VA not approving enough service dogs, IG says

VA not approving enough service dogs, IG says

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 7, 2010 17:19:44 EDT

A new report by the Veterans Affairs Department Inspector General says VA should be doing more for veterans whose lives could be improved with help from service dogs.

Eight years after receiving approval to help pay for dogs to assist veterans with mobility problems, seizure disorders or other disabilities, a report released Wednesday says VA has approved only eight requests.

VA officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said VA supports providing service dogs for veterans with physical and hearing issues, and does so on a case-by-case basis.

Relaxed policies that might make service dogs more widely available are under review, but rule changes take time, officials said.

“It is unacceptable not to exercise the authority given to them to improve the quality of veterans’ lives,” said Christina Roof of AmVets, a group that has been pushing the issue for years.

When service dog benefits are provided, VA does not pay for the dog nor its training, but veterinary bills, vaccinations and treatments for fleas and ticks are covered by VA. In some cases, a veteran can be reimbursed for food if a dog is on a medically ordered diet.
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VA not approving enough service dogs IG says