---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1987"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1987"
heading: "Penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1987"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 19 — Insurance"
  - "Subchapter IV — General"
---

# §1987. Penalties

- (a) Any person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made, or conspire, combine, aid, or assist in, agree to, arrange for, or in anywise procure the making or presentation of a false or fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, statement, voucher, or paper, or writing purporting to be such, concerning any application for [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) or reinstatement thereof, waiver of premiums or claim for benefits under National Service Life [Insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1), United States Government life [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1), or yearly renewable term [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) for any person, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
- (b) Whoever in any claim for National Service Life [Insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1), United States Government life [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1), or yearly renewable term [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) makes any sworn statement of a material fact knowing it to be false, shall be guilty of perjury and shall be fined not more than $5,000, or be imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1167, § 787; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(47), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3294; renumbered § 1987, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 787 of this title as this section.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “any” for “himself or any other”.