§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 , §523; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, §106(19), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1018 ; renumbered §1523 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991-Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), renumbered section 523 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1521" for "521".

Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator".

1975-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted "such veteran" for "him".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–169, title I, §106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017 , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.