---
kind: "range"
citation: "38 C.F.R. §§ 21.120–21.162"
title: "38"
from: "21.120"
to: "21.162"
count: 22
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/21.120..21.162"
---

# §21.120. Educational and vocational training services.

- (a) **Purposes.** The purposes of providing educational and vocational training services are to enable a veteran eligible for, and entitled to, services and assistance under Chapter 31 to:
  - (1) Meet the requirements for employment in the occupational objective established in the IWRP (Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan);
  - (2) Provide incidental training which is necessary to achieve the employment objective in the IEAP (Individualized Employment Assistance Plan);
  - (3) Provide incidental training needed to achieve the goals of an IILP (Individualized Independent Living Plan); or
  - (4) **Provide training services necessary to implement an IEEP (Individualized Extended Evaluation Plan).**
- (b) **Selection of courses.** VA will generally select courses of study and training, completion of which usually results in a diploma, certificate, degree, qualification for licensure, or employment. If such courses are not available in the area in which the veteran resides, or if they are available but not accessible to the veteran, other arrangements may be made. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to:
  - (1) Relocation of the veteran to another area in which necessary services are available, or
  - (2) **Use of an individual instructor to provide necessary training.**
- (c) **Charges for education and training services.** The cost of education and training services will be one of the factors considered in selecting a facility when:
  - (1) **There is more than one facility in the area in which the veteran resides which—**
    - (i) Meets requirements for approval under [§§ 21.292 through 21.298](/cfr/38/21.292..21.298.md);
    - (ii) Can provide the education and training services, and other supportive services specified in the veteran's plan; and
    - (iii) Is within reasonable commuting distance; or
  - (2) The veteran wishes to train at a suitable facility in another area, even though training can be provided at a suitable facility in the area in which the veteran resides.

# §21.122. School course.

- (a) **Explanation of terms—schools, educational institution, and institution.** These terms mean any public or private school, secondary school, vocational school, correspondence school, business school, junior college, teacher's college, college, normal school, professional school, university, scientific or technical institution, or other institution furnishing education for adults.
- (b) **Course.** A course generally consists of a number of areas of subject matter which are organized into learning units for the purpose of attaining a specific educational or vocational objective. Organized instruction in the units comprising the course is offered within a given period of time and credit toward graduation or certification is generally given.
- (c) **School course.** A school course is a course as defined in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section offered by a facility identified in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section.

# §21.123. On-job course.

- (a) **Training establishment.** This term means any establishment providing apprentice or other training on the job, including those under the supervision of a college or university or any State department of education, or any state apprenticeship agency, or any State board of vocational education, or any joint apprenticeship committee, or the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training established in accordance with 29 U.S.C. Chapter 4C, or any agency of the Federal government authorized to supervise such training.
- (b) **On-job course,—** An on-job course is pursued toward a specified vocational objective, provided by a training establishment. The trainee learns, in the course of work performed under supervision, primarily by receiving formal instruction, observing practical demonstration of work tasks, and assisting in those tasks. Productive work should gradually increase with greater independence from formal instruction as the course progresses.

# §21.124. Combination course.

- (a) **General.** A combination course is a course which combines training on the job with training in school. For the purpose of VA vocational rehabilitation, a course will be considered to be a combination course, if the student spends full-time on the job and one or more times a week also attends school on a part-time basis. A veteran may pursue the components of a combination course in the following manner:
  - (1) Concurrent school and on-job training;
  - (2) Primarily on-job with some related instruction in school;
  - (3) In a school as a preparatory course to entering on-job training; or
  - (4) **First training on-job followed by the school portion.**
- (b) **Cooperative course.** A cooperative course is a special type of combination course which usually:
  - (1) Has an objective which the student attains primarily through school instruction with the on-job portion being supplemental to the school course;
  - (2) Is at the college or junior college level although some cooperative courses are offered at post-secondary schools which do not offer a college degree or at secondary schools;
  - (3) Requires the student to devote at least one-half of the total training period to the school portion of the course; and
  - (4) Includes relatively long periods each of training on the job and in school such as a full term in school followed by a full term on the job.

