Popular Name: Blind Center and Clinics
Objectives: To provide personal and social adjustment programs and medical or health-related services for eligible blind veterans at selected VA Medical Centers maintaining blind rehabilitation centers.
64.007 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Any blind veteran who meets one of the following requirements for admission to a VA Medical Center: (1) requires treatment for a service-connected disability or disease incurred or aggravated in military service; (2) has a service-connected, compensable disability or is in receipt of retirement pay for a service-incurred disability when in need of hospital care for a nonservice-connected condition; (3) has been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions: (a) from war-time service, (b) after January 31, 1955, or (c) was awarded the Medal of Honor in peacetime, and is unable to pay the cost of necessary care and so states under oath; or (4) is: (a) in receipt of a VA pension or (b) 65 years of age or older and has had either war-time or peace-time active military service. Active duty personnel of the armed forces may be transferred to a center.
Beneficiary Eligibility: All blind veterans.
Credentials/Documentation: Military discharge papers.
64.007 APPLICATION & AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication Coordination: None.
Application Procedure: Application may be made through any VA hospital or outpatient clinic, by completing VA Forms 10-10 or 10-10T. Also transfer of active duty personnel of armed forces.
Award Procedure: VA ward physician determines, with recourse to Hospital Director.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Immediately.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects: Not applicable.
Range & Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
64.007 RELATED PROGRAMS:
64.007 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In 1995, 1,125 veterans and
servicepersons received the personal and social rehabilitation program
at the six Blind Rehabilitation Centers and four clinics. It is
estimated that 1,200 plus veterans and service persons will have
received blind rehabilitation for fiscal year 1996.
64.007 FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:
Federal Agency:
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Type of Assistance:
Provision of Specialized Services.
Obligations:
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 95 $24,839,642; FY 96 est
$40,000,000; and FY 97 est $42,000,000.
Budget Account Number:
36-0160-0-1-703.
Authorization:
38 U.S.C. 610.
Regulations, Guidelines, & Literature:
"Federal Benefits for
Veterans and Dependents," VA Fact Sheet IS-1, $2.00, available from
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402. Coordinated Services for Blinded Veterans, IB 11-59, available
from Director, Blind Rehabilitation Service (117B), Department of
Veterans Affairs, Central Office, Washington, DC 20420.
Regional or Local Office:
Initial contact should be made at the
nearest VA Medical Center or outpatient clinic listed in Appendix IV
under the Veterans Health Administration.
Headquarters Office:
Patient Care Services (117B), Department of
Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420. Phone: (202) 273-8483.
64.007 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula & Matching Requirements:
Not applicable.
Length & Time Phasing of Assistance:
Following admission,
veteran is provided about 4 months of specialized
rehabilitation in a VA Blind Center or Clinic plus any necessary
medical or health related services.
Uses & Use Restrictions:
To assist in the rehabilitation of
blind veterans.
64.007 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Not applicable.
Audits:
Not applicable.
Records:
Not applicable.
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