What items did you receive thru Voc Rehab ILP

[Tbird]

What items have you received through Voc Rehab?

[Tbird]

Yes I got

1. Step stool to get in and out of car
2. Kitchen height adjustable so I can sit at my countertops to prep food.
3. Prescription dispenser with alarm.
4. Lumbar cushion for Van.
5. Lift Chair they picked out PerfectSleepChair.com 
6. Zero Gravity Workstation they are offering this one http://www.ergoquest.com/zero-gravity-workstation-0.html
7. Mobility Scooter

I had to return the Zero Gravity Workstation it tipped over with me in it the first time I used it. So I have in a new request for a different type of chair and desk. I also requested a laptop and a bathroom in the basement. Waiting to hear on approval of those items.

It's been a slow process but productive.

[Tbird]

I went through Voc Rehab about 10 or more years ago, they bought me a very nice office chair which lasted 10 years before starting to fall apart. They also bought me some desks.

I've been approved a second time and am waiting to see what they will provide. I've had the home visit and got all my paperwork signed off by my doctor, but you know hurry up and wait.

[broncovet]

I cant answer PERSONALLY, because my ILP was denied, and I didnt persue appeals at that time.  You have to apply for ILP through Voc Rehab, which I did, and the VARO confused ILP with Voc rehab and denied.  

According to this, you should even be able to get recreational items:

Quote

VAOPGCPREC 34-97 while researching BVA Citation Nr: 0929636 8/7/2009

States that the VR&E (Secretary) must afford the Services & Assistance deemed necessary-even those Recreational in nature.

One Veteran reported getting these items for ILP:

1.  Memory Foam Mattress Topper
2. Adjustable Hospital Type Chair to sit in while in the Kitchen working.
3. Electric Can Opener with tool to open Pop tops.
4.  Non-slip Shower Mat
5.  Shower Head with hose so that I can rinse off different areas of my body and not have to stand directly under a shower nozzle.
4. Sony VAIO Laptop Computer with carrying case, Microsoft Office 2007, Anti-virus, extended service plan / warranty.
5. Planning Calendar / Planner
6. Roland Fantom G8 Workstation / Keyboard / Synthesizer for music therapy to help with memory, depression, PTSD, etc. $3500.00
7. Roland Amplifier for Piano $600.00
8.  Stand for keyboard  $100.00
9. Stool for Keyboard $80.00
10. Headphones for keyboard $140.00
11. Lift Chair / Recliner with Infra-red heat, massage, lumbar support that raises lowers and reclines by remote attached to chair.  $1400.00

Another Veteran got a lawn tractor and items worth 20,000.  

Alex took much longer because he appealed the size of the greenhouse, but you should get stuff within a year.  

 

 

 

 

[Tbird]

 

Date:  November 5, 1997                                                   VAOPGCPREC 34-97

 

From:  Acting General Counsel (021)

 

Subj: Request for opinion concerning application of 38 U.S.C. § 3104(b) (Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. X XX XXX XXX)

 

  To:  Acting Chairman, Board of Veterans’ Appeals (01C)

 

QUESTION PRESENTED

 

Does 38 U.S.C. § 3104(b) or any other statute or regulation, e.g., Department of Labor Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and associated regulations, either require or preclude VA from assisting appellant in purchasing a computer and related materials for recreational activities?

 

DISCUSSION

 

1. Our understanding of the relevant facts is as follows.  The veteran is rated as 100 percent disabled due to quadriplegia resulting from a gunshot wound sustained while on active duty.  At various times thereafter, he received VA educational assistance benefits under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (chapter 34, title 38, United States Code) and vocational rehabilitation benefits (chapter 31, title 38, United States Code).  This assistance enabled him to obtain college degrees and successfully undertake employment as a stockbroker.  Subsequently, he was forced to give up that employment due to factors associated with his medical condition.

 

2. The veteran now seeks further vocational rehabilitation assistance; i.e., independent living services under 38 U.S.C. § 3120.  More specifically, he asks for a computer, with associated software and training, to enable him to access other similarly circumstanced disabled individuals, to publish a financial newsletter, to “keep a medications and appointments log, and allow [him] to communicate electronically with the VA and other medical organizations.”  Appeal Letter of the veteran, dated November 8, 1995.

 

3. The regional office involved denied the claimed assistance on the basis that, while such services may improve his quality of life they would not “enable [him] to function more independently than . . . previously demonstrated with [his] family or community, or, with a reduced level of assistance from others.” Statement of the Case, October 6, 1995.  The veteran then filed this appeal.

 

<Page 2>

4. One of the express purposes of the chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation program is to “provide for all services and assistance necessary to enable veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living . . . .”  38 U.S.C. § 3100.  The term “independence in daily living”  means “the ability of a veteran, without the services of others or with a reduced level of the services of others, to live and function within such veteran’s family and community.”  38 U.S.C. § 3101(2).

