38 CFR § 17.609 - Pay during period of obligated service.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t38/s17.609"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "38 CFR § 17.609 - Pay during period of obligated service."
title_number: 38
title_name: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
section_number: "17.609"
section_name: "Pay during period of obligated service."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "17"
part_name: "MEDICAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections."
cfr_part: "17"
---
# 17.609 Pay during period of obligated service.
The initial appointment of physicians for obligated service will be made in a grade commensurate with qualifications as determined in 38 U.S.C. 7404(b) A physician serving a period of obligated service is not eligible for incentive special pay during the first three years of such obligated service. A physician may be paid primary special pay at the discretion of the Secretary upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7431-7433)
[47 FR 10810, Mar. 12, 1982, as amended at 54 FR 28676, July 7, 1989; 61 FR 21969, May 13, 1996; 79 FR 54616, Sept. 12, 2014]