Month 10 Special Benefits for Seriously Disabled Individuals

Prosthetic, Sensory and Rehabilitative Aids

Generally, all veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are eligible for all needed prosthetics, medical equipment and supplies. Certain veterans are eligible for needed prosthetics, medical equipment and supplies even though they are not enrolled. The two most significant groups of veterans who do not need to be enrolled are: 1. Veterans needing prosthetics, medical equipment and supplies for a service-connected disability; and 2. Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at least 50 percent. Under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 17.149- 17.154, the VA will furnish to veterans eligible to receive VA care and services, sensori-neural aids and prosthetics. Sensori-neural aids includes eyeglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids. The qualifying veterans eligible for receipt of sensori-neural aids are: •Those with a compensable service-connected disability; •Those who are former prisoners of war •Those awarded a Purple Heart •Those in receipt of benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1151 •Those in receipt of pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound •Those who have a visual or hearing impairment that resulted from the existence of another medical condition for which the veteran is receiving VA care, or which resulted from treatment of that medical condition •Those with a significant functional or cognitive impairment evidenced by deficiencies in activities of daily living but not including normally occurring visual or hearing impairments •Those visually or hearing impaired so severely that the provision of sensori-neural aids is necessary to permit active participation in their own medical treatment. Prosthetics include Artificial limbs, braces, orthopedic shoes, wheelchairs, medical accessories, invalid lifts, special clothing, dog-guides, and mechanical or electronic equipment to overcome the handicap of blindness. To learn more about prosthetics and aids, please read the following: •38 U.S.C. 1712; 38 U.S.C. 1714; 38 U.S.C. 1717-1719 •38 C.F.R. §§ 17.149- 17.154 •DAV Service Officer's Guide

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant. A HISA grant is provided for medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to Veterans' or Service members' primary residence when such improvements are "necessary to assure the continuation of treatment or to provide access to the home and to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities." 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(2). Currently the maximum amount of a HISA grant is $6,800. 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(2)(A)(ii). HISA grants are administered by authorized personnel at VA medical centers. Cf. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook 1173.14.

Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment

To better understand the Automobile Allowances and Adaptive Equipment please read the following: •38 U.S.C. 3901-3904; •38 C.F.R. §§ 3.808 and 17.155- 17.159; •Review VA Forms 10-1394 and 21-4502. Note the eligibility requirements to receive these benefits. Veterans may be eligible for a one-time payment of not more than $20, 235.20, beginning on 10-01-16, toward the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance if you have certain service-connected disabilities. The grant is paid directly to the seller of the automobile and the veteran may only receive the automobile grant once in his/her lifetime. Exception: PL 112-154 authorizes VA to provide or assist in providing eligible Veterans with a second automobile or other conveyance when •the first vehicle purchased with VA financial assistance is destroyed as a result of natural or other disaster •the destruction was not the Veteran's fault, and •the Veteran does not receive compensation for the loss from a property insurer. Note: The law prohibits VA from making payments for automobile grants directly to Veterans. VA is required to pay the benefit to the seller of the automobile. Reference: For more information on processing requests for a second automobile allowance, see M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 2.3.e. Certain veterans may also be eligible for adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment includes, but is not limited to, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, and special equipment necessary to assist the eligible person into and out of the vehicle. VA may provide financial assistance in purchasing adaptive equipment more than once. This benefit is payable to either the seller or the veteran. Important: Prior VA approval must be obtained before purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment. Automobile Allowance Grant Eligibility, the veteran must have one of the following disabilities that are either rated as service-connected or treated as if service-connected under 38 U.S.C 1151: •Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet, or •Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands, or •Permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to a certain degree, or •Severe burn injury, or •Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). •Automobile Adaptive Equipment Eligibility, the veteran must meet the disability requirements for the automobile grant (see above), or have ankylosis (immobility of the joint) of one or both knees or hips that VA recognizes as being service-connected or treats as if service-connected under 38 U.S.C. 1151.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA)

To better understand the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant, Special Housing Adaptation Grant, and the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant please read the following: •38 U.S.C. 2101-2105 •38 C.F.R. §§ 3.809- 3.809a •Review VA Forms 10-0103 and 26-4555. Note the eligibility requirements to receive these benefits. Please search for the applications at the VA Forms Search Site. Specially Adapted Housing (SAH). A certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing may be awarded to a veteran who is receiving compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to (1) the loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or (2) blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, plus, the anatomical loss or loss of use of one lower extremity, or (3) the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or (4) the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or (5) the loss or loss of use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbow, or (6) full thickness or subdermal burns that have resulted in contractures with limitation of motion of two or more extremities or of at least one extremity and the trunk. 38 U.S.C. 2101; 38 C.F.R. § 3.809(a), (b). Special Housing Adaptation Grant. A certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations may be issued to a veteran with requisite service who is entitled to VA compensation for a permanent and total service-connected disability, if: (a) the Veteran is not entitled to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing under 38 C.F.R. § 3.809 and had not previously received assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101(a); and (b) the Veteran is entitled to compensation for permanent and total disability which is (1) due to blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or (2) includes the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands. This assistance will not be available to any veteran more than once. 38 U.S.C. 2101(b); 38 C.F.R. § 3.809a.

Clothing Allowance

To have a better understanding of VA's Clothing Allowance read the following: •38 U.S.C. 1162 •38 C.F.R. § 3.810 •Review VA Form 10-8678 Be sure to note the eligibility requirements, more than one clothing allowance can be awarded, and applications must be made to the VA Medical Center Chief of Prosthetics. The current amount for a clothing allowance is $753.00. Veterans who have unique clothing needs as a result of a service-related disability or injury may receive a supplement to their disability compensation. The clothing allowance reimburses veterans if their clothing gets permanently damaged by a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance you wear, or by a prescribed skin medication. A veteran may receive a clothing allowance who uses either of the following: •Prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, such as a wheelchair or crutches, because of a service-connected disability (Note: soft and flexible devices, such as an elastic stocking, are not included) •Medication prescribed by a physician for a service-connected skin condition that causes permanent stains or otherwise damages outer garments Additional clothing allowances may be provided if more than one prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, or medication described above, is used and/or affects more than one type of clothing garment. To receive annual payment, veterans must establish eligibility by August 1 of the year for which they claim payment. Applications are collected throughout the year and held until the closing date of August 1st. They are then processed and veterans will receive payments between September 1st and October 31st. This is an annual payment and will only be made during this time frame.