Comments on: Special Benefits http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/ your source for all things military Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:16:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Larry Lucero http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12399 Larry Lucero Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:22:09 +0000 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12399 I have been rated at 100% from 1990 to date for wounds and PTSD. I am 59 years old and have developed a problem with my lumbar spine that can be relieved to some degree by surgery and a spinal fusion. The problem is that my primary source of transportation is a motorcycle. Recently I had a dramatic loss of strength and coordination in my lower legs making riding a motorcycle dangerous. My doctor at the VA refered me to the VA Driver Training specialist to see if adaptive equipment in the form of a side car or three wheel conversion might be recommended. I was told that because my back problem is not service connected the VA will not assist me in any way. I have used only a motorcycle for my personal transportation for the last 20 years and have depended on my wife when an automobile is needed. In fact my drivers licence only allows me to operate a motorcycle. This is a quality of life issue to me. I am being told to sell my motorcycle and buy a car. I really can't afford to do either. I was also told that if the surgery makes my condition worse and I lose the use of my legs I would not meet the eligibility requirements for an Automobile Grant or adaptive equipment. I live in a rural area with no public transportation and my wife needs the car for work. I am stuck at home. Due to my back condition I am unable to walk more than half a mile. If there is something else I can do please let me know. I have been rated at 100% from 1990 to date for wounds and PTSD. I am 59 years old and have developed a problem with my lumbar spine that can be relieved to some degree by surgery and a spinal fusion.
The problem is that my primary source of transportation is a motorcycle. Recently I had a dramatic loss of strength and coordination in my lower legs making riding a motorcycle dangerous. My doctor at the VA refered me to the VA Driver Training specialist to see if adaptive equipment in the form of a side car or three wheel conversion might be recommended.
I was told that because my back problem is not service connected the VA will not assist me in any way. I have used only a motorcycle for my personal transportation for the last 20 years and have depended on my wife when an automobile is needed. In fact my drivers licence only allows me to operate a motorcycle. This is a quality of life issue to me. I am being told to sell my motorcycle and buy a car. I really can’t afford to do either.
I was also told that if the surgery makes my condition worse and I lose the use of my legs I would not meet the eligibility requirements for an Automobile Grant or adaptive equipment.
I live in a rural area with no public transportation and my wife needs the car for work. I am stuck at home. Due to my back condition I am unable to walk more than half a mile.
If there is something else I can do please let me know.

]]> By: rickb54 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12427 rickb54 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:00:39 +0000 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12427 Larry, There is nothing that I know of other than what was explained in my article. Auto adaptive equipment and the auto grant is like any other benefit. You first must meet the basic requirements for the benefit, and you must be rated for loss of use. If you back condition is not service connected then the grant or adaptive equipment cannnot be granted. It would not make any differenct if you had surgery or not, the benefit would still not be granted. For the va doctor to refer you to the drivers specialist is a waste of time and money, because as I said you first have to be rated. The benefit does not come from a doctor referal it comes from having a disability that is rated by the regional office. A drivers specialist cannot grant you anything regardless of what they think it is not in their job discription, they are only there to write a prescription for veterans who are authorized the benefit. That is no to say they can't write a prescription, but the va stil will not pay for it. Larry,

There is nothing that I know of other than what was explained in my article. Auto adaptive equipment and the auto grant is like any other benefit. You first must meet the basic requirements for the benefit, and you must be rated for loss of use. If you back condition is not service connected then the grant or adaptive equipment cannnot be granted. It would not make any differenct if you had surgery or not, the benefit would still not be granted. For the va doctor to refer you to the drivers specialist is a waste of time and money, because as I said you first have to be rated. The benefit does not come from a doctor referal it comes from having a disability that is rated by the regional office. A drivers specialist cannot grant you anything regardless of what they think it is not in their job discription, they are only there to write a prescription for veterans who are authorized the benefit. That is no to say they can’t write a prescription, but the va stil will not pay for it.

]]> By: Larry Lucero http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12475 Larry Lucero Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:37:30 +0000 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12475 Thank you for the information. I am not service connected for may back but I think I could make a case to support service connection for my back in addition to what I am presently service connected for. I am rated 100% permanent and total disabled. I am a disabled veteran with service connected injuries I guess I will have to go through medicare and try to get an electric scooter to get around on. At this point a VA independent living program might help. I will also need to adapt my home for a wheel chair. Because of my other medical problems COPD and a heart condition the VA told me today that surgery is no longer an option. Physical therapy is all I am being offered at this point but I don't live near a private physicl therapy practioner and the VA Hospital is 90 miles each way but I am not able to drive without adaptive equipment. My legs are too weak to operate foot break, gas, or clutch. Being in my current medical condition makes my mental health suffer. Catch 22 Thank you for the information. I am not service connected for may back but I think I could make a case to support service connection for my back in addition to what I am presently service connected for. I am rated 100% permanent and total disabled. I am a disabled veteran with service connected injuries I guess I will have to go through medicare and try to get an electric scooter to get around on.
At this point a VA independent living program might help. I will also need to adapt my home for a wheel chair. Because of my other medical problems COPD and a heart condition the VA told me today that surgery is no longer an option. Physical therapy is all I am being offered at this point but I don’t live near a private physicl therapy practioner and the VA Hospital is 90 miles each way but I am not able to drive without adaptive equipment. My legs are too weak to operate foot break, gas, or clutch.
Being in my current medical condition makes my mental health suffer.
Catch 22

]]> By: rickb54 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12857 rickb54 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:26:27 +0000 http://www.vajoe.com/blog/2007/11/28/special-benefits/#comment-12857 Larry, You mentioned that you are 100%. I believe that the va will give you a scooter to get around on, bu tif you have no care what good is the scooter. As for adapted housing. Check out this information; http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/partIsah.doc Larry,

You mentioned that you are 100%. I believe that the va will give you a scooter to get around on, bu tif you have no care what good is the scooter. As for adapted housing. Check out this information; http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/partIsah.doc

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