38 U.S.C. § 1504Section
§ 1504. Persons heretofore having a pensionable status
The pension benefits of subchapters II and III of this chapter shall, notwithstanding the service requirements of such subchapters, be granted to persons heretofore recognized by law as having a pensionable status.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1134, §504; renumbered §1504, Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)