Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Limits Service Dog Benefits

June 28, 2010 - Service dogs are wonderful at helping people with a wide range of disabilities. They are especially helpful to those people who need assistance performing everyday activities. People benefiting from service dogs would include those suffering from:

• Vision and hearing problems;
• Physical disabilities;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Severe brain injuries;
• Diseases of the joints; or
• General mobility issues.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does offer limited benefits for guide and service dogs so that disabled veterans are able to live an independent lifestyle. Guide dogs are trained specifically to help the blind whereas service dogs can be used to help a wider range of disabilities. Service dogs can help deaf veterans by alerting them to sounds and can help physically impaired veterans by being able to open doors or recovering dropped items.

Veterans can apply to the VA for reimbursement of expenses for their guide or service dogs. The VA will not provide the dog itself nor will it pay for the dog. If the VA approves the veteran, the VA will provide to the veteran referrals to non-profit groups that will pay for the costs of the either the dog or the training for the dog. The VA benefit will cover:

• Veterinary care;
• Equipment;
• Prescription medicine (nothing over the counter);
• Office visits for medical procedures; and
• Dental procedures if the dog must be sedated.

 Veterans must be enrolled in the VA healthcare system because benefits for service dogs fall under VA healthcare as opposed to the VA's disability claims process. There are no specific guidelines for approval; every case will be evaluated on its own merits. It must be determined that the veterans needs would be best served by using a service dog.