37 U.S.C. § 557 — Settlement of accounts

(a) The Secretary concerned^* or designee may settle the account of: (1) a uniformed-service member^* for whom payments were made under sections 552, 553, and 555; or (2) a survivor of a casualty to a ship, station, or military installation that lost or destroyed disbursing records. The settlement is conclusive for United States accounting officers settling disbursing officers’ accounts. (b) A payment or settlement based on a death report, determination, or finding may not be recovered or reopened because a later report or determination sets a death date. But the account must be reopened and settled using a later death date if that date is later than the one used before. (c) If not fraudulent or criminal, a disbursing officer^* gets credit in settling accounts for an erroneous or excess payment made under this chapter, except section 558. Without fraud or criminality, recovery may not be made from a civilian officer or employee or uniformed-service member who authorized a payment under this chapter, except section 558.