Veterans Benefits Network-Anyone seen the VA's Knee Brace list for clothing allowance? (2024)

Switch to Print View - 18 posts

akapennypincher 1,2401 akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 18, 2015#12015-11-18T22:32+00:00

Apprently the VA is doing some new thing this year with clothing allowances, and not all Knee Braces qualify for the allowances any longer. I use a Breg Off-loader that is really hard on blue jeans, and there is a question as to weather or not if I will see an allowance. Anyone have a link to what are "approved" knee braces for clothing allowances?

'A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his, or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'(Author unknown)

2trill4925 1,84161 2trill4925 1,84161

Nov 18, 2015#22015-11-18T22:47+00:00

I did a quick cross check on their website, and did not locate this brace.

Does it have another name? Do you have the model number, a picture, or a link?

I ran into issues with a change in medical status from starting out with J-Braces back in 2000, to a Bledsoe in 2010, to a Don-Joy Hinged, back to a Bledsoe again, and finally at a custom knee brace. This caused many issues as far as determining if I had an eligible device (only the Donjoy and Custom Townsend were recognized).

I have been told that the Donjoy has been removed for FY16 due to the plastic shielding covering the metal hinge designed to prevent wear (I have not seen this in writing).

So, I am wearing bilateral custom hinge Townsends which carry a 2 year serviceability run. The prosthetics department has not given me any pushback for FY16 (already filed), as opposed to having to appeal the past three years in a row. Your local director of Prosthetics will have the information that you seek, and from what I've experienced they may or may not let you make a copy.

akapennypincher 1,2401 akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 18, 2015#32015-11-18T22:52+00:00

All I know is some people are seeing the allowances, other are like me in a holding pattern. http://www.breg.com/products/knee-braci ... knee-brace Mine is the old model, it is all black

stengun.basscatowners 79 stengun.basscatowners 79

Nov 19, 2015#42015-11-19T21:02+00:00

I wear several different types of knee braces and use Ben gay type muscle rub from the VA but I have always been denied allowance.

akapennypincher 1,2401 See Also Best Knee Braces For Seniors Of 2024 Veterans Benefits Network-Unloader One® Custom Knee Brace akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 20, 2015#52015-11-20T13:57+00:00

stengun wrote:
I wear several different types of knee braces and use Ben gay type muscle rub from the VA but I have always been denied allowance.

Are you Knees service connected?

tubleu1 reacted to this post

See who reacted to this post

All(0) 0 0 0 0 0 0

2trill4925 1,84161 2trill4925 1,84161

Nov 20, 2015#62015-11-20T17:23+00:00

akapennypincher wrote:
All I know is some people are seeing the allowances, other are like me in a holding pattern. http://www.breg.com/products/knee-braci ... knee-brace Mine is the old model, it is all black

That is interesting....

Mine is comparable

http://www.townsenddesign.com/Townsend_ ... el_OA.html

If the rigid material is metal, and assuming the brace was prescribed for a SC condition I would be at the local VHA PSAS getting answers.

Nov 20, 2015#72015-11-20T17:30+00:00

stengun wrote:
I wear several different types of knee braces and use Ben gay type muscle rub from the VA but I have always been denied allowance.

The muscle rub is a no go. VHA moved away from oilbased products for reasons I will not speculate. The fact that you wear several braces indicates a change in medical status(either worsening or improving). If the braces are prescribed for a SC condition, your job will be to get a statement of medical necessity froma treating physician and request that the physician indicate your permanent brace as well (some devices are temporary only meant for the post op recovery period deeming them to be non-eligible/qualifying).

Correction: VHA has made an effort to move away from oil based products. There are some within the formulary that are still eligible.

classsi 8837 classsi 8837

Nov 20, 2015#82015-11-20T20:48+00:00

additionally, it is my understanding that the "ointments, creams, lotions" etc on the list must be prescribed for a service connected SKIN condition rather than part of the treatment for joint pain etc.

akapennypincher 1,2401 akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 24, 2015#92015-11-24T15:10+00:00

Received my Allowance Today, as last week when I went to VAMC. I went to see lady who approves allowances. We got it straight, the BREG is on the list. Apparently the list has been tightened on what Braces, Appliance, and Creams/Ointments qualify.

Kpd75 58 Kpd75 58

Nov 24, 2015#102015-11-24T19:04+00:00

akapennypincher wrote:
Received my Allowance Today, as last week when I went to VAMC. I went to see lady who approves allowances. We got it straight, the BREG is on the list. Apparently the list has been tightened on what Braces, Appliance, and Creams/Ointments qualify.

Just wondering how much is the normalallowance?

Retired Army, Vietnam Vet
25inf combat medic 1970
101st flight medic 1971
!00% disabled P&T

akapennypincher 1,2401 akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 25, 2015#112015-11-25T23:50+00:00

Believe it was $777.29, and that is very generious.

twancrosby 88 twancrosby 88

Nov 25, 2015#122015-11-26T00:02+00:00

What is the timeline for approval? I submitted my request last summer for an ointment used on a service connected skin condition and never received any information. No approval or denial. I called the local prosthetics dept and never got anyone on the phone. I filed an email inquiry to the VA and their reply was to refer me back to the local prosthetics department.

Pennypincher,it seems you just received your payment. When did you apply for your 2015 clothing allowance?

akapennypincher 1,2401 akapennypincher 1,2401

Nov 26, 2015#132015-11-26T14:38+00:00

Normally the VA asked paper work be put in by August First each year, mine was mailed as I was told they are starting to collect them about May FIRST. Ther paper work starts getting worked in August, and I believe the cuttoff is September. Traditionally PAYMENTS are made Mid-September to Mid October. I was told on the 13th of this MONTH, they were still being worked, and all should be done by December First. THAT is my VAMC, your could be different. Check with your VAMC's Prostetices Department.

tubleu1 4 tubleu1 4

Aug 10, 2021#142021-08-10T23:53+00:00

akapennypincher wrote: ↑
Nov 18, 2015
Apprently the VA is doing some new thing this year with clothing allowances, and not all Knee Braces qualify for the allowances any longer. I use a Breg Off-loader that is really hard on blue jeans, and there is a question as to weather or not if I will see an allowance. Anyone have a link to what are "approved" knee braces for clothing allowances?

Answer - Hinged knee braces qualify

Aug 10, 2021#152021-08-10T23:54+00:00

Kpd75 wrote: ↑
Nov 24, 2015
akapennypincher wrote:
Received my Allowance Today, as last week when I went to VAMC. I went to see lady who approves allowances. We got it straight, the BREG is on the list. Apparently the list has been tightened on what Braces, Appliance, and Creams/Ointments qualify.
Just wondering how much is the normalallowance?

$841