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Hidden Heroes
38 CFR §3.700
Combat Vet Fact Sheet
Benefits #12

Service Officer

Selected Reserve and National Guard

By law, if you are an active member of the Selected Reserve or National Guard, your VA compensation will be withheld at the rate of one day of pay for each drill period served. Also, VA compensation is not payable while serving full-time on active duty.

See Concurrent Benefit and Elections, 38 CFR §3.700 from (Benefits #12)

Combat Veterans Eligibility for VA Health Care Benefits has been Extended!

Under previous eligibility rules, combat veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 were eligible to be enrolled in Priority Group 6 and receive cost-free health care for two years after discharge for conditions potentially related to combat service.
The law has changed to extend eligibility for VA health care for eligible combat veterans! On January 28, 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) became law . This new law extends health care eligibility for combat veterans as follows:

Currently enrolled veterans and new enrollees who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003 are eligible for the enhanced benefits, for 5 years post discharge.
Veterans discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, who apply for enrollment on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for the enhanced benefit until January 27, 2011.

To learn more about health benefits for combat veterans, visit our Combat Veteran Fact Sheet.

Will VA provide hearing aids and eyeglasses?

Eyeglasses and hearing aids may be provided to the following veterans when certain conditions apply:

(a) Those with any compensable service-connected disability

(b) Those who are former prisoners-of-war (POWs)

(c) Those in receipt of benefits under Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1151

(d) Those in receipt of an increased pension based on being permanently housebound and in need of regular aid and attendance and and

(e) Those with the following conditions:

1. Those who have visual or hearing impairment resulting from the existence of another medical condition for which the veteran is receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care, or which resulted from treatment of that medical condition.
2. Those with significant functional or cognitive impairment evidenced by deficiencies in the ability to perform activities of daily living, but not including routinely occurring visual or hearing impairments
3. Those who are so severely visually- or hearing-impaired that the provision of sensori-neural aids is necessary to permit active participation in their own medical treatment.
4. Those rated 0 percent for hearing loss, based on the criteria outlined in 38 CFR.17.149(c).

Replacements of hearing aids and eyeglasses may be covered when the device becomes ineffective, irreparable or lost due to circumstances beyond the control of the beneficiary. Hearing aids and eyeglasses will not be replaced because of availability of newer technology, unless there is evidence that it will significantly benefit the veteran. NOTE: Hearing aids and eyeglasses should not be replaced solely for cosmetic purposes.

(a) For eyeglasses, replacement will be at any time due to required refractive change of prescription to improve one line of acuity.

(b) For hearing aids, replacement will be due to a change in hearing loss combined with the age of the hearing aid.

NOTE: Generally, hearing aids are expected to have a life span of 4 years.

(c) Issuing spares, if necessary, but only as determined by the audiologist or eye care specialist. Spare hearing aids and eyeglasses will not be routinely issued.

NOTE: Two pairs of single vision eyeglasses, one for reading and one for distance, will be provided in cases where bifocal lenses are contraindicated.

Please contact the VA medical facility where you obtain medical treatment to determine if you are eligible for this coverage.

How Deployment Impacts Military Kids

Workshops are open to any member of the community. Build your awareness about the unique needs of military youth in your community as they go through the five stages of the deployment cycle during the time that a loved one is called to service.

Learn how you can recognize and help youth coping with the stress of having a parent or other extended family in harms way. Discover ways that your community can create the capacity to support youth before, during, and after the deployment of a parent or loved one.

Duluth Tuesday, August 28 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Grand Rapids Wednesday, September 19 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

To register visit: www.mn4h.org/hiddenheroes or contact Sherry Boyce, Regional Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension, Cloquet Regional Center, 218.726.6468 sboyce@umn.edu.

Services available at Twin Ports VA, Outpatient Clinic (TPOC), 3520 Tower Ave, Superior, WI 54880 : Primary Care, Mental Health & Support Groups, Social work, Pharmacists, Dietary, Laboratory, Nephrology, Outreach to Returning Veterans

Options to sign up: Contact your county veteran service officer, Eligibility Clerk @ TPOC: 715-398-2914

Frequent Misperception:

Question: If I sign up for care @ the clinic, aren’t I taking away care from another Veteran who needs it more?

Answer: No, the number of staff at rural VA clinics is related to the number of Veterans signed up for care. The more Vets who sign up for care will result in more staff and thereby help your fellow Vet by ensuring these clinics are fully staffed.