# §21.126. Farm cooperative course.

- (a) **Definition.** An approvable farm cooperative course is a full-time course designated to restore employability by training a veteran to:
  - (1) Operate a farm which he or she owns or leases; or
  - (2) **Manage a farm as the employee of another.**
- (b) **Reaching the goal of a farm cooperative course.** The farm cooperative course must enable a veteran to become proficient in the type of farming for which he or she is being provided rehabilitation services. The areas in which proficiency is to be established include:
  - (1) Planning;
  - (2) Producing;
  - (3) Marketing;
  - (4) Maintaining farm equipment;
  - (5) Conserving farm resources;
  - (6) Financing the farm;
  - (7) Managing the farm; and
  - (8) **Keeping farm and home accounts.**
- (c) **Instruction, including organized group instruction.** Instruction in a farm cooperative course may be by a mixture of organized group (classroom) instruction and individual instruction or by individual instruction alone. A course which includes organized group instruction must meet the following criteria to be considered as full-time:
  - (1) The number of clock hours of instruction which should be provided yearly shall meet the requirements of [§ 21.310(a)(4)](/cfr/38/21.310.md?p=a-4) and [§ 21.4264](/cfr/38/21.4264.md) pertaining to full-time pursuit of a farm cooperative course:
  - (2) The individual instructor portion of a farm cooperative course shall include at least 100 hours of individual instruction per year.
- (d) **Instruction given solely by an individual instructor.**
  - (1) Instruction in a farm cooperative course may be given solely by an individual instructor if organized group instruction is:
    - (i) Not available within reasonable commuting distance of the veteran's farm; or
    - (ii) The major portion of the organized group instruction that is available does not have a direct relation to the veteran's farming operation and pertinent VA records are fully and clearly documented accordingly.
  - (2) **To be considered full-time pursuit the individual instruction provided in these course must—**
    - (i) Consist of at least 200 hours of instruction per year;
    - (ii) Be given by a fully qualified individual instructor by contract between VA and the instructor or an educational agency which employs the instructor.
- (e) **Plan requirements for farm operator or farm manager.**
  - (1) The plan for training developed by the case manager and the veteran in collaboration with the instructor must include:
    - (i) A complete written survey including but not limited to the areas identified in § [21.298 (a)](/cfr/38/21.298.md?p=a) and [(b)](/cfr/38/21.298.md?p=b);
    - (ii) An overall, long-term plan based upon the survey of the operation of the farm;
    - (iii) An annual plan identifying the part of the overall plan to be implemented which will be prepared before the beginning of each crop year; and
    - (iv) A detailed individual training program showing the kind and amount of instruction, classroom and individual, or individual; and
  - (2) The farm must meet the requirements for selecting a farm found in [§ 21.298](/cfr/38/21.298.md).

# §21.128. Independent study course.


A veteran may pursue a course by independent study under the following conditions:

- (a) **College level.** The course is offered by a college or university.
- (b) **College degree.** The course leads to or is fully creditable towards a standard college degree.
- (c) **Course content.** The course consists of a prescribed program of study with provision for interaction between the student and regularly employed faculty of the university or college by mail, telephone, personally, or class attendance.
- (d) **School responsibility.** The university or college:
  - (1) Evaluates the course in semester or quarter hours or the equivalent; and
  - (2) **Prescribes a period for completion.**

# §21.129. Home study course.

- (a) **Definition.** A home study course is a course conducted by mail, consisting of a series of written lesson assignments furnished by a school to the student for study and preparation of written answers, solutions to problems, and work projects which are corrected and graded by the school and returned to the trainee.
- (b) **Limitations on inclusion of home study courses, in rehabilitation plans.** A veteran and his or her case manager may include a home study course in a rehabilitation plan only when it supplements the major part of the program. The purpose of the home study course is to provide the veteran with theory or technical information directly related to the practice of the occupation for which the veteran is training.

# §21.130. Educational and vocational courses outside the United States.

- (a) **General.** VA may provide educational and vocational courses outside a State if the case manager determines that such training is in the best interest of the veteran and the Federal Government.
- (b) **Specific conditions.**
  - (1) The training must be necessary to enable the veteran to qualify for, obtain, and retain suitable employment in the occupational objective; and
  - (2) **Either—**
    - (i) The training is not available in the United States; or
    - (ii) The training is available in the United States, but personal hardship would result from requiring that the veteran pursue training in this country; and
  - (3) All necessary supportive and follow-up services, including medical care and treatment and employment services, reasonably can be provided by or through VA, considering such factors as the availability, accessibility and cost of such services.

