-CITE-

    38 USC Sec. 501                                             01/19/04

-EXPCITE-

    TITLE 38 - VETERANS' BENEFITS

    PART I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

    CHAPTER 5 - AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

    SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL AUTHORITIES

-HEAD-

    Sec. 501. Rules and regulations

-STATUTE-

      (a) The Secretary has authority to prescribe all rules and

    regulations which are necessary or appropriate to carry out the

    laws administered by the Department and are consistent with those

    laws, including - 

        (1) regulations with respect to the nature and extent of proof

      and evidence and the method of taking and furnishing them in

      order to establish the right to benefits under such laws;

        (2) the forms of application by claimants under such laws;

        (3) the methods of making investigations and medical

      examinations; and

        (4) the manner and form of adjudications and awards.

      (b) Any rule, regulation, guideline, or other published

    interpretation or order (and any amendment thereto) issued pursuant

    to the authority granted by this section or any other provision of

    this title shall contain citations to the particular section or

    sections of statutory law or other legal authority upon which such

    issuance is based. The citation to the authority shall appear

    immediately following each substantive provision of the issuance.

      (c) In applying section 552(a)(1) of title 5 to the Department,

    the Secretary shall ensure that subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) of

    that section are complied with, particularly with respect to

    opinions and interpretations of the General Counsel.

      (d) The provisions of section 553 of title 5 shall apply, without

    regard to subsection (a)(2) of that section, to matters relating to

    loans, grants, or benefits under a law administered by the

    Secretary.

-SOURCE-

    (Added Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 386.)

-MISC1-

                             PRIOR PROVISIONS                         

      Prior section 501 was renumbered section 1501 of this title.

      Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in

    sections 210(c)(1) and 223(a), (b) of this title prior to repeal by

    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(a).

-SECREF-

                   SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS               

      This section is referred to in section 1721 of this title.