Home → VA Prosthetics → VA Handbook 1173.15 - Clothing Allowance Benefit → Appendix B - Eligibility Notifications

15.12. Appendix B - Eligibility Notifications

Example: If a Veteran is notified in March 2013 that a qualifying service-connected disability rating is awarded and effective September 2011. The Veteran is allowed one year from the date of notification to apply for retroactive clothing allowance payments. If
the Veteran applies for clothing allowance benefit within one year from the date of notification, then the Prosthetic Representative can go back to August 1, 2012 and pay the clothing allowance for the years 2012 and 2013. 

Example: A Veteran is notified in March 2012 that he or she is awarded a qualifying service-connected disability rating effective November 2008. The Veteran is allowed one year from the date of notification to apply for retroactive clothing allowance benefit.
*If the Veteran applies for the clothing allowance benefit on June 27, 2013 (not within 1 year of being notified) the clothing allowance is paid for the years 2012 and 2013. 

*This is possible because the Veterans anniversary date is August 2012. The Veteran is allowed a year to file for a 2012 payment (from August 2012 to July 31, 2013). Since the Veteran filed in June 2013, this makes the Veteran eligible for 2012. The Veteran is
also eligible for the 2013 payment since the Veteran applied during the allowance timeframe for 2013 (see Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3.810(c). 

Example: If a Veteran is notified in March 2010 that a qualifying service-connected disability rating is awarded, but the Veteran received an approved prostheses, orthopedic appliance and/or skin medication in January 2013, then the clothing allowance is paid for 2013 (August 2012 to July 2013). However, no retroactive payment from 2010-2012 is allowed as the Veteran did not receive his or her approved prosthetic, orthopedic appliance and/or skin medication until the anniversary date (August 2013).