 

5. Section 3101(4) of title 38, United States Code, defines a “program of independent living services” as including the services “needed” to “achieve maximum independence in daily living,” which services also are mentioned in section 3104(a)(15) as among those which the Secretary is authorized to provide. (See, also, 38 U.S.C. § 3120(d).)  Thus, on its face, chapter 31 grants VA a great deal of discretion in determining the nature and scope of services needed by a veteran in an independent living services program.

 

6. The issue before us concerns whether that broad discretion, nevertheless, is circumscribed as a matter of current law to exclude the provision of services and assistance that would enable a veteran to participate in recreational activity.

 

7. Plainly, no such preclusion existed when the chapter 31 independent living program was enacted in 1980.  Then, as at the time of the instant case, subsection 3104(b) of that chapter provided that “[a] program of independent living services and assistance may include the types of services and assistance described in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
§ 796a),” and recreational activities were expressly listed among those described services.  In 1992, however, section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act was repealed (Pub. L. No. 102-569, title VII, § 701(1), (2), Oct. 29, 1992), with no conforming change to the section 702 reference found in section 3104(b).  Moreover, the latter section’s provisions on independent living services themselves were eliminated in 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-275, § 101(d)(2), Oct. 9, 1996).  Thus, on the surface, the law applicable to the veteran’s claim for assistance, which was made in 1995, after the 1992 elimination of section 702 and before the 1996 elimination of section 3104(b), does appear somewhat murky.

 

8. Our research discloses that, although section 702 was repealed, the same law that did so actually broadened the scope of authorized independent living
services within a new definition of those services under section 7(30)(B) of
the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.  Subclause (xiii) of that new definition
expressly lists “individual and group social and recreational services” within <Page 3>

the meaning of “independent living services.”  Thus, the recognition of recreational activities as a component of independent living services under non-VA vocational rehabilitation programs governed by that Act continued unabated.

 

9. We have not found in the 1992 legislative history for the Rehabilitation Act amendments, or elsewhere, an explanation for Congress’ omission of a conforming change to subsection 3104(b), replacing the obsolete section 702 Rehabilitation Act reference with the new section 7(30)(B) reference.  Nevertheless, when Congress originally enacted subsection 3104(b), it patently intended to authorize the Secretary to provide independent living services of the same nature as authorized by the Rehabilitation Act, and we find nothing in the 1992 amendment to that Act suggesting any intent to alter the scope of the chapter 31 authority.

 

10. We, likewise, have found no congressional discussion concerning the 1996 elimination of the subsection 3104(b) provisions on independent living services.  Yet, given the broad, general chapter 31 mandate to provide those services, we see no reasonable basis to interpret the 1996 amendment to section 3104(b) as barring the Secretary’s exercise of discretion in providing chapter 31 assistance of the nature described in the Rehabilitation Act.

 

11. Instead, the plain congressional directive of the current law is that the Secretary must afford the services and assistance deemed necessary to accomplish the broad statutory program objective of enabling eligible veterans to achieve maximum independence in daily living.  Thus, if the Secretary considers a particular service necessary to enable the individual to participate in family and community activities, even when those activities are recreational in nature, that service may be included as an appropriate part of an individual’s independent living program.

 

12. Of course, both the relevant facts presented and the exercise of professional judgment will determine the nature and extent of services needed to develop a particular veteran’s capacity to participate in appropriate recreational activities as a necessary component of achieving independent living goals.  In that regard, we sense some concern that the services sought here -- provision of a computer and associated hardware -- potentially could be used solely for recreational purposes despite the veteran’s representation that they will primarily be used for daily living communications associated with nonrecreational aspects of his life.  We note, however, that the same could be said of the potential use for many other services routinely provided to a disabled veteran (e.g., a wheelchair could be used to <Page 4>

engage in wheelchair basketball; training in Braille could result in reading novels for pleasure; etc.).  Moreover, unlike the GI Bill, for example, which generally bars education benefits for recreational purposes (38 U.S.C. § 3680A(a)(3)), services to enable or enhance recreational capabilities, as previously mentioned, can be a beneficial and necessary element of an effective chapter 31 independent living program.

 

13. In any event, the test is not whether the service may be used for recreational purposes, but rather, whether it furthers the ability of the particular veteran to become independent.  This is an adjudication issue to be determined in the individual case, not a matter for this office to decide.

 

HELD

 

1. No statute or regulation, including section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its associated regulations, either specifically directs VA to authorize or precludes VA from authorizing services and assistance of a recreational nature as a component of an eligible veteran’s program of independent living services and assistance under 38 U.S.C. § 3120.

 

2. VA has the authority, and responsibility, to provide all services and assistance deemed necessary on the facts of the particular case to enable an eligible veteran participating in such a program to live and function independently in his or her family and community without, or with a reduced level of, the services of others.  This includes the authority to approve, when appropriate, services and assistance that are in whole or part recreational in character when the services are found to be needed to enable or enhance the veteran’s ability to engage in family and community activities integral to the veteran’s achieving his or her independent living program goals.

