[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: 38CFR12.8]

[Page 553]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 12_DISPOSITION OF VETERAN'S PERSONAL FUNDS AND 
 
Sec. 12.8  Unclaimed effects of veterans.

    (a) In the case of any property of a veteran who was in receipt of 
hospital or domiciliary care, heretofore or hereafter left at a 
Department of Veterans Affairs field facility, the owner of which is 
discharged or absent without leave or who has eloped and is not to be 
returned to a Department of Veterans Affairs field facility, or has died 
after departure therefrom, or in case the whereabouts or identity of any 
owner of any property thereat be unknown, such property, unless it shall 
be disposed of under the provisions of Sec. Sec. 12.4 and 12.6 shall be 
sold, used, destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the manager or his or 
her designated representative shall determine the circumstances in the 
case may warrant. Any sale of such property shall be conditioned upon 
the 90-day notice provided in section 6 of the Act of June 25, 1938 (38 
U.S.C. 5-16e).
    (b) If the circumstances are such that retention of any property as 
is mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section, or of any property of 
unknown ownership found on the premises would endanger the health or 
life of patients or others on the premises (by reason of contagion, 
infection, or otherwise) such property shall be forthwith destroyed on 
order of the manager or his or her designated representative, and proper 
record of the action taken will be made.
    (c) If there be no known claimant of any such property and if it may 
be used at the field facility for the benefit of the members or patients 
for such purposes as the General Post Fund is intended to serve, and if 
the value is inconsequential, the manager or his or her designated 
representative may authorize the retention and use of such property at 
the field facility.
    (d) Any such property which is not destroyed or used as provided in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section shall be sold in the manner 
provided in Sec. Sec. 12.9 and 12.10, after notice as therein provided 
unless, prior to sale, claim be made for any such property by someone 
legally entitled thereto.

[13 FR 7129, Nov. 27, 1948]