# §21.132. Repetition of the course.

- (a) **Repeating all or part of the course.** A veteran, having completed a course under Chapter 31 according to the standards and practices of the institution, ordinarily will not pursue it again at the expense of VA. However, VA may approve repetition of all, or any part of the course when VA determines that the repetition is necessary to accomplish the veteran's vocational rehabilitation. A veteran repeating a course under Chapter 31 is subject to the same requirements for satisfactory pursuit and completion of the course as are other veterans taking the course unless a longer period is needed because of the veteran's reduced work tolerance.
- (b) **Review course.** A veteran who has completed a course of training under Chapter 31 may pursue a review course, such as a bar review course, if it is specifically organized and conducted as a review course.
- (c) **Auditing a subject.** Auditing, as defined in [§ 21.4200(i)](/cfr/38/21.4200.md?p=i), may not be authorized as a part of any rehabilitation plan. However, if an individual repeats a course under the conditions described in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, the course shall not be considered an audited course, if pursued in the same manner as a subject offered for credit. The individual must meet the same requirements as other students, and not be a mere listener.

# §21.134. Limitation on flight training.


Flight Training approved under chapter 31 may only be authorized in degree curriculums in the field of aviation that include required flight training. This type of training is otherwise subject to the same limitations as are applicable to flight training under Chapter 30.


# §21.140. Evaluation and improvement of rehabilitation potential.

- (a) **General.** The purposes of these services are to:
  - (1) **Evaluate if the veteran—**
    - (i) Has an employment handicap;
    - (ii) Has a serious employment handicap; and
    - (iii) **Is reasonably feasible for a vocational goal or an independent living goal.**
  - (2) **Provide a basis for planning—**
    - (i) A program of services and assistance to improve the veteran's potential for vocational rehabilitation or independent living;
    - (ii) A suitable vocational rehabilitation program; or
    - (iii) **A suitable independent living program.**
  - (3) Reevaluate the vocational rehabilitation or independent living potential of a veteran participating in a rehabilitation program under Chapter 31, as necessary.
  - (4) **Enable a veteran to achieve—**
    - (i) A vocational goal; or
    - (ii) **An independent living goal.**
- (b) **Periods during which evaluation and improvement services may be provided.** Evaluation and improvement services may be provided concurrently, whenever necessary, with a period of rehabilitation services, including:
  - (1) Initial evaluation or reevaluation;
  - (2) **Extended evaluation—**
  - (3) **Rehabilitation to the point of employability—**
  - (4) **A program of independent living services—** or
  - (5) **Employment services, incidental to obtaining or maintaining employment.**
- (c) **Duration of full-time assistance.** If evaluation and improvement services are furnished on a full-time basis as a preliminary part of the period of rehabilitation to the point of employability, or as the vocational rehabilitation program, the duration of such assistance may not exceed 12 months, except as provided in [§ 21.74(c)](/cfr/38/21.74.md?p=c).
- (d) **Scope of services.** Evaluation and improvement services include:
  - (1) Diagnostic services;
  - (2) Personal and work adjustment training;
  - (3) Medical care and treatment;
  - (4) Independent living services;
  - (5) Language training, speech and voice correction, training in ambulation, and one-hand typewriting;
  - (6) Orientation, adjustment, mobility and related services; and
  - (7) **Other appropriate services.**

# §21.142. Adult basic education.

- (a) **Definition.** The term adult basic education means an instructional program for the undereducated adult planned around those basic and specific skills most needed to help him or her to function adequately in society.
- (b) **Purposes.** The purposes of providing adult basic education are to:
  - (1) Upgrade a veteran's basic educational skills;
  - (2) Provide refresher training; or
  - (3) Remedy deficiencies which prevent the veteran from undertaking a course of education or vocational training.
- (c) **Periods during which basic adult education may be provided.** Basic adult education may be authorized, as necessary, during;
  - (1) Rehabilitation to the point of employability;
  - (2) Extended evaluation; and
  - (3) **Independent living services.**

# §21.144. Vocational course in a sheltered workshop or rehabilitation facility.

- (a) **General.** A vocational course in a sheltered workshop or rehabilitation facility may be an institutional, on-job, or combination course which has been modified to facilitate successful pursuit by a person with a disability that would otherwise prevent or impair the person's participation in the course.
- (b) **Authorization.** A vocational course in a sheltered workshop or rehabilitation facility may be authorized when the training offered is a sound method of restoring a veteran's employability.

