Scooter Vs Electric Chair (no Not That Kind Of Electric Chair)

[donews]

Ok, I received an electric scooter from the VA about one year ago give or take a few months.

At the time they evaluated me for an electric chair also, but they said I would get more use out of a scooter as at the time there was hope for my rehab to make it easier for me to walk at some point.

Since this time, I am no longer able to walk and am in need of an electric chair as the scooter will not make it through my house. I can only get the scooter through the front door, not to any of the rooms.

Am I sh^t out of luck here?

Someone at the 800# and my VA PCP told me that once the VA gave me the scooter I was on my own, that they will not give me an electric chair.

But I have also been told by my VA cardiologist that they should give me an electric chair as my need has changed.

Anyone have experience with this?

If I know they should be working with me on this, I will fight them tooth and nail, if not I will just have to figure out something else.

[donews]

Thank you all for your replies.

The reason the scooter does not fit through the doors is due to it being so long and the turning radius.

Your probably right I will need to widen the doors for a chair, even with wide doors though, I doubt a scooter will work very well as the turning radius is so large.

I have looked at the adapted housing grants and I do not think I qualify for either one.

Right now I am service connected for Heart Disease, Diabetes, Peripheral Neuropathy, Retinopathy, and Loss of Organ. I do not believe any of those will qualify me for the Adapted Housing Grant.

Someone posted here recently that they applied for the adapted housing using immobility due to Heart Disease I think, and they said they were denied.

I have been trying to get into Voc Rehab to get into the ILP program so hopefully they could modify what I need. I was in the process last year, then had to postpone it due to having another surgery. I have been trying to get back up with my case manager, but after two months of leaving messages and talking to four actuall people in Voc Rehab, my Voc Reahb case manager still has not contacted me. I even emailed him. The other Voc Rehab counselors said I was basically tough out of luck until he contacts me.

I am going to ask either my cardiologist or my orthopedist to enter a consult for me to be evaluated for a chair and see what happens.

Again, thank you all for your replies.

[Philip Rogers]

donews: you should apply for the housing grant and let the VA decide. jmo

pr

[LeroyJohnson]

Don, if you have the need to be confined to a chair then that should be seen as loss of use .you should apply and see what happens and don't give up on the chair for the reasons you mentioned you should be able to get the chair you need as long as it is considered medically necessary and the turning radius factor is a big one I don't see why they would deny you

[Teac]

Ok, I received an electric scooter from the VA about one year ago give or take a few months.

At the time they evaluated me for an electric chair also, but they said I would get more use out of a scooter as at the time there was hope for my rehab to make it easier for me to walk at some point.

Since this time, I am no longer able to walk and am in need of an electric chair as the scooter will not make it through my house. I can only get the scooter through the front door, not to any of the rooms.

Am I sh^t out of luck here?

Someone at the 800# and my VA PCP told me that once the VA gave me the scooter I was on my own, that they will not give me an electric chair.

But I have also been told by my VA cardiologist that they should give me an electric chair as my need has changed.

Anyone have experience with this?

If I know they should be working with me on this, I will fight them tooth and nail, if not I will just have to figure out something else.

To date and since 2003 I have gone from a scooter to a chair back to a scooter and now back to a chair. The VA has paid for ever swith, The va has also installed new vehicle lifts for me each time. My experience is that if you hava a choice that the chair because the scooter is just to big to drive around inside the house or even the hospital.

[Teac]

Thank you all for your replies.

The reason the scooter does not fit through the doors is due to it being so long and the turning radius.

Your probably right I will need to widen the doors for a chair, even with wide doors though, I doubt a scooter will work very well as the turning radius is so large.

I have looked at the adapted housing grants and I do not think I qualify for either one.

Right now I am service connected for Heart Disease, Diabetes, Peripheral Neuropathy, Retinopathy, and Loss of Organ. I do not believe any of those will qualify me for the Adapted Housing Grant.

Someone posted here recently that they applied for the adapted housing using immobility due to Heart Disease I think, and they said they were denied.

I have been trying to get into Voc Rehab to get into the ILP program so hopefully they could modify what I need. I was in the process last year, then had to postpone it due to having another surgery. I have been trying to get back up with my case manager, but after two months of leaving messages and talking to four actuall people in Voc Rehab, my Voc Reahb case manager still has not contacted me. I even emailed him. The other Voc Rehab counselors said I was basically tough out of luck until he contacts me.

I am going to ask either my cardiologist or my orthopedist to enter a consult for me to be evaluated for a chair and see what happens.

Again, thank you all for your replies.

I use a Pronto M91 one of the largest electric chairs the make and I have no problems going thru 30" doorways. Scooters however reqire room just to turn. and it is almost impossinle to turn a scooter around in an elevator but a chair no problem.

[Teac]

donews: you should apply for the housing grant and let the VA decide. jmo

pr

If he is not rated for any of the below listed problems he will just be wasting his time, and the va's time. There are specific rules to acquire adapted housing they are as follows:

The Specially Adapted Housing Grant is available to veterans or servicemembers who have a service-connected disability due to military service, entitling them to compensation for permanent and total disability due to:

<A name=OLE_LINK1>a. The loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

b. Blindness in both eyes having only light perception, plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity.

c. The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity together with

(1) residuals of organic disease or injury, or

(2) the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity.

Item (1) and Item (2) above must so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

d. The loss, or loss of use, of both upper extremities, so as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbows.

He may request HISA in leiu of SAH, Hisa is administered by the prosthics depart of the va hospital hospital for more info I have attached a handbood.

Handbook_1173.14_Home_improvements__HISA_.pdf