Disabled veterans often need specialized equipment and supplies to carry out their daily functions. The equipment and supplies are often available from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the form of either grants, allowances or tangible medical supplies. However, veterans are not often aware of these benefits that they have earned by their sacrifices and service to our country. 
For example, the VA has an Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) Program geared for veterans with a service-connected disability that prevents them from driving an automobile. Under this Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Program, veterans may qualify for a grant to purchase a specifically modified motor vehicle.
The program provides the necessary equipment and training to enable a disabled veteran to operate a motor vehicle safely and permit access to and from the vehicle in a safe manner. The program is jointly administered by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
VHA’s Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Services provide disabled veterans a full range of services: driver’s evaluations and training; adaptive equipment to enable safe operation of a motor vehicle; and equipment which permits access to enter and exit their vehicle. Disabled Veterans are trained through the VA Driver’s Rehabilitation Program, to operate a modified vehicle safely. There are 48 VA facilities that offer this training
The VA Program assists in paying for adaptive equipment, repairs, replacements and reinstallations for automobile gear. (For example, mechanical hand controls for gas, tinted windows for burn injuries, tilted steering wheel, power steering, low effort or sensitized steering, electronic gas and/or brakes and lift equipment are all considered legitimate expenses.)
The benefits of the VA Program are usually granted to disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability, such as: the loss of a functional use of an arm, leg, ear or eye; a severe burn injury; permanent vision impairment in one or both eyes; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; permanent loss of the use of a limb; and Ankylosis in one or both knees and hips.
Disabled veterans must have at least one disability to qualify for disability benefits from the VA. Applicants must have VA approval first before buying a vehicle or adaptive equipment.
Approved applicants may receive a one-time payment for up to $21,058.69 to help with specialized purchases for their automobile. In some unique cases, a disabled veteran may receive one or more adaptive-equipment grants so that they can add features to their vehicle.
Disabled veterans are requested to use VA Form 21-4502 “Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment” when applying for this Program. Applicants must complete all items on Section I and II of the form.
Once these two Sections are completed, the form should be sent to the VA Regional Office.
If the Application is approved by the VA, the VA will complete Section III and return the form to the disabled veteran. The veteran must purchase the vehicle or adaptive equipment, complete Section IV and return the form to the VA Regional Office.
In some instances, applicants may only qualify for adaptive equipment. If so, disabled veterans will need to fill out VA Form 10-1394 “Application for Adaptive Equipment—Motor Vehicle.” If the application is approved by the VA, the VA will pay the vehicle’s seller directly.
For additional information on this VA Program, please visit the VA Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment website. Disabled Veterans are encouraged to visit the Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS) website to search for Frequently Asked Questions or ask a question online. If questions still remain, please call 1-800-827-1000 directly.
Another valuable VA benefit that veterans may not be aware of is the VA Annual Clothing Allowance Program. This is a disability compensation benefit which allows veterans (with a service-connected disability) to buy new clothes if they are damaged by prosthetic or orthopedic devices (such as a wheel chair.)
Disabled veterans who are taking medicine for a skin condition and their clothing is “irreparably stained” are also eligible to participate in the Program. If approved for the VA Clothing Allowance Program, each disabled veteran will receive an annual payment of $841.36 each year to assist in replacing damaged clothes.
Articles of clothing covered by the VA’s Clothing Allowance include: shirts; blouses; pants; skirts; shorts; and similar garments. Items of clothing not included are: shoes; hats; scarves; underwear; socks and similar garments.
The disabled veteran must complete a VA Form 10-8678 and submit it to the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSASat) at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) Cincinnati. Veterans will have to qualify by August 1 of that year in order to receive the yearly payment.
Veterans with permanent disabilities, such as the loss of an extremity, do not need to reapply for the clothing allowance each year. Those who require the use of orthopedics or prosthetics or on a temporary basis must reapply for the benefit each year.
Veterans who need assistance in completing either the VA Form 21-4502 Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment; VA Form 10-1394 Application for Adaptive Equipment—Motor Vehicle or the VA Form 10-8678 VA Application for Annual Clothing Allowance should contact John Plahovinsak at plahovinsak@msn.com.
John Plahovinsak is the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio.