§17.3210. Definitions.
38 C.F.R. § 17.3210
Activities of daily living (ADL) means specific personal care activities that are required for basic daily maintenance and sustenance, to include eating, toileting, bathing, grooming, dressing and undressing, and mobility.
Adaptive household item means a durable household item that has been adapted to compensate for, or that by design compensates for, loss of physical, sensory, or cognitive function and is necessary to complete one or more ADLs in the home or other residential setting. Adaptive household items include but are not limited to adaptive eating utensils, shower stools or chairs, hooks to assist in buttoning clothing, or shoe horns. This definition does not include household furniture or furnishings, improvements or structural alterations, or household appliances, unless a household appliance is necessary to complete an ADL in the home or other residential setting. VA will not furnish such items or services in such a manner as to relieve any other person or entity of a contractual obligation to furnish these items or services to the veteran.
Adaptive recreation equipment means an item that is designed to compensate for, or that by design compensates for, loss of physical, sensory, or cognitive function and is necessary for the veteran to actively and regularly participate in a sport, recreation, or leisure activity to achieve the veteran's rehabilitation goals as documented in the veteran's medical record.
Cognitive device means an item that compensates for a cognitive impairment and that is used to maintain or improve a veteran's functional capabilities, including but not limited to technological equipment such as tablets and smart phones, and associated technological equipment, applications or software that can assist veterans in maintaining daily scheduling of important tasks or navigating their surroundings (e.g., global positioning system, or GPS).
Communication device means an item that compensates for a communication deficiency and allows participation in daily communication activities, including but not limited to picture or symbol communication boards and an electro larynx.
Durable means capable of, and intended for, repeat use.
Home exercise equipment means an item used in a home or residential setting that compensates for a loss of physical, sensory, or cognitive function and that is necessary for the veteran to actively and regularly participate in aerobic, fitness, strength, or flexibility activities to achieve the veteran's rehabilitation goals as documented in the veteran's medical record, when there is no other means for the veteran to exercise to achieve the veteran's rehabilitation goals. Such equipment includes but is not limited to an upper body ergometer and a functional electrical stimulation cycle.
Home medical equipment means an item that is a movable and durable medical device that is used in a home or residential setting to treat or support treatment of specific medical conditions. Such equipment includes but is not limited to hospital beds, portable patient lifts, portable ramps, ventilators, home dialysis equipment, and infusion, feeding, or wound therapy pumps. This definition does not include household furniture or furnishings, improvements or structural alterations, or household appliances. VA will not furnish home medical equipment in such a manner as to relieve any other person or entity of a contractual obligation to furnish these items or services to the veteran.
Home respiratory equipment means an item used to provide oxygen therapy or to support or enhance respiratory function, including but not limited to compressed oxygen, oxygen concentrators, and continuous positive airway pressure machines.
Household appliance means an item used in the home for performance of domestic chores or other domestic tasks, including but not limited to a refrigerator, stove, washing machine, and vacuum cleaner.
Household furniture or furnishing means an item commonly used to make a home habitable or otherwise used to ornament a home, including but not limited to tables, chairs, desks, lamps, cabinets, non-hospital beds, curtains, and carpet(s).
Implant means any biological or non-biological material that:
Mobility aid means an item that compensates for a mobility impairment and that is used to maintain or improve a veteran's functional capabilities to be mobile. Mobility aids include but are not limited to manual and motorized wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and equipment to assist a veteran to reach for or grasp items. This definition does not include a service or guide dog.
Orthotic device means an item fitted externally to the body that is used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or to improve the function of movable parts of the body. Orthotic devices include but are not limited to leg braces, upper extremity splints and braces, and functional stimulation devices.
Primary residence means the personal domicile or residential setting in which the veteran resides the majority of the year.
Prosthetic device means an item that replaces a missing or defective body part. Prosthetic devices include but are not limited to artificial limbs and artificial eyes.
Replacement item means an item that is similar or identical to an item provided under § 17.3230(a), and that takes the place of such an item.
