38 U.S.C. § 6103 — Forfeiture for fraud

(a) A person who knowingly makes, causes, conspires, combines, aids, assists, agrees, arranges, or otherwise procures a false or fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, statement, voucher, or paper about a benefits claim under a law administered by the Secretary^*, other than an insurance-benefit law, forfeits all rights, claims, and benefits under those laws, other than insurance-benefit laws. (b) If a veteran’s disability compensation^* is forfeited under this section, the compensation that would otherwise be payable must be paid afterward to the veteran’s spouse^*, children, and parents. Payments to each may not exceed what would have been payable if the veteran^* had died from a service-connected^* disability. A spouse, child^*, or parent^* who participated in the fraud receives no payment under this subsection. No apportionment award may be made after September 1, 1959. (c) A veteran’s benefits forfeiture does not bar burial allowance, death compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation^*, or death pension^* after the veteran dies. (d)(1) After September 1, 1959, no forfeiture may be imposed under this section or section 6104 on an individual who lived or was domiciled in a State^* when the acts occurred, unless the individual stops being a State resident or domiciliary before the criminal-prosecution period expires. This does not apply to forfeitures before September 1, 1959, or acts in the Philippine Islands before July 4, 1946. (2) The Secretary must review cases in which gratuitous benefits were forfeited under this section or earlier law by September 1, 1959, because of a false or fraudulent document. If the Secretary determines the forfeiture would not have been imposed under the post-September 1, 1959 rules, the Secretary must remit it effective June 30, 1972. Benefits for which the person becomes eligible because of remission may be awarded on application, and the effective date of an awarded compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension must follow section 5110(g).