
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC1523]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                        PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
 
CHAPTER 15--PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR 
                                 SERVICE
 
                    SUBCHAPTER II--VETERANS' PENSIONS
 
                Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension
 
Sec. 1523. Combination of ratings

    (a) The Secretary shall provide that, for the purpose of determining 
whether or not a veteran is permanently and totally disabled, ratings 
for service-connected disabilities may be combined with ratings for non-
service-connected disabilities.
    (b) Where a veteran, by virtue of subsection (a), is found to be 
entitled to a pension under section 1521 of this title, and is entitled 
to compensation for a service-connected disability, the Secretary shall 
pay such veteran the greater benefit.

(Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1136, Sec. 523; Pub. L. 94-169, 
title I, Sec. 106(19), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1018; renumbered 
Sec. 1523 and amended Pub. L. 102-83, Secs. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), 
(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(a), renumbered section 523 of this 
title as this section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(c)(1), substituted ``1521'' for 
``521''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator''.
    1975--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-169 substituted ``such veteran'' for 
``him''.


                    Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

    Section 106 of Pub. L. 94-169 provided that the amendment made by 
that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.
