38 U.S.C. § 1783 — Bereavement counseling

(a) Deaths of Veterans. If a person was receiving services under section 1782 when the veteran^* died, the Secretary^* may provide that person bereavement counseling if the death: (1) was unexpected; or (2) occurred while the veteran was taking part in a hospice or similar program conducted by the Secretary. (b) Deaths in Active Service. (1) The Secretary may provide bereavement counseling to an immediate-family member of an armed-forces member who dies in active military, naval, air, or space service^*, in the line of duty, and in circumstances not caused by the member’s own misconduct. (2) For this subsection, immediate family includes the member’s parents. (c) Counseling Through Vet Centers. Bereavement counseling may be provided through the facilities and personnel of centers providing readjustment counseling and related mental-health services under section 1712A. (d) Definition. “Bereavement counseling” means counseling services for a limited period that the Secretary determines are reasonable and necessary to help a person with the emotional and psychological stress caused by another person’s death. This section does not define “emotional” or “psychological.”