((a)) The Secretary concerned, or his designee, may settle the account of—

((1)) a member of a uniformed service for whose account payments have been made under sections 552, 553, and 555 of this title; and

((2)) a survivor of a casualty to a ship, station, or military installation which results in the loss or destruction of disbursing records.

((b)) Payment or settlement of an account made pursuant to a report, determination, or finding of death may not be recovered or reopened because of a later report or determination which fixes a date of death. However, an account shall be reopened and settled on the basis of a date of death so fixed which is later than that used as a basis for earlier settlements.

((c)) In the settlement of his accounts, a disbursing officer is entitled, if there is no fraud or criminality by him, to credit for an erroneous payment or overpayment he made in carrying out this chapter, except . Unless there is fraud or criminality by him, recovery may not be made from a civilian officer or employee or a member of a uniformed service who authorizes a payment under this chapter, except .