[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR10.16]

[Page 535]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 10_ADJUSTED COMPENSATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 10.16  Conditions requisite for change in designation of

beneficiary.

    A change of beneficiary of an adjusted service certificate to be 
valid must be made:
    (a) By notice signed by the veteran or his duly authorized agent, 
and delivered or properly mailed to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
during the lifetime of the veteran. Such change shall not take effect 
until approved by the Secretary and after such approval the change shall 
be deemed to have been made as of the date the veteran signed said 
written notice and change, whether the veteran be living at the time of 
said approval or not.
    (b) Or by last will and testament of the veteran, duly probated. 
Such change shall not be effective until received by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs and approved by the Secretary and after such approval 
the change shall be deemed to have been made as of the date of death of 
the veteran: Provided, That a change of beneficiary signed subsequent to 
the date upon which the will was executed and delivered in accordance 
with paragraph (a) of this section shall if approved in accordance with 
regulations take precedence over the designation by will.

Provided, however, That any payment made to a beneficiary of record, 
before notice of change of beneficiary has been received in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and approved by the Secretary, shall not 
be made again to the changed beneficiary.