Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 58 Part 1.djvu/305

 58 STAT.] 78TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 268 -JUNE 22, 1944 proper for authorized care for veterans, except that at no time shall the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs enter into any agreement which will result in a permanent reduction of Veterans' Administra- tion hospital and domiciliary beds below the number now established or approved, plus the estimated number required to meet the load of eligibles under laws administered by the Veterans' Adminis- tration, or in any way subordinate or transfer the operation of the Veterans' Administration to any other agency of the Government. Nothing in the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, or any other Act, shall be construed to prevent the transfer or detail of any commissioned, appointed or enlisted personnel from the armed forces to the Veterans' Administration subject to agree- ments between the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy and the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs: Provided, That no such detail shall be made or extend beyond six months after the termina- tion of the war. SEC. 103. The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall have author- ity to place officials and employees designated by him in such Army and Navy installations as may be deemed advisable for the purpose of adjudicating disability claims of, and giving aid and advice to, members of the Army and Navy who are about to be discharged or released from active service. SEC. 104. No person shall be discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces until his certificate of discharge or release from active duty and final pay, or a substantial portion thereof, are ready for delivery to him or to his next of kin or legal representative; and no person shall be discharged or released from active service on account of disability until and unless he has executed a claim for compensation, pension, or hospitalization, to be filed with the Vet- erans' Administration or has signed a statement that he has had explained to him the right to file such claim: Provided,That this sec- tion shall not preclude immediate transfer to a veterans' facility for necessary hospital care, nor preclude the discharge of any person who refuses to sign such claim or statement: And provided further, That refusal or failure to file a claim shall be without prejudice to any right the veteran may subsequently assert. Any person entitled to a prosthetic appliance shall be entitled, in addition, to necessary fitting and training, including institutional training, in the use of such appliance, whether in a Service or a Veterans' Administration hospital, or by out-patient treatment, including such service under contract. SEC. 105. No person in the armed forces shall be required to sign a statement of any nature relating to the origin, incurrence, or aggravation of any disease or injury he may have, and any such statement against his own interest signed at any time, shall be null and void and of no force and effect. CHAPTER II-AID BY VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS SEC. 200. (a) That upon certification to the Secretary of War or Secretary of the Navy by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs of paid full time accredited representatives of the veterans' organiza- tions specified in section 200 of the Act of June 29, 1936 (Public Law Numbered 844, Seventy-fourth Congress), and other such national organizations recognized by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs thereunder in the presentation of claims under laws adminis- tered by the Veterans' Administration, the Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy are hereby authorized and directed to permit the functioning, in accordance with regulations prescribed pursuant 285 Exceptions. No permanent re- duction in number of beds. No transfer of opera- tion, etc. Details from armed forces. 54 Stat. 885. 50U.S.C.app.§§ 301-318; Supp. III , app. §§ 302-315. Post, p. 720. Placement of per- sonnel in Army and Navy installations. Prerequisites to dis charge or release. Refusal to sign claim or statement. Care of person en- titled to prosthetic appliance. Statement against interest. 49 Stat. 2031 . 38U.S.C. 101.

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