38 USC § 1158 - Disappearance

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1158"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1158 - Disappearance"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1158"
section_name: "Disappearance"
chapter_number: 11
chapter_name: "COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL COMPENSATION PROVISIONS"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "GENERAL BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1125, § 358; Pub. L. 86–212, Sept. 1, 1959, 73 Stat. 436; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(21), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1379; renumbered § 1158 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)"
---


# § 1158. Disappearance

Where a veteran receiving compensation under this chapter disappears, the Secretary may pay the compensation otherwise payable to the veteran to such veteran’s spouse, children, and parents. Payments made to such spouse, child, or parent under the preceding sentence shall not exceed the amounts payable to each if the veteran had died from service-connected disability.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1125, § 358; Pub. L. 86–212, Sept. 1, 1959, 73 Stat. 436; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(21), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1379; renumbered § 1158 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—, renumbered  as this section.

, (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

1976— struck out “, in his discretion,” after “Administrator” and substituted “such veteran’s spouse” for “his wife” and “such spouse” for “a wife”.

1959— substituted “a veteran” for “an incompetent veteran”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .