Noteboom The Law Firm

New Guidelines Allow More Veterans Service Dog Benefits

May 4, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide-range of services to our veterans. Some of these programs are well publicized and promoted and others not so much. One program the VA offers that does not get a lot of attention is providing service dogs to disabled veterans.

AmVets, a leader veterans service organization in service-dog policies, is pushing disabled veterans in need of service dogs to apply to receive a government reimbursement for some of their dog-related expenses. The veterans who would benefit from having service dogs are those who are:

• Sight disabled;
• Hearing disabled; and
• Limited in their mobility.

 The VA will need to assist the veteran in completing the required forms to receive their service-dog benefits because the benefit application form is an internal document that can only be used by a VA employee. Additionally, the VA will reply to every application they receive within 10 days of request.

With the VA's new guidelines, any veteran that has either been turned down prior to February 2010, or is still waiting for an answer, should reapply. Older applications fall under more restrictive guidelines and previous denials may very well be successfully appealed.

Service dogs are not to be confused with guide dogs as service dogs help disabled people with common tasks. Veterans suffering from the following would be excellent candidates for service dogs:

• Spinal cord injuries;
• Severe brain injuries;
• Joint diseases; or
• Mobility issues requiring help with balance or motion.

 Dogs can serve to relieve burdens on caretakers of disabled veterans as well as provide the veterans with a sense of independence. It is important to keep in mind however, that the approved benefits will only cover a few of the expenses of keeping a service dog, including:

• Veterinary bills;
• Vaccinations;
• Flea and tick treatments; and
• Dog food ONLY if the dog is on a medically ordered diet.

 Veterans do not usually pay for the trained service dog; most of the time those costs are covered by nonprofits. While benefits only cover limited dog-related expenses, every bit counts when you are on a fixed income. The benefit to the veteran is what is most important.