Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 1.djvu/414

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105 STAT. 386 PUBLIC LAW 102-83 —AUG. 6, 1991 "SUBCHAPTER II—SPECIFIED FUNCTIONS "521. Assistance to certain rehabilitation activities. "522. Studies of rehabilitation of disabled persons. "523. Coordination and promotion of other programs affecting veterans and their dependents. "525. Publication of laws relating to veterans. "527. Evaluation and data collection. "529. Annual report to Congress.

"SUBCHAPTER III—ADVISORY COMMITTEES "541. Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War. "542. Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. "SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL AUTHORITIES "§ 501. Rules and regulations "(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; "(8) 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. "§ 502. Judicial review of rules and regulations "An action of the Secretary to which section 552(a)(1) or 553 of title 5 (or both) refers (other than an action relating to the adoption or revision of the schedule of ratings for disabilities adopted under section 1155 of this title) is subject to judicial review. Such review shall be in accordance with chapter 7 of title 5 and may be sought only in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. However, if such review is sought in connection with an appeal brought under the provisions of chapter 72 of this title, the provisions of that chapter shall apply rather than the provisions of chapter 7 of title 5. "§ 503. Administrative error; equitable relief "(a) If the Secretary determines that benefits administered by the Department have not been provided by reason of administrative error on the part of the Federal Government or any of its employees.