
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: 38USC5103]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
               PART IV--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
 
            CHAPTER 51--CLAIMS, EFFECTIVE DATES, AND PAYMENTS
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--CLAIMS
 
Sec. 5103. Incomplete applications

    (a) If a claimant's application for benefits under the laws 
administered by the Secretary is incomplete, the Secretary shall notify 
the claimant of the evidence necessary to complete the application. If 
such evidence is not received within one year from the date of such 
notification, no benefits may be paid or furnished by reason of such 
application.
    (b) This section shall not apply to any application or claim for 
Government life insurance benefits.
    (c) Benefits under laws administered by the Secretary may not be 
denied an applicant on the basis that the applicant does not have a 
mailing address.

(Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1225, Sec. 3003; Pub. L. 99-
570, title XI, Sec. 11007(a)(1), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-170; 
renumbered Sec. 5103, Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, Sec. 402(b)(1), May 7, 
1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 
6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403-405.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior section 5103 was renumbered section 8303 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-40 renumbered section 3003 of this title as this 
section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' before ``shall''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(1), substituted ``administered by the 
Secretary'' for ``administered by the Veterans' Administration''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(1), substituted 
``administered by the Secretary'' for ``administered by the Veterans' 
Administration''.
    1986--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-570 added subsec. (c).


                    Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

    Section 11007(b)(1) of Pub. L. 99-570 provided that: ``The amendment 
made by subsection (a)(1) [amending this section] shall take effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 27, 1986].''
