[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: 38CFR8.0]

[Page 499]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 8_NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  8.0  Definitions of terms used in connection with title 38 

CFR, part 8, National Service Life Insurance.

    (a) What does the term ``good health'' mean? The term good health 
means that the applicant is, from clinical or other evidence, free from 
any condition that would tend to:
    (1) Weaken normal physical or mental functions; or
    (2) Shorten life.

    Note to paragraph (a): Conditions that would affect ``good health'' 
are diseases or injuries or residuals of diseases or injuries. A 
``residual'' is a disability that remains following the original disease 
or injury.

    (b) What does the term ``good health criteria'' mean? The term good 
health criteria means the underwriting standards that determine whether 
a person is in good health. ``Good health criteria'' are based whenever 
possible, as far as practicable, on general insurance usage. 
``Underwriting'' is the process that sets the terms, conditions, and 
prices for an insurance policy, by rating an applicant's mortality risk.
    (c) What does the term ``organic loss of speech'' mean? The term 
organic loss of speech means the loss of the ability to express oneself, 
both by voice and whisper, through the normal organs of speech if the 
loss is caused by physical changes in such organs. The fact that some 
speech can be produced through the use of artificial appliance or other 
organs of the body will not impact this definition.
    (d) What does the term ``disease or injury traceable to the extra 
hazards of the military service'' mean? The term disease or injury 
traceable to the extra hazards of the military service means a disease 
or injury that was either caused by or can be traced back to the 
performance of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.
    (e) What does the term ``guardian'' mean? The term guardian means 
any representative certified by the appropriate Veterans Service Center 
Manager, under Sec.  13.55 of this chapter, to receive benefits in a 
fiduciary capacity on behalf of the insured or the beneficiary, or to 
take the actions listed in Sec.  8.32.

[67 FR 54738, Aug. 26, 2002]

                             Effective Date