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Resolutions adopted by the 57th Blinded Veterans
Association
National Convention on August 17, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas,
and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Responses Thereto
RESOLUTION: 24-02
RESOLVED, that the St. Louis Regional Group of the Blinded
Veterans Association by unanimous acclamation, approve this resolution.
It is requested that this resolution be presented at the Blinded
Veterans Association National Convention. Dated this 22nd day
of April 2002.
Rationale for Hearing Aid Resolution:
Presently veterans are waiting an excessive amount of time to
get hearing tests and receive hearing aids. Blind and visually
impaired veterans rely heavily on hearing to function safely in
today’s environment. Whether traveling or just avoiding the
many dangers involved with the environment these days, the loss
of both vision and hearing makes it difficult and, in many instances,
extremely dangerous. If blind and visually impaired veterans are
given priority when receiving hearing aids, it would tremendously
decrease the dangers involved with the loss of both these senses.
VA RESPONSE:
VA concurs with BVA on the importance of treatment for dual and
sensory impairment and the need to provide veterans with combined
visual and hearing impairments with expedited hearing aid services.
Last year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced plans
to provide priority access to veterans who were severely disabled
(with a rating for service connected disability of 50% or more).
On September 17, 2002, an interim final rule was published in
the Federal Register that amends VA’s regulations to establish
that in scheduling veterans with service-connected disabilities
rated 50 percent or greater and to veterans needing care for service-connected
disabilities. 67 Fed Reg 58528 (2002). Many blind and visually
impaired veterans are either service-connected for their visual
and hearing disabilities or have rating of 50 percent or greater.
Accordingly, the will be covered by this regulation and thus receive
priority access to needed care and services.
However, that regulation does not cover veterans who disabilities
are either not rated as service-connected or do not have a service
connected rating that is at least 50 percent or greater. Legislation
would be required to give these no service related blinded veterans
priority access to VA care and services. Because the Administration
has no official position on such a proposal, we cannot address
this aspect of the resolution.
We note further that VHA Directive 2002-059 sets down procedures
for identifying veterans who had appointments schedule more than
30 days or who were on a waiting list and rescheduling these veterans
for appointment within 30 days. The Secretary also announced that
this priority system would be extended to all service connected
veterans in FY 2003.
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