Va Gives Me An Ankle/foot Orthosis (afo)

[LarryJ]

I mean, I have this one pair of OLD OLD sneakers that are so worn out that I can get my foot in the shoe with my AFO on, but the shoes look like something someone would wear while shoveling out the barn (Why do they look like barnshovelingout shoes? 'Cause that's what I used to wear while shoveling out the barn!).

I am ashamed to wear them. Wife wanted to take her Mother out for supper last night, so instead of wearing those shoes, I just took a couple rolls of AceWrap and wrapped up my bad foot/ankle, got my crutches, put on a good shoe on my good foot, and walked around like I had just broken my ankle. Only bad part of that charade is the fact that I have no stamina and using those crutches just wears me out. But, I got through the meal and didn't embarass anyone.

My question:

Will the VA help me out? I just need a couple of pairs of shoes (and a new cane, my old one is coming apart). If they will help me out, how do I go about doing this?

[Vike17]

Do you receive the annual clothing allowance from VA???

Vike 17

[Ricky]

I think that is what the clothing allowance is for. With my AFO I have to buy two pair of shoes in order to get one good pair. Size 9 on one foot and 10.5 on the other one. Most good diabetic shoes cost around 150.00 a pop so I end up spending around 300.00 for a pair of shoes. I have been told that there are some companies that will sell mis-matched shoes but I have not found one in this area.

[LarryJ]

How do you go about getting this "annual clothing allowance"?

There is a VA Benefits office in the VAMC that I go to. Would they be the ones to see?

[Vike17]

You need to fill out the VA Form 10-8678 na d send it to your nearest VAMC. Down below is the regulation/criteria. Make sure you pay attention to paragraph © and the time frames!

"§3.810 Clothing allowance.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section a veteran who has a service-connected disability, or a disability compensable under 38 U.S.C. 1151 as if it were service-connected, is entitled, upon application therefor, to an annual clothing allowance as specified in 38 U.S.C. 1162. The annual clothing allowance is payable in a lump sum, and the following eligibility criteria must also be satisfied:

(1) A VA examination or hospital or examination report from a facility specified in §3.326© discloses that the veteran wears or uses certain prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which tend to wear or tear clothing (including a wheelchair) because of such disability and such disability is the loss or loss of use of a hand or foot compensable at a rate specified in §3.350(a), (B), ©, (d), of (f); or

(2) The Chief Medical Director or designee certifies that because of such disability a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance is worn or used which tends to wear or tear the veteran’s clothing, or that because of the use of a physician-prescribed medication for a skin condition which is due to the service-connected disability irreparable damage is done to the veteran’s outergarments. For the purposes of this paragraph “appliance” includes a wheelchair.

(B) Effective August 1, 1972, the initial lump sum clothing allowance is due and payable for veterans meeting the eligibility requirements of paragraph (a) of this section as of that date. Subsequent annual payments for those meeting the eligibility requirements of paragraphs (a) of this section will become due on the anniversary date thereafter, both as to initial claims and recurring payments under previously established entitlement.

©(1) Except as provided in paragraph ©(2) of this section, the application for clothing allowance must be filed within 1 year of the anniversary date (August 1) for which entitlement is initially established, otherwise, the application will be acceptable only to effect payment of the clothing allowance becoming due on any succeeding anniversary date for which entitlement is established, provided the application is filed within 1 year of such date. The 1-year period for filing application will include the anniversary date and terminate on July 31 of the following year.

(2) Where the initial determination of service connection for the qualifying disability is made subsequent to an anniversary date for which entitlement is established, the application for clothing allowance may be filed within 1 year from the date of notification to the veteran of such determination. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1162)

(d) If a veteran is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for a period of more than 60 days and is furnished clothing without charge by the institution, VA shall reduce the amount of the annual clothing allowance by 1/365th of the amount otherwise payable for each day the veteran was incarcerated during the 12-month period preceding the anniversary date for which entitlement is established. No reduction shall be made for the first 60 days of incarceration. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5313A)

[37 FR 19134, Sept. 19, 1972, as amended at 39 FR 2362, Jan. 21, 1974; 49 FR 28242, July 11, 1984; 56 FR 5756, Feb. 13, 1991; 62 FR 35422, July 1, 1997]

Vike 17

[Ricky]

Vike could you please put this in plain language? The way I read it is if you do not file in that first year then when you file you will have to wait a year before payment. Is my interpertation correct?