---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7408"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7408"
heading: "Appointment of additional employees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7408"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 74 — Veterans Health Administration—personnel"
  - "Subchapter I — Appointments"
---

# §7408. Appointment of additional employees

- (a) There shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) under civil service laws, rules, and regulations, such additional employees, other than those provided in [section 7306](/usc/38/7306.md) and paragraphs (1) and (3) of [section 7401 of this title](/usc/38/7401.md) and those specified in sections [7405](/usc/38/7405.md) and [7406](/usc/38/7406.md) of this title, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), after considering an individual’s existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or the special needs of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), may appoint the individual to a position in the Administration providing direct patient-care services or services incident to direct patient-services at a rate of pay above the minimum rate of the appropriate grade.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 401(b)(2), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 229; amended Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(e)(21), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4686.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 4111 of this title prior to the repeal of that section as part of the complete revision of chapter 73 of this title by Pub. L. 102–40.

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “civil service” for “civil-service”.