38 USC § 1301 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1301"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1301 - Definitions"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1301"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 13
chapter_name: "DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DEATHS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
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. 1126, § 401; Pub. L. 91–24, § 4(a), June 11, 1969, 83 Stat. 33; Pub. L. 91–96, § 5, Oct. 27, 1969, 83 Stat. 145; renumbered § 1301, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(16), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)"
---


# § 1301. Definitions

As used in this chapter—

The term “veteran” includes a person who died in the active military, naval, air, or space service.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1126, § 401; Pub. L. 91–24, § 4(a), June 11, 1969, 83 Stat. 33; Pub. L. 91–96, § 5, Oct. 27, 1969, 83 Stat. 145; renumbered § 1301, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(16), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021— substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”.

1991— renumbered  as this section.

1969— struck out par. (1) which defined “basic pay”.

Par. (1).  substituted “sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, or 207 of title 37” for “sections 232(a), 232(e), or 308 of Title 37”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

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

### Cost-of-Living Increases in Compensation Rates

For limitation on increases in dependency and indemnity compensation payable under this chapter, see , set out as a note under .