FEDERAL · 38 U.S.C. · Chapter 3
Regional offices
38 U.S.C. § 315
Title38 — Veterans' Benefits
Chapter3 — DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
This text of 38 U.S.C. § 315 (Regional offices) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
38 U.S.C. § 315.
Text
(a)The Secretary may establish such regional offices and such other field offices within the United States, its Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, as the Secretary considers necessary.
(b)The Secretary may maintain a regional office in the Republic of the Philippines until September 30, 2026.
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Source Credit
History
(Added Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 384; amended Pub. L. 102–291, §1(a), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178; Pub. L. 103–210, §2(c), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2497; Pub. L. 103–446, title V, §502, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4663; Pub. L. 106–117, title VIII, §802, Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1586; Pub. L. 108–183, title II, §213, Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2658; Pub. L. 111–117, div. E, title II, §228, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3307; Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, §807(a), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 112–74, div. H, title II, §234, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 112–191, title II, §202, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1439; Pub. L. 113–59, §7, Dec. 20, 2013, 127 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, §402, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, §403, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, §402, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 939; Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, §402, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 115–251, title I, §162, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171; Pub. L. 116–61, §3, Sept. 30, 2019, 133 Stat. 1116; Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title II, §5203, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 750; Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title II, §202, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2137; Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, §333, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1541; Pub. L. 119–37, div. G, title II, §7204, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 650.)
Editorial Notes
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Prior section 315 was renumbered section 1115 of this title.
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 230(a), (b) of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a).
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–37 substituted "September 30, 2026" for "September 30, 2025".
2024—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–83 substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2024".
2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted "September 30, 2024" for "September 30, 2022".
2020—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted "September 30, 2022" for "September 30, 2020".
2019—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–61 substituted "September 30, 2020" for "September 30, 2019".
2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted "September 30, 2019" for "September 30, 2018".
2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted "September 30, 2018" for "September 30, 2017".
2016—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted "September 30, 2017" for "September 30, 2016".
2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted "September 30, 2016" for "September 30, 2015".
2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–175 substituted "September 30, 2015" for "December 31, 2014".
2013—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–59 substituted "December 31, 2014" for "December 31, 2013".
2012—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–191 substituted "December 31, 2013" for "December 31, 2012".
2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–74 substituted "December 31, 2012" for "December 31, 2011".
2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted "December 31, 2011" for "December 31, 2010".
2009—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–117 substituted "December 31, 2010" for "December 31, 2009".
2003—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–183 substituted "December 31, 2009" for "December 31, 2003".
1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–117 substituted "December 31, 2003" for "December 31, 1999".
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted "December 31, 1999" for "December 31, 1994".
1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–210 substituted "December 31, 1994" for "March 31, 1994".
1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–291 substituted "March 31, 1994" for "September 30, 1991".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 119–37 effective as if enacted on Sept. 30, 2025, see section 7406 of Pub. L. 119–37, set out as a note under section 111A of this title.
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–291, §1(b), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as of September 30, 1991."
Effect of Amendment
Pub. L. 112–191, title II, §202, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1439, provided that this section shall be carried out as amended by section 202 of Pub. L. 112–191 notwithstanding the date described in section 151 of Pub. L. 112–175 (126 Stat. 1323).
Ratification of Maintenance of Office During Lapsed Period
Pub. L. 102–291, §1(c), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178, provided that: "Any action of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in maintaining a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in the Republic of the Philippines under section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, during the period beginning on October 1, 1991, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [May 20, 1992] is hereby ratified with respect to that period."
Prior Provisions
Prior section 315 was renumbered section 1115 of this title.
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 230(a), (b) of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a).
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–37 substituted "September 30, 2026" for "September 30, 2025".
2024—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–83 substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2024".
2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted "September 30, 2024" for "September 30, 2022".
2020—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted "September 30, 2022" for "September 30, 2020".
2019—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–61 substituted "September 30, 2020" for "September 30, 2019".
2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted "September 30, 2019" for "September 30, 2018".
2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted "September 30, 2018" for "September 30, 2017".
2016—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted "September 30, 2017" for "September 30, 2016".
2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted "September 30, 2016" for "September 30, 2015".
2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–175 substituted "September 30, 2015" for "December 31, 2014".
2013—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–59 substituted "December 31, 2014" for "December 31, 2013".
2012—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–191 substituted "December 31, 2013" for "December 31, 2012".
2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–74 substituted "December 31, 2012" for "December 31, 2011".
2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted "December 31, 2011" for "December 31, 2010".
2009—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–117 substituted "December 31, 2010" for "December 31, 2009".
2003—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–183 substituted "December 31, 2009" for "December 31, 2003".
1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–117 substituted "December 31, 2003" for "December 31, 1999".
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted "December 31, 1999" for "December 31, 1994".
1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–210 substituted "December 31, 1994" for "March 31, 1994".
1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–291 substituted "March 31, 1994" for "September 30, 1991".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 119–37 effective as if enacted on Sept. 30, 2025, see section 7406 of Pub. L. 119–37, set out as a note under section 111A of this title.
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–291, §1(b), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as of September 30, 1991."
Effect of Amendment
Pub. L. 112–191, title II, §202, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1439, provided that this section shall be carried out as amended by section 202 of Pub. L. 112–191 notwithstanding the date described in section 151 of Pub. L. 112–175 (126 Stat. 1323).
Ratification of Maintenance of Office During Lapsed Period
Pub. L. 102–291, §1(c), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178, provided that: "Any action of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in maintaining a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in the Republic of the Philippines under section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, during the period beginning on October 1, 1991, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [May 20, 1992] is hereby ratified with respect to that period."
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Bluebook (online)
38 U.S.C. § 315, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/usc/38/315.