 

 

 

 

Robert E. Coy

 

 

 

[Buck52]

Way Back around 2000 I first got 50% and join the ILP, THEY GAVE ME A PHONE THAT WHEN IT RINGS IT LITE UP RED, THEY GAVE ME A SMOKE DETECTOR,(ALARM) A REACH GRAB BAR, AND  SET OF WIRELESS RECHARGEABLE HEAD PHONES, AND SOME TYPE OF CONTRAPTION CALLED SOCK PULLER UPPER.

SHOULD I HAD KNOWN I'D ASK FOR A NICE RECLINER  THE KIND THAT RAISES UP  AND A COMPUTER -LAP-TOP...AND MAYBE A RIDING LAWN MOWER...BUT I THINK THEY DON'T GET THE RIDING LAWN MOWERS ANY MORE.

don't hurt to ask for anything you need that makes life somewhat better for you.

if they decline  (APPEAL)just have to keep on asking until someone gets these things for ya.

[Buck52]

BRONCOVET

I don't think Alex got his Green house yet  he is still in Appeals with it  if I remember correctly?

[Vync]

@Buck52 I asked Alex about this a couple of weeks ago. He said it was approved back in 2015 for one of appropriate size, but he had to appeal to the BVA because the VA went back on their word and tried to give him one half of the agreed upon size. Still stuck in appeal.

[Buck52]

Roger that Vync.

[Tbird]

I received my plan with my approved items, I haven’t gotten any of them yet

reclining elelctric lift chair

kitchen stool

digital pill box with built in alarm

memory foam car seat and step stool to get in van

zero gravity workstation

i don’t know how long it will take to get the stuff but I’ll keep you posted

 

[Tbird]

My counselor it can take up to 6 months, but I’m fine with that. We will be in our new home. I’ll keep you posted.

[Tbird]

So my Voc Rehab counselor called and said they were ready to start purchasing

1. Step stool to get in and out of car
2. Kitchen height adjustable so I can sit at my countertops to prep food.
3. Prescription dispenser with alarm. (I asked for a different one than they suggested so I am waiting to hear.)
4. Lumbar cushion for Van.
5. Lift Chair they picked out PerfectSleepChair.com I don't know if that means I'm getting that one or something similar.
6. Zero Gravity Workstation they are offering this one http://www.ergoquest.com/zero-gravity-workstation-0.html which doesn't accomodate my monitors so I asked for this one http://www.ergoquest.com/zero-gravity-workstation-0a.html (I am waiting to hear.)
7. Mobility Scooter

Anything over $1200 will need a second approval and anything over $3000 will have to go to a contracting officer. Which is where my Zero Gravity station will need to go.

I'll let you know when stuff starts showing up.

[Surviving2011]

Did you get your items?

[Vync]

I'm not in the ILP yet because I am still employed, but did purchase a standing desk since I now work from home. It really helped because I switch back and forth from standing and sitting throughout the day. I bought an Uplift Standing Desk v2 with a bamboo top for about $600 last year on sale with free shipping. Not sure if the ILP would cover it for other veterans, but for other vets with issues like mine it might be worth requesting if they don't grant a zero gravity workstation.

[blahsaysme2u]

i bought a FLEXI Spot-Desk. it fits on top of my current desk and lets me lift and lower it with shocks. its great too if you want other options. 

i also work from home and stand and sit frequently during the day. 

https://www.flexispot.com/desks/standing-desk-converters

[Vync]

@blahsaysme2uI looked into those before choosing my desk. Good piece of furniture if it meets your needs.

[Mr cue]

Ok here is my ch 31 independent living program story.

I apply after my ex and I broke up need help.

Well first it was all they offer is hospital items.

I keep ask about my hobbies and interests bed other things to be addressed part of the program.

Ok I had the fight to get them to give me a deny of the items I ask for.

Fast forward I had to do a administrative review. First step to appeal there decision.

My review was send to the head v@re in Washington.

Well the v@re granted a bed computer desk and Cook class in my home to help me learn to cook etc and told them to address my hobbies and interests.

Well my case got back to the buffalo ny regional v@re.

And the head not going to use names.

Choose to not purchase anything and I try to nod for 6 months every time the va would send it down to the v@re and they will not put my nod in the system

Fast forward I apply for smc benfits.

So I never fought it but I got my record from the court.

My nod is in the record she closed my case 2 month after. So I will press the case one day got to much going on.

So I receive nothing after the head v@re told them to purchase  my items.

O last thing during this whole process my vitamin level drop so low from not eating right.

I had to travel to the va hospital everyday to get shots to help increase my levels.

Well I can't shot my self with a needle with one hand so my doctor ordered for the hospital to pay for in home care.

An that is my independent living program story lol.

Last thing the buffalo ny v@re is a different beast.

V@re is a different department and It took for me to upload the nod before it was even put in my record.

She never process it tho. So the case sit closed with a nod that is not Process. Before she closed it.

Don't take veberal denying for items.

You can do a administrative review unless they give you a denail of items in writing.