17.47—Considerations applicable in determining eligibility for hospital, nursing home or domiciliary care.

(a) (1) For applicants discharged or released for disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty and who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected or service-aggravated disability, the official records of the Armed Forces relative to findings of line of duty for its purposes will be accepted in determining eligibility for hospital care. Where the official records of the Armed Forces show a finding of disability not incurred or aggravated in line of duty and evidence is submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs which permits of a different finding, the decision of the Armed Forces will not be binding upon the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will be free to make its own determination of line of duty incurrence or aggravation upon evidence so submitted. It will be incumbent upon the applicant to present controverting evidence and, until such evidence is presented and a determination favorable to the applicant is made by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the finding of the Armed Forces will control and hospital care will not be authorized. Such controverting evidence, when received from an applicant, will be referred to the adjudicating agency which would have jurisdiction if the applicant was filing claim for pension or disability compensation, and the determination of such agency as to line of duty, which is promptly to be communicated to the head of the field facility receiving the application for hospital care, will govern the facility Director's disapproval or approval of admission, other eligibility requirements having been met. Where the official records of the Armed Forces show that the disability for which a veteran was discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than dishonorable conditions was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, such showing will be accepted for the purpose of determining his or her eligibility for hospitalization, notwithstanding the fact that the Department of Veterans Affairs has made a determination in connection with a claim for monetary benefits that the disability was incurred or aggravated not in line of duty.

(2) In those exceptional cases where the official records of the Armed Forces show discharge or release under other than dishonorable conditions because of expiration of period of enlistment or any other reason except disability, but also show a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty during the said enlistment; and the disability so recorded is considered in medical judgment to be or to have been of such character, duration, and degree as to have justified a discharge or release for disability had the period of enlistment not expired or other reason for discharge or release been given, the Under Secretary for Health, upon consideration of a clear, full statement of circumstances, is authorized to approve admission of the applicant for hospital care, provided other eligibility requirements are met. A typical case of this kind will be one where the applicant was under treatment for the said disability recorded during his or her service at the time discharge or release was given for the reason other than disability.

(b) (1) Under 38 U.S.C. 1710(a)(1), veterans who are receiving disability compensation awarded under § 3.800 of this chapter, where a disease, injury or the aggravation of an existing disease or injury occurs as a result of VA examination, medical or surgical treatment, or of hospitalization in a VA health care facility or of participation in a rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. ch. 31, under any law administered by VA and not the result of his/her own willful misconduct. Treatment may be provided for the disability for which the compensation is being paid or for any other disability. Treatment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 1710(a)(1) may not be authorized during any period when disability compensation under § 3.800 of this title is not being paid because of the provision of § 3.800(a)(2), except to the extent continuing eligibility for such treatment is provided for in the judgment for settlement described in § 3.800(a)(2) of this title.

(2) For purposes of eligibility for domiciliary care, the phrase no adequate means of support refers to an applicant for domiciliary care whose annual income exceeds the annual rate of pension for a veteran in receipt of regular aid and attendance, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 1503, but who is able to demonstrate to competent VA medical authority, on the basis of objective evidence, that deficits in health and/or functional status render the applicant incapable of pursuing substantially gainful employment, as determined by the Chief of Staff, and who is otherwise without the means to provide adequately for self, or be provided for in the community.

(c) A disability, disease, or defect will comprehend any acute, subacute, or chronic disease (or a general medical, tuberculous, or neuropsychiatric type) of any acute, subacute, or chronic surgical condition susceptible of cure or decided improvement by hospital care; or any condition which does not require hospital care for an acute or chronic condition but requires domiciliary care. Domiciliary care, as the term implies, is the provision of a home, with such ambulant medical care as is needed. To be provided with domiciliary care, the applicant must consistently have a disability, disease, or defect which is essentially chronic in type and is producing disablement of such degree and probable persistency as will incapacitate from earning a living for a prospective period.

