Jim,
I am writing you to see if you can offer any assistance or guidance and perhaps a solution to an issue I am having with the VA. (A little background) It is in regards to the Caregiver Support stipend; I am 100% disabled due primarily to a blood disorder that I have that gave me 100% rating and a combination of several other service connected issues as well. While I was still on active duty I was a part of the Wounded Warrior BN at Camp Lejeune and received SCADDL to assist financially because my wife is unable to work due to my illness and her part in taking care of me.
I am trying to keep this as brief as possible but give you enough information that hopefully you will be able to help, that being said here is the problem. When I retired last April I was instructed to apply for Caregiver Support to continue receiving a stipend after SCADDL was gone and so I applied. I was later contacted by the Caregiver Support department of the VA and informed that because I am ill and not "combat injured" I am not eligible for Caregiver Support.
I had a long discussion with them trying to figure out how this could be possible, legal even but still no progress. A year later my case manager from the VA told me that I needed to apply again, same outcome. My question for you is have you heard of this before? Do you know if this is accurate? All that being said do you know of a way that I can get this fixed to be allowed in the Caregiver program? Hopefully this hasn't been too confusing and you shed some light on it for me. Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Very Respectfully Submitted USMC (RET)
Reply:
Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCADDL) is for active duty service people, not veterans. It's a program administered by DoD, not VA. Once you transition to being a veteran, everything changes.
Whoever told you that you weren't eligible for SCADDL because your condition isn't combat related was wrong. This is a frequent occurrence when health care staff offer advice about benefits. SCADDL is based on the veteran having any catastrophic illness, not a combat related illness.
Retired service members are eligible for SCAADL only for up to 90 days after separation from Active duty. While out-processing, the transitioning service member needs to complete the application for the VA Caregiver Stipend.
Unfortunately, as you become a veteran, most rules change. The VA web site tells us that to be eligible for VA Caregiver stipends and services you must have sustained a serious injury – including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder – incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, on or after September 11, 2001. That won't include your blood disorder.
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/
The SCADDL is pretty much designed to help as you leave the military. It's a short term solution as you transition. I'm afraid that you probably aren't eligible for the VA program. The VA program doesn't specifically say "combat" injury but it does imply that a mostly physical injury (usually TBI) is what it's designed for. A veteran who suffered TBI in an auto accident or a bar room fight may be eligible.
This was a VA response to pressure from Congress to provide care for the soldiers who were wounded by the signature injury of the war, TBI. TBI also causes many mental health problems so that's thrown in for good measure.
I'll suggest that you take the short quiz VA offers here http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/Caregiver_Eligibility_Check.asp
That should help you to determine your eligibility.
I wish I had better news for you. But it appears you are not eligible for caregiver assistance.