38 U.S.C. § 3117 — Employment assistance

A veteran^* with a service-connected^* disability rated at 10 percent or more who has participated in a vocational rehabilitation program^* under this chapter or a similar program under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and who the Secretary^* has determined to be employable shall be furnished assistance in obtaining employment consistent with such veteran’s abilities, aptitudes, interests, and employment handicap^*, including assistance necessary to insure that such veteran receives the benefit of any applicable provisions of law or regulation providing for special consideration or emphasis or preference for such veteran in employment or training.

Assistance provided under this subsection may include—

In any case in which a veteran has completed a vocational rehabilitation program^* for self-employment in a small business enterprise under this chapter, the Secretary shall assist such veteran in securing, as appropriate, a loan under subchapter IV of chapter 37 of this title and shall cooperate with the Small Business Administration to assist such veteran to secure a loan for the purchase of equipment needed to establish such veteran’s own business and to ensure that such veteran receives the special consideration provided for in section 4(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(b)(1)).

In the case of a veteran described in paragraph (12) of section 3104(a) of this title who has trained under a State rehabilitation program with the objective of self-employment in a small business enterprise, the Secretary may, subject to the limitations and criteria provided for in such paragraph, provide such veteran with such supplementary equipment and initial stocks and supplies as are determined to be needed by such veteran if such supplementary equipment and initial stocks and supplies, or assistance in acquiring them, are not available through the State program or other sources.