38 USC § 1159 - Protection of service connection

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1159"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1159 - Protection of service connection"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1159"
section_name: "Protection of service connection"
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: "(Added Pub. L. 86–501, § 1, June 10, 1960, 74 Stat. 195, § 359; amended Pub. L. 87–825, § 6, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 950; renumbered § 1159 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)"
---


# § 1159. Protection of service connection

January 1, 1962

Service connection for any disability or death granted under this title which has been in force for ten or more years shall not be severed on or after , except upon a showing that the original grant of service connection was based on fraud or it is clearly shown from military records that the person concerned did not have the requisite service or character of discharge. The mentioned period shall be computed from the date determined by the Secretary as the date on which the status commenced for rating purposes.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 86–501, § 1, June 10, 1960, 74 Stat. 195, § 359; amended Pub. L. 87–825, § 6, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 950; renumbered § 1159 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”.

1962— provided for computation of the period from the date the administrator determines as the date the status commenced for rating purposes.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

Amendment by  effective first day of second calendar month which begins after , see , set out as a note under .