Seamless Transition for Returning Soldiers

The VA works hand in hand with the Department of Defense to ensure that returning soldiers who are transitioning over to veteran status are fully aware of the products and services available to them from VA Prosthetics.

The Center for the Intrepid is a joint venture between the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense. Located at Fort Sam Houston, "The Center for the Intrepid" provides care and treatment to traumatic amputee patients, burn patients requiring advanced rehabilitation and those requiring limb salvage efforts with techniques and training to help them regain their ability to live and work productively. VA Prosthetics is a member of this cooperative effort.

As service members return from combat with injuries, VA social workers at Military Treatment Facilities provide them with information on items and services they can receive as a veteran as well as those items they can receive while still a service member.

An example of equipment available to service members is adaptations to their vehicles. Service members may apply for the automobile grant and receive adaptations to their vehicles through Prosthetics? Automobile Adaptive Equipment Program.

Other programs, such as Clothing Allowance and Home Improvement and Structural Alteration grants, are only available once the individual is officially a veteran and not on active duty.

While the service member is receiving their care, either in a Military Treatment Facility or VA Medical Center, the VA fills in the gap for medical equipment not available through Tricare, i.e. handcycles, monoskis, Global Positioning Systems, Personal Digital Assistants, and enhanced function wheelchairs. (See Prosthetic Devices.)

VA Prosthetics leads the world in providing state of the art technology to aid individuals in gaining their independence and revitalizing their lives. VA Prosthetics does not look at the cost of an item, but rather if it is right for the individual. We extend this to returning service members, not just veterans, to ensure that there is no delay in our wounded heroes receiving the equipment they need.