Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/3641

 118 STAT. 3611 PUBLIC LAW 108–454—DEC. 10, 2004 after March 26, 2002. Subsection (c) of section 1310 of such title, as added by subsection (b), shall take effect with respect to depend- ency and indemnity compensation payments for months beginning after March 26, 2002. SEC. 303. EXCLUSION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS FROM CONSID- ERATION AS INCOME FOR VETERANS’ PENSION PURPOSES. Section 1503(a) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (9); (2) by striking the period at the end of the paragraph (10) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(11) lump-sum proceeds of any life insurance policy on a veteran, for purposes of pension under subchapter III of this chapter.’’. SEC. 304. CERTAIN SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY BENEFITS AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONS DISABLED BY TREATMENT OR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) AUTHORIZED BENEFITS.—Section 1151 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(c) A qualifying additional disability under this section shall be treated in the same manner as if it were a service-connected disability for purposes of the following provisions of this title: ‘‘(1) Chapter 21, relating to specially adapted housing. ‘‘(2) Chapter 39, relating to automobiles and adaptive equip- ment.’’. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (c) of section 1151 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to eligibility for benefits and services provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enact- ment of this Act. (c) ADMINISTRATION OF OFFSET PROVISION.—Subsection (b) of section 1151 is amended— (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(b)’’; (2) by inserting ‘‘(except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2))’’ after ‘‘service-connected, then’’; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(2) In the case of a judgment, settlement, or compromise covered by paragraph (1) that becomes final on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and that includes an amount that is specifically designated for a purpose for which benefits are provided under chapter 21 or 39 of this title (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the ‘offset amount’), if such judgment, settlement, or compromise becomes final before the date of the award of benefits under chapter 21 or 39 for the purpose for which the offset amount was specifically designated— ‘‘(A) the amount of such award shall be reduced by the offset amount; and ‘‘(B) if the offset amount is greater than the amount of such award, the excess amount received pursuant to the judg- ment, settlement or compromise, shall be offset against benefits otherwise payable under this chapter.’’. SEC. 305. EFFECTIVE DATE OF DEATH PENSION. Section 5110(d) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; 38 USC 1151 note. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:54 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00145 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.001 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4

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