VA-authorized vendor means a vendor that has been authorized by VA to provide items and services under § 17.3230.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Source
Source: Sections 17.3200 through 17.3250, appear at 85 FR 84259, Dec. 28, 2020 unless otherwise noted.
Authority
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections. Section 17.30 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701. Section 17.32 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7331-7334. Section 17.35 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1724. Section 17.37 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 101, 1701, 1705, 1710, 1720J, 1721, 1722. Section 17.38 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701 and 1703. Section 17.43 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 109, 1784, 8111, and 8153. Section 17.44 also issued under E.O. 10122, 15 FR 2173, 3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 313, E.O. 10400, 17 FR 8648, 3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 900, and E.O. 11733, 38 FR 20431, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 792. Section 17.46 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1710. Section 17.47 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701, 1710, 1721, 1722, 1729, 3104(a)(9), 7333, Pub. L. 99-272; 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. Section 17.52 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701, 1703, 1710, 1712, and 3104. Section 17.55 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 513, 1703, and 1728. Section 17.56 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1703 and 1728. Sections 17.61 through 17.74 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1730. Section 17.86 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1785. Section 17.101 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 101, 1701, 1705, 1710, 1721, 1722, 1729. Section 17.102 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 109, 1711, 1729, 1784, 1784A, 1785, 8111, 8153. Section 17.105 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 501, 1721, 1722A, 1724, and 1725A. Section 17.108 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 501, 1703, 1710, 1725A, 1720J, and 1730A. Section 17.110 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 501, 1703, 1710, 1720D, 1720J, 1722A, and 1730A. Section 17.111 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 101(28), 501, 1701(7), 1703, 1710, 1710B, 1720B, 1720D, 1722A, and 1730A. Section 17.125 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7304. Sections 17.156 and 17.157 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 3901 and 3902. Section 17.158 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 3902 and 3903. Section 17.169 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1712C. Sections 17.243 through 17.248 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7302 note. Sections 17.270, and 17.272 through 17.277 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1781. Section 17.271 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(7)(A) and 1781. Section 17.278 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1781 and 42 U.S.C. 2651. Section 17.279 is also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552 and 552a; 38 U.S.C. 1781, 5701, and 7332. Sections 17.380, 17.390 and 17.412 are also issued under sec. 260, Pub. L. 114-223, 130 Stat. 857, and sec. 236, Public Law 115-141, 132 Stat. 348, and sec. 236, div. J, Pub. L 115-141, 132 Stat. 348. Section 17.395 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1788. Section 17.410 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1787. Section 17.415 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7301, 7304, 7402, and 7403. Section 17.417 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701 (note), 1709A, 1712A (note), 1722B, 1730C, 7301, 7306, 7330A, 7331, 7401-7403, 7405, 7406, 7408. Section 17.419 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701 (note), 7301, 7306, 7330A, 7401-7403, 7405, 7406, 7408). Section 17.450 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1703E. Sections 17.525 through 17.531 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7691 through 7697. Sections 17.545 through 17.553 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7698, 7699, 7699A, and 7699B. Sections 17.600 through 17.612 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 7601-7619, 7633, 7634, 7636, and sec. 104(a), div. V, Public Law 117-328. Sections 17.613 through 17.618 are also issued under Pub. L. 115-182, sec. 304. Sections 17.640 and 17.647 are also issued under sec. 4, Pub. L. 114-2, 129 Stat. 30. Sections 17.641 through 17.646 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 501(a) and sec. 4, Pub. L. 114-2, 129 Stat. 30. Section 17.655 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 7304, 7405. Sections 17.1200 through 17.1230 are also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1720J. Section 17.3200 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1162, 1701, 1707, 1710, 1714, 1717, 3901. Section 17.3210 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701, 1710. Section 17.3220 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701(6)(F), 1710. Section 17.3230 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701(6)(F), 1710, 1714(a). Section 17.3250 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1701, 1710, 1725, 1728. Section 17.3500 is also issued under Pub. L. 102-139 sec. 101. Sections 17.4000 through 17.4040 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1703, 1703B, and 1703C. Section 17.4100 et seq. is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1703A. Section 17.4600 is also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1725A and 1730A.