(d) (1) For purposes of determining eligibility for hospital or nursing home care under § 17.47(a), a veteran will be determined unable to defray the expenses of necessary care if the veteran agrees to provide verifiable evidence, as determined by the Secretary, that:

(i) The veteran is eligible to receive medical assistance under a State plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act;

(ii) The veteran is in receipt of pension under 38 U.S.C. 1521; or

(iii) The veteran's attributable income does not exceed $15,000 if the veteran has no dependents, $18,000 if the veteran has one dependent, plus $1,000 for each additional dependent.

(2) For purposes of determining eligibility for hospital or nursing home care under § 17.47(c), a veteran will be determined eligible for necessary care if the veteran agrees to provide verifiable evidence, as determined by the Secretary, that: The veteran's attributable income does not exceed $20,000 if the veteran has no dependents, $25,000 if the veteran has one dependent, plus $1,000 for each additional dependent.

(3) Effective on January 1 of each year after calendar year 1986, the amounts set forth in paragraph (d)(1) and (2) of this section shall be increased by the percentage by which the maximum rates of pension were increased under 38 U.S.C. 1111(a), during the preceding year.

(4) Determinations with respect to attributable income made under paragraph (d)(1) and (2) of this section, shall be made in the same manner, including the same sources of income and exclusions from income, as determinations with respect to income are made for determining eligibility for pension under §§ 3.271 and 3.272 of this title. The term attributable income means income of a veteran for the calendar year preceding application for care, determined in the same manner as the manner in which a determination is made of the total amount of income by which the rate of pension for such veteran under 38 U.S.C. 1521 would be reduced if such veteran were eligible for pension under that section.

(5) Notwithstanding the attributable income of a veteran, VA may determine that such veteran is not eligible under paragraph (d)(1) and (2) of this section if the corpus of the estate of the veteran is such that under all the circumstances it is reasonable that some part of the corpus of the estate of the veteran be consumed for the veteran's maintenance. The corpus of the estate of a veteran shall be determined in the same manner as determinations are made with respect to the determinations of eligibility for pension under § 3.275 of this chapter. The term corpus of the estate of the veteran includes the corpus of the estates of the veteran's spouse and dependent children, if any.

(6) In order to avoid hardship VA may determine that a veteran is eligible for care notwithstanding that the veteran does not meet the income requirements established in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) or (d)(2) of this section, if projections of the veteran's income for the year following application for care are substantially below the income requirements established in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) or (d)(2) of this section.

(e) (1) If VA determines that an individual was incorrectly charged a copayment, VA will refund the amount of any copayment actually paid by that individual.

(2) In the event a veteran provided inaccurate information on an application and is incorrectly deemed eligible for care under 38 U.S.C. 1710(a)(1) or (a)(2) rather than 38 U.S.C. 1710(a)(3), VA shall retroactively bill the veteran for the applicable copayment.

(f) If a veteran who receives hospital or nursing home care under 38 U.S.C. 1710(a)(2) or outpatient care under 38 U.S.C. 1712(a)(4) by virtue of the veteran's eligibility for hospital care under 38 U.S.C. 1710(a), fails to pay to the United States the amounts agreed to under those sections shall be grounds for determining, in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Under Secretary for Health, that the veteran is not eligible to receive further care under those sections until such amounts have been paid in full.

(g) (1) Persons hospitalized who have no service-connected disabilities pursuant to § 17.47, and/or persons receiving outpatient medical services pursuant to paragraphs (e), (f), (i), (j), and/or (k) of § 17.60 who have no service-connected disabilities who it is believed may be eligible for hospital care and/or medical services, or reimbursement for the expenses of care or services for all or part of the cost thereof by reason of the following:

(i) Membership in a union, fraternal or other organization, or

(ii) Coverage under an insurance policy, or contract, medical, or hospital service agreement, membership, or subscription contract or similar arrangement under which health services for individuals are provided or the expenses of such services are paid, will not be furnished hospital care or medical services without charge therefore to the extent of the amount for which such parties referred to in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) or (g)(1)(ii) of this section, are, will become, or may be liable. Persons believed entitled to care under any of the plans discussed above will be required to provide such information as the Secretary may require. Provisions of this paragraph are effective April 7, 1986, except in the case of a health care policy or contract that was entered into before that date, the effective date shall be the day after the plan was modified or renewed or on which there was any change in premium or coverage and will apply only to care and services provided by VA after the date the plan was modified, renewed, or on which there was any change in premium or coverage.

