ptsd What Are The Rules For A&a For A Spouse

[LeroyJohnson]

does anyone know what the requirements are to apply for A&A for a spouse. Last year my wife and son were in a really bad accident at the time I posted about it we knew she had several herniated disc in her cervical spine since that time they have finished doing all their tests and she has a total of 7 herniated disc's in her spine 3 in her lumbar spine that have totally collapsed and are pinching off nerves needless to say she is in alot of pain she is also suffering from PTSD and has sever panic attacks while traveling in a car she is under treatment for the PTSD. so far she has not had surgery the VA has lost her records twice now, she has another appointment to see the neurosurgeon next month we well see how that goes. We tried civilian doctors but no neurosurgeon will do her surgeries because they say CHAMPVA does not pay them enough money to make it worth their time. My son also has a herniated disc and a dislocated disc in his spine from the accident but they say they are not bad enough to do surgery on at this time. does any one know how I can get A&A for her.

thanks Leroy

[out_here04]

Here is a link off of va.gov

http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/docs/aid-and-attendance.doc

[Pete53]

The VA is pretty lenient about spousal A&A but its not much money. It pretty much lines up with what it would tke us to get it. Needs help to function safely at home. Is not able to bath and care for self clean house ect.

Good Luck

One thing about ChampVA is they only pay the same amount that Medicare does and if that is only Insurance than you have problems. Its to bad its like that but when you wife gets to be 65 and has Medicare its really better Medical Coverage than we have.

[out_here04]

The following information from VA seems to link aid and attendance to pension, not compensation.

I found the following confusing VA-speak:

"Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension. This benefit may not be paid without eligibility to pension."

100 percent schedulars for at least some Service-Connected (SC) disabilities are offered aid and attendance or housebound allowance. They are receiving compensation, not pension. Some on here know much more than me about the differences in qualifying for AA/HB. Would his wife be able to apply for a pension while VA is screwing around losing paperwork for her compensation claim?

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm#7

"What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits?

• Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension. This benefit may not be paid without eligibility to pension. A veteran may be eligible for A&A when:
  1. The veteran requires the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment, OR,
     
  2. The veteran is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities requires that he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR,
     
  3. The veteran is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR,
     
  4. The veteran is blind, or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
     

  [*]Housebound is paid in addition to monthly pension. Like A&A, Housebound benefits may not be paid without eligibility to pension. A veteran may be eligible for Housebound benefits when:

  1. The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such disability, he/she is permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises, OR,
     
  2. The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 percent or more disabling.
     

  How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound:

  • You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the VA regional office having jurisdiction of the claim. That would be the office where you filed a claim for pension benefits. If the regional office of jurisdiction is not known, you may file the request with any VA regional office.
    
  • You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care.
    
  • The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
    
  • In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises.
    
  • Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the individual gets around, where the individual goes, and what he or she is able to do during a typical day.
    

  

  If I am already receiving monthly payments or a service-connected disability can I get a VA pension too?

  You cannot receive a VA non-service connected pension and service-connected compensation at the same time. However, if you apply for pension and are awarded payments, VA will pay you whichever benefit is the greater amount.

  

  How do I apply for veterans non-service connected pension?

  [*]You can apply on line at the following VA web site: <A href=http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp">'>http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp">http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp .

  [*]You may download and fill out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension. Make sure you download all parts of the application as well as the instructions for filling out the forms. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).

  You must send the completed application and any copies of other documents to the VA regional office that serves your area of residence. Please click here to find the office of jurisdiction.

  [*]You may also contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) from a veterans service organization. Please call the toll free number, 1-800-827-1000, for the location of the nearest VSO nearest you. You may also look to the VA web site for a list of the nationally recognized Veterans Service Organizations.

  

  If you have any questions, please call our toll free number, 1-800-827-1000, or you may contact VA electronically via the Internet at https://iris.va.gov.

  Disclaimer --We will make every effort to keep this Internet Site current and accurate, but there will surely be times when this site will not be current. These pages are for general information only, your best source of current information is to contact the managers of the benefits programs."

[Berta]

"Would his wife be able to apply for a pension while VA is screwing around losing paperwork for her compensation claim"

VA Pension depends on income and wartime service- however if she applied for VA compensation-this would cover potential pension claim too-

she could not receive both but-correct me someone if I am wrong but isnt a VA comp claim on a 21-526 also considered a VA pension claim as well?