Question:

I was told that the waiting time to purchase an adapted van is two years. I purchased my current adapted van five years ago, in 2011. I actually took possession of it in April 2012. I want to purchase a new van in the next year or two and need to know if I will be reimbursed by VA for adapting it.

Answer:

VA will not reimburse a veteran for automobile adaptive equipment more than two times within a four-year period. The four-year period begins on the date the adaptive equipment is authorized. VA will make an exception to the number of times it will reimburse a veteran for adaptive equipment if the need is due to something outside of the veteran’s control, such as theft, fire, accident, prohibitively costly repairs, or changes in the veteran’s physical condition.

If a veteran already has two vehicles on record, he or she must show proof that he or she no longer owns one of those vehicles. The vehicle cannot be sold or given to a family member or anyone else living with the veteran. Also, it cannot be transferred to a business owned by the veteran.

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