Vamc's

[Ricky]

Is there a listing out there anywhere that lists the VAMC and the phone numbers and address' to them/their different departments?

[carlie]

http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

[Ricky]

Thanks Carlie - I had already been to that site and could not figure it out. What I am trying to do is send in my request for clothing allowance and I do not see any address for such an action. I am afraid that if I send it to the general address it will get lost. I guess I will call them in Birmingham and see if they can help. Man, it is a shame to be stupid hahahahahaha.

[Railroader]

Thanks Carlie - I had already been to that site and could not figure it out. What I am trying to do is send in my request for clothing allowance and I do not see any address for such an action. I am afraid that if I send it to the general address it will get lost. I guess I will call them in Birmingham and see if they can help. Man, it is a shame to be stupid hahahahahaha.

You should sent your request to the Prosthetic Department or to the name of your medical center. I sent mine to the: Richard L Rouderbush VAMC

1481 W. 10th

Indianapolis, IN 46202

I was getting clothing allowance for Pes Cavus since 1992 and after they changed to whom you sent it to from the RO..I started having trouble collecting it. They told me that they didn't like to pay for Rigid Orthic Devices. I also wear a back brace and I claimed it last year and there were no problems.

Railroader

[Railroader]

You should sent your request to the Prosthetic Department or to the name of your medical center. I sent mine to the: Richard L Rouderbush VAMC

1481 W. 10th

Indianapolis, IN 46202

I was getting clothing allowance for Pes Cavus since 1992 and after they changed to whom you sent it to from the RO..I started having trouble collecting it. They told me that they didn't like to pay for Rigid Orthic Devices. I also wear a back brace and I claimed it last year and there were no problems.

Railroader

Go down toward the bottom of this and read the Underlined pargraph and it will explain what you need to do.

Railroader

September 22, 2004 M21-1, Part IV

Change 206

<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 16.2pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: widow-orphan" align=center>SUBCHAPTER VI. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE</H1>

25.09 ANNUAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE

a. General. Under 38 U.S.C. 1162, VA may pay an annual clothing allowance to each veteran who applies if the veteran has a service-connected disability or condition or a disability compensable under 38 U.S.C. 1151 that requires he or she wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic device that wears out or tears clothing (38 CFR 3.810). The clothing allowance may also be paid if the veteran uses, for a service-connected skin condition, medication prescribed by a physician which causes irreparable damage to the veteran's outergarments.

(1) Irreparable damage does not include stains that are removable through regular laundering or dry cleaning.

(2) Approval of a claim based on use of medication requires a medical determination.

(3) A skin condition requiring use of medication is not considered static, and a redetermination is required each year.

b. Jurisdiction for Processing Annual Clothing Allowance Claim. In August 2003, the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) transitioned the processing of annual clothing allowance claims to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Therefore, any annual clothing allowance claim received by the regional office should be forwarded to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.

Exception: Accrued Clothing Allowance. Claims for accrued clothing allowance due and payable in the case of veterans who met the eligibility requirements as of the August 1 date prior to death either based on rating decision, or evidence in file at date of death, are to be processed by the regional offices of jurisdiction. The regional offices should not refer these claims to the VHA.

c. Claim. Consider any communication from a veteran describing the device or medication used because of the service-connected or 38 U.S.C. 1151 disability/condition and requesting payment of the clothing allowance a claim for clothing allowance benefit.

d. Soliciting Claims for Clothing Allowance. If a rating decision establishes service connection for anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, inform the veteran of potential eligibility for the clothing allowance. Send the veteran VA Form 21-8678 (soon to be VA Form 10-8678), Application for Annual Clothing Allowance. If the veteran returns the application, forward it to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.

e. Determination of Entitlement. In order to establish and authorize initial and recurring for a current or next ACAP, as appropriate, the following criteria should be met:

(1) The disability is a service-connected anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot.

(2) The veteran certifies, because of that disability, he or she wears or uses an artificial limb, rigid extremity brace, wheelchair or crutches.

25-VI-1

M21-1, Part IV September 22, 2004

<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 16.2pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: widow-orphan">Change 206</H1>

(3) The use of the prosthetic or orthopedic device is not contradicted by medical evidence of record.

(4) Eligibility in claims based on other service-connected disabilities or other devices, appliances or medication, and claims involving contradictory medical evidence of usage requires a determination by the designee of a VA outpatient clinic Director.

(5) A veteran receiving retired pay is not required to waive any portion of it to receive the clothing allowance.

(6) Authorize payment of clothing allowance to a hospitalized veteran (competent or incompetent) who is otherwise entitled.

NOTE: If an application for clothing allowance is received but no claim for compensation has been filed, forward VA Form 21-526, “Veteran's Application for Compensation or Pension,” to the claimant. Inform the veteran service connection for the disability requiring the use of the prosthetic or orthopedic device or for a skin condition is a prerequisite for consideration of entitlement to the annual clothing allowance. If the veteran returns VA From 21-526, forward the annual clothing allowance application to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. Annotate on the clothing allowance application that a compensation claim is pending. However, if the veteran returns only the clothing allowance application, forward it to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.

f. Continuing Entitlement. Presume a service-connected anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot requires use of a prosthetic or orthopedic device that wears out or tears clothing. Consider continued eligibility for subsequent years to be established so recurring annual payments are released without need for a supplemental claim.

g. Annual Clothing Allowance Payment. VA issues the Annual Clothing Allowance Payment (ACAP) to veterans with existing eligibility on August 1. Each ACAP requires entitlement on August 1 of the year for which payment is made, e.g., a veteran eligible as of August 1, 2003, is entitled to receive the 2003 ACAP. The pay date for authorized recurring ACAPs based on recorded master record data is the first of September. Processing authorization for payment of a current or future ACAP establishes a C&P master record code to provide recurring annual payments or a computer-generated development letter/application for a subsequent ACAP. See part V, chapter 11 for more information on ACAPs.

h. Processing for Payment

(1) Entitled for Current ACAP. Computer payment on an award of initial entitlement or a redetermination of entitlement to ACAP for each year is made September 1 of that year or on the processing of the clothing allowance transaction, whichever is later.

(2) Initial Entitlement for Subsequent Year ACAP. If a veteran's entitlement is effective after August 1 of a specific year, he or she is not entitled to that year's ACAP.

(a) In such cases, eligibility for initial payment for the next ACAP may be established under criteria of subparagraph (e) above or based on medical determination pursuant to subparagraph (e) above.