The death and disability benefits of this chapter shall, notwithstanding the service requirements thereof, be granted to persons heretofore recognized by law as having a compensable status, including persons whose claims are based on war or peacetime service rendered before April 21, 1898.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1124, § 352; renumbered § 1152, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)