38 USC § 1726 - Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1726"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1726 - Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1726"
section_name: "Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster"
chapter_number: 17
chapter_name: "HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF VETERANS"
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. 1144, § 627; Pub. L. 93–82, title I, § 105, Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 183; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 210(a)(12), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2863; renumbered § 1726 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)"
---


# § 1726. Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster

The Secretary shall, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, reimburse veterans in Department hospitals and domiciliaries for any loss of personal effects sustained by fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster while such effects were stored in designated locations in Department hospitals or domiciliaries.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1144, § 627; Pub. L. 93–82, title I, § 105, Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 183; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 210(a)(12), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2863; renumbered § 1726 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 1726, , , , provided for control by agencies of United States, prior to repeal by , , . See .

### Amendments

1991—, renumbered  as this section.

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

, (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.

1976— substituted “the Administrator shall prescribe” for “he shall prescribe”.

1973— substituted “natural disaster” for “fire” in section catchline and extended reimbursement provisions to earthquake and other natural disasters also.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

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

### Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

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