Health care
VA Hearing Aids and Eyeglasses
Hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses for an enrolled veteran with a compensable service-connected disability, a Purple Heart, former POW status, and other listed situations.
Also called: hearing aids, eyeglasses, sensori-neural aids, contact lenses, audiology.
For: Veteran or service member.
Where it applies
Applies in states and territories.
VA furnishes sensori-neural aids, meaning eyeglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids, to veterans already receiving VA care, under 38 C.F.R. 17.149.
The listed groups are a veteran with a compensable service-connected disability (10% or more, any condition), a former prisoner of war, a Purple Heart recipient, a veteran receiving benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1151, a veteran receiving pension with Aid and Attendance or Housebound, a veteran whose vision or hearing loss comes from another condition VA is treating or from its treatment, a veteran with significant functional or cognitive impairment, and a veteran so impaired that the aids are needed to take part in their own treatment.
A veteran with service-connected hearing loss rated 0% can also get hearing aids when the loss meets the test in 17.149(c). Batteries and repairs are covered for issued hearing aids.
Thresholds
| Gate | Rule |
|---|---|
| Compensable rating, or another listed path | A compensable (10% or more) service-connected rating is the most common path. Purple Heart, former POW and other listed paths have no rating floor. |
Sources
- 38 C.F.R. 17.149, Sensori-neural aidsOfficial
- VA vision careOfficial
Updated
Last updated .
What changed then:
- First published.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.