---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7312"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7312"
heading: "Special medical advisory group"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7312"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 73 — Veterans Health Administration—organization and Functions"
  - "Subchapter II — General Authority and Administration"
---

# §7312. Special medical advisory group

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the special medical advisory group. The advisory group shall advise the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), through the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health, and the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health directly, relative to the care and treatment of disabled [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) and other matters pertinent to the Administration.
- (b) Members of the special medical advisory group shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) upon the recommendation of the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health. The special medical advisory group shall be composed of—
  - (1) members of the medical, dental, podiatric, optometric, and allied scientific professions;
  - (2) other individuals considered by the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health to have experience pertinent to the mission of the Administration; and
  - (3) a disabled [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
- (c) The special medical advisory group shall meet on a regular basis as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1). The number, terms of service, pay, and allowances of members of the advisory group shall be prescribed in accordance with existing law and regulations.
- (d) Not later than February 1 of each year, the special medical advisory group shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and the Congress a report on the activities of the advisory group during the preceding fiscal year. No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2004.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 401(a)(3), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 215; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(e)(20), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4686; Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(5), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1864.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–419 inserted at end “No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2004.”

1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “the activities of the advisory group” for “the advisory groups activities”.

1992—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director” wherever appearing.