821"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1821"
heading: "Benefits for children of certain Korea service veterans born with spina bifida"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1821"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 18 — Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans and Certain Other Veterans"
  - "Subchapter III — Children of Certain Korea and Thailand Service Veterans Born with Spina Bifida"
---

# §1821. Benefits for children of certain Korea service veterans born with spina bifida

- (a) **Benefits Authorized.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may provide to any [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of covered service in Korea who is suffering from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) of a [Vietnam veteran](/usc/38/1831.md?p=4) who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter as if such [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of covered service in Korea were a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) of a [Vietnam veteran](/usc/38/1831.md?p=4) who is suffering from spina bifida under such subchapter.
- (b) **Spina Bifida Conditions Covered.—** This section applies with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except spina bifida occulta.
- (c) **Veteran of Covered Service in Korea.—** For purposes of this section, a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of covered service in Korea is any individual, without regard to the characterization of that individual’s service, who—
  - (1) served in the active military, naval, or air service in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ), 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 the period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971; and
  - (2) is determined by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide agent during such service in or near the Korean demilitarized zone.
- (d) **Herbicide Agent.—** For purposes of this section, the term “herbicide agent” means a chemical in a herbicide used in support of United States and allied military operations in or near the Korean demilitarized zone, 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 the period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–183, title I, § 102(a)(2), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2653.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1821 was renumbered section 1831 of this title.

Another prior section 1821 was renumbered section 3721 of this title.