(2) Persons hospitalized for the treatment of nonservice-connected disabilities pursuant to § 17.47, or persons receiving outpatient medical services pursuant to paragraph (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), or (k) of § 17.60, and who it is believed may be entitled to hospital care and/or medical services or to reimbursement for all or part of the cost thereof from any one or more of the following parties:

(i) Workers' Compensation or employer's liability statutes, State or Federal;

(ii) By reason of statutory or other relationships with third parties, including those liable for damages because of negligence or other legal wrong;

(iii) By reason of a statute in a State, or political subdivision of a State;

(A) Which requires automobile accident reparations or;

(B) Which provides compensation or payment for medical care to victims suffering personal injuries as the result of a crime of personal violence;

(iv) Right to maintenance and cure in admiralty;

will not be furnished hospital care or medical services without charge therefore to the extent of the amount for which such parties are, will become, or may be liable. Persons believed entitled to care under circumstances described in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section will be required to complete such forms as the Secretary may require, such as a power of attorney and assignment. Notice of this assignment will be mailed promptly to the party or parties believed to be liable. When the amount of charges is ascertained, a bill therefore will be mailed to such party or parties. Persons believed entitled to care under circumstances described in paragraph (g)(2)(i) or (g)(2)(iii) of this section will be required to complete such forms as the Secretary may require.

(h) Within the limits of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, any veteran who is receiving nursing home care in a hospital under the direct jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs, may be furnished medical services to correct or treat any nonservice-connected disability of such veteran, in addition to treatment incident to the disability for which the veteran is hospitalized, if the veteran is willing, and such services are reasonably necessary to protect the health of such veteran.

(i) Participating in a rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. chapter 31 refers to any veteran

(1) Who is eligible for and entitled to participate in a rehabilitation program under chapter 31.

(i) Who is in an extended evaluation period for the purpose of determining feasibility, or

(ii) For whom a rehabilitation objective has been selected, or

(iii) Who is pursuing a rehabilitation program, or

(iv) Who is pursuing a program of independent living, or

(v) Who is being provided employment assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 31, and

(2) Who is medically determined to be in need of hospital care or medical services (including dental) for any of the following reasons:

(i) Make possible his or her entrance into a rehabilitation program; or

(ii) Achieve the goals of the veteran's vocational rehabilitation program; or

(iii) Prevent interruption of a rehabilitation program; or

(iv) Hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran in interrupted or leave status; or

(v) Hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran placed in discontinued status because of illness, injury or a dental condition; or

(vi) Secure and adjust to employment during the period of employment assistance; or

(vii) To enable the veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living.

(j) Veterans eligible for treatment under chapter 17 of 38 U.S.C. who are alcohol or drug abusers or who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shall not be discriminated against in admission or treatment by any Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility solely because of their alcohol or drug abuse or dependency or because of their viral infection. This does not preclude the rule of clinical judgment in determining appropriate treatment which takes into account the patient's immune status and/or the infectivity of the HIV or other pathogens (such as tuberculosis, cytemegalovirus, cryptosporidiosis, etc.). Hospital Directors are responsible for assuring that admission criteria of all programs in the medical center do not discriminate solely on the basis of alcohol, drug abuse or infection with human immunodeficiency virus. Quality Assurance Programs should include indicators and monitors for nondiscrimination.

(k) In seeking medical care from VA under 38 U.S.C. 1710 or 1712, a veteran shall furnish such information and evidence as the Secretary may require to establish eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1722 ; sec. 19011, Pub. L. 99-272)

Code of Federal Regulations

[32 FR 13813, Oct. 4, 1967]

Code of Federal Regulations

Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 17.47 , see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.fdsys.gov.