# § 1831. Definitions
In this chapter:
**(1)** The term “child” means the following:
**(A)** For purposes of subchapters I and II of this chapter, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
**(i)** is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
**(ii)** was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
**(B)** For purposes of section 1821 of this title, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
**(i)** is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Korea (as determined for purposes of that section); and
**(ii)** was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection (c) of that section.
**(C)** For purposes of section 1822 of this title, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
**(i)** is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of that section); and
**(ii)** was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection (c) of that section.
**(2)** The term “covered child” means a child who is eligible for health care and benefits under this chapter.
**(3)** The term “covered veteran” means an individual whose children are eligible for health care and benefits under this chapter.
**(4)** The term “Vietnam veteran” means an individual who performed active military, naval, or air service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, without regard to the characterization of that individual’s service.
**(5)** The term “Vietnam era” with respect to—
**(A)** subchapter I of this chapter, means the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and
**(B)** subchapter II of this chapter, means the period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 401(b), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1859, § 1821; renumbered § 1831 and amended Pub. L. 108–183, title I, § 102(a)(1), (b), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2653, 2654; Pub. L. 116–23, § 4(b), June 25, 2019, 133 Stat. 971; Pub. L. 118–18, § 1(a), Oct. 6, 2023, 137 Stat. 103.)
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 1831 was renumbered .
### Amendments
2023—Pars. (2) to (5). added pars. (2) and (3) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (4) and (5), respectively.
2019—Par. (1)(B). , substituted “” for “subchapter III of this chapter” in introductory provisions.
Par. (1)(B)(i). , substituted “that section” for “”.
Par. (1)(C). , added subpar. (C).
2003—, renumbered as this section.
Par. (1). , added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “The term ‘child’ means an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who—
“(A) is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
“(B) was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.”
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2019 Amendment
Amendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
### Effective Date
Subchapter effective on the first day of the first month beginning more than one year after , see , set out as a note under .
### Memorandum of Understanding
> **“(1)** to better assist covered children (as defined in section 1831 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a)); and
>
> **“(2)** to establish conditions to be included in the report required by section 1836(c) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b).”
, , , provided that: