§ 1102. Special provisions relating to surviving spouses

• (a) No compensation shall be paid to the surviving spouse of a veteran under this chapter unless such surviving spouse was married to such veteran—
  • (1) before the expiration of fifteen years after the termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease causing the death of the veteran was incurred or aggravated; or
  • (2) for one year or more; or
  • (3) for any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
• (b) Subsection (a) shall not be applicable to any surviving spouse who, with respect to date of marriage, could have qualified as a surviving spouse for death compensation under any law administered by the Secretary in effect on December 31, 1957 .