# §21.146. Independent instructor course.

- (a) **Definition.** An independent instructor course is a full-time course of vocational training which the veteran pursues with an individual instructor, who, independently of a training institution or on-job training establishment, furnishes and conducts a vocational course at a suitable place of training.
- (b) **Limitations on including an independent instructor course in a rehabilitation plan.** A veteran and his or her case manager may include an independent instructor course in a rehabilitation plan, other than one involving a farm cooperative program, only when either or both of the following conditions exist:
  - (1) Training is not available through an established school, on-job training establishment, rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop within a reasonable commuting distance from the veteran's home; or
  - (2) The veteran's condition or other circumstances do not permit the veteran to attend an otherwise suitable facility within commuting distance. See [§ 21.126](/cfr/38/21.126.md).
- (c) **Training in the home.** Training in the home is a specialized type of independent instructor course which the veteran pursues in his or her home if:
  - (1) He or she is unable to pursue training at an otherwise suitable facility because of the effects of his or her disability;
  - (2) Based on proper medical opinion, the veteran is able to pursue the prescribed training; and
  - (3) **The veteran's home provides a favorable educational environment with adequate work and study space.**
- (d) **Planning an individual instructor course.** The case manager, the veteran, and the instructor should jointly plan the training program for a veteran for whom an independent instructor course is prescribed.
- (e) **Assuring employment.** Since the customary channels leading to employment may not be readily available to a veteran requiring an individual instructor course, the IEAP (Individual Employment Assistance Plan) shall indicate thorough consideration of plans and prospects for seeking and obtaining employment, including self-employment, upon completion of training.
- (f) **Rate of pursuit.** A veteran in an independent instructor program shall pursue training at a rate comparable to the rate at which similar training is pursued on an institutional basis, unless the veteran's work tolerance is reduced by the effects of his or her disability.

# §21.148. Tutorial assistance.

- (a) **General.** A veteran may be provided individualized tutorial assistance, if VA determines that special assistance beyond that ordinarily given by the facility to students pursuing the same or a similar subject is needed to correct a deficiency in a subject.
- (b) **Authorization of tutorial assistance.** Tutorial assistance may be provided during any period of rehabilitation services authorized by VA.
- (c) **Use of relatives precluded.** Tutorial assistance at VA expense may not be provided by a relative of the veteran. The term relative has the same meaning as under [§ 21.374](/cfr/38/21.374.md) pertaining to the use of a relative as an attendant.
- (d) **Payment at the Chapter 30 rate.** If a veteran has elected payment at the educational assistance rate payable under Chapter 30, he or she may not be provided individualized tutorial assistance under provision of Chapter 31. (See [§ 21.334](/cfr/38/21.334.md).)

# §21.150. Reader service.

- (a) **Limitations on vision.** A veteran considered to have a visual impairment necessitating reader service includes a veteran:
  - (1) Whose best corrected vision is 20/200 in both eyes;
  - (2) Whose central vision is greater than 20/200 but whose field of vision is limited to such an extent that the widest diameter of a visual field subtends to an angle no greater than 20 degrees; or
  - (3) With impaired vision, whose condition or prognosis indicates that the residual sight will be adversely affected by the use of his or her eyes for reading.
- (b) **Periods during which reader service may be provided.** reader service necessary to the development of a rehabilitation plan, or the successful pursuit of a rehabilitation program may be provided during:
  - (1) Initial evaluation or reevaluation;
  - (2) Extended evaluation;
  - (3) Rehabilitation to the point of employability;
  - (4) Independent living services; or
  - (5) **Employment services, including an initial employment period of up to three months.**
- (c) **Reader responsibility.** The reader should be able to do more than read to the veteran. The reader should have an understanding of the subject matter based upon prior training or experience which allows him or her to:
  - (1) Read printed material with understanding; and
  - (2) **Test the veteran's understanding of what has been read.**
- (d) **Extent of service.** The number of hours of service will be determined in each case by the amount of reading necessitated by the course and the efficacy of other equipment with