republic-os/legal/us/code/title-38/chapter-31/section-3106.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	38 U.S.C. § 3106	Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding serious employment handicap	us	united_states_code	code_section	38	VETERANS’ BENEFITS	31	TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES	3106	38 U.S.C. § 3106	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t38/s3106	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml	c6e231d40166161a7535832ecfbef77c57169582156eab1844d4ee3f6b855a8e	372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66	4a95403ac50305fa39c90f7821bf7e4793a2cbef710e2664b54fb0acd05739e5	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

38 U.S.C. § 3106 - Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding serious employment handicap

Text

(a) The Secretary shall provide any veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more and who applies for benefits under this chapter with an initial evaluation consisting of such services described in section 3104(a)(1) of this title as are necessary (1) to determine whether such veteran is entitled to and eligible for benefits under this chapter, and (2) in the case of a veteran who is determined to be entitled to and eligible for such benefits, to determine—

(A) whether such veteran has a serious employment handicap, and

(B) whether the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible for such veteran if it is reasonably feasible to make such determination without extended evaluation.

(b) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap and that the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible for such veteran, such veteran shall be provided an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation developed under section 3107(a) of this title.

(c) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap but the Secretary is unable to determine, in an initial evaluation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, whether or not the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible, such veteran shall be provided with an extended evaluation consisting of the services described in section 3104(a)(1) of this title, such services under this chapter as the Secretary determines necessary to improve such veteran’s potential for participation in a program of services designed to achieve a vocational goal and enable such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living, and assistance as authorized by section 3108 of this title.

(d) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap and also determines, following such initial and any such extended evaluation, that achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible, the Secretary shall determine whether the veteran is capable of participating in a program of independent living services and assistance under section 3120 of this title.

(e) The Secretary shall in all cases determine as expeditiously as possible whether the achievement of a vocational goal by a veteran currently is reasonably feasible. In the case of a veteran provided extended evaluation under subsection (c) of this section (including any periods of extensions under section 3105(a) of this title), the Secretary shall make such determination not later than the end of such extended evaluation or period of extension, as the case may be. In determining whether the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible, the Secretary shall resolve any reasonable doubt in favor of determining that such achievement currently is reasonably feasible.

(f) In connection with each period of extended evaluation of a veteran and each rehabilitation program for a veteran who is determined to have a serious employment handicap, the Secretary shall assign a Department of Veterans Affairs employee to be responsible for the management and followup of the provision of all services (including appropriate coordination of employment assistance under section 3117 of this title) and assistance under this chapter to such veteran.

(Added Pub. L. 96–466, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2176, § 1506; amended Pub. L. 99–576, title III, § 333(b)(4), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3279; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3106 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(d)(9), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4684; Pub. L. 104–275, title I, § 101(f)(1), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3324.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsPrior section 3106 was renumbered section 5306 of this title.

Amendments1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–275, § 101(f)(1)(A), substituted “rated at 10 percent or more” for “described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 3102(1)(A) of this title”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–275, § 101(f)(1)(B), struck out “counseling in accordance with” before “an individualized written plan”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–275, § 101(f)(1)(C), substituted “with an extended” for “with extended”. Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 104–275, § 101(f)(1)(D), added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (d) and (e) as (e) and (f), respectively. 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “clause (i) or (ii) of section 3102(1)(A)” for “section 3102(1)(A) or (B)”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1506 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3102(1)(A)” for “1502(1)(A)” and “3104(a)(1)” for “1504(a)(1)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3107(a)” for “1507(a)”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3104(a)(1)” for “1504(a)(1)” and “3108” for “1508”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3105(a)” for “1505(a)”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3117” for “1517”. 1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” and “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Administrator” and “Veterans’ Administration”, respectively, wherever appearing. 1986—Subsecs. (a)(2)(B), (b) to (d). Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “currently is reasonably feasible” for “is reasonably feasible” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective Apr. 1, 1981, see section 802(a)(1) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as a note under section 3100 of this title.