EXPANSION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY FOR VETERANS APPLYING FOR NONSERVICE-CONNECTED PENSION.

SEC. 206. EXPANSION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY FOR VETERANS APPLYING FOR NONSERVICE-CONNECTED PENSION. (a) In General.—Section 1502(a) is amended by striking “such a person” and all that follows through the end of the subsection and inserting the following: “such person is any of the following: “(1) A patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of disability. “(2) Disabled, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security for purposes of any benefits administered by the Commissioner. “(3) Unemployable as a result of disability reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the person. “(4) Suffering from— 115 STAT. 991 “(A) any disability which is sufficient to render it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation, but only if it is reasonably certain that such disability will continue throughout the life of the person; or “(B) any disease or disorder determined by the Secretary to be of such a nature or extent as to justify a determination that persons suffering therefrom are permanently and totally disabled.”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as of September 17, 2001.