Tuesday, December 23, 2008 New Directive for Glasses and Hearing Aids This new directive allows VA to provide glasses and hearing aids to those who are not service connected for those conditions (Priority Groups 6-8). In the past these were available only to those service connected for the condition. These services are now considered part of the preventative care package for all veterans enrolled in the VA who meet certain criteria. The link shown below outlines the requirements for obtaining eye glasses and hearing aids. Notes: 1. Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system are eligible for battery replacement and repair of hearing aids even though those aids were purchased from a private source. 2. Even though glasses and hearing aids may be provided at no charge, there may be a co-pay required for those in group 6-8. Audiology is a speciality clinic with a $50 dollar co-pay for some services. There is no co-pay for the devices or the batteries. There are no charges for visits for the purpose of adjusting, repairing or modifying hearing aids. http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublications.asp?pub ID=1789 This Update is a service provided by the National Service of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It is intended as a summary of items of potential interest to and by the Department Service Officers and their staff. Readers are encouraged to thoroughly review the original documents which are the source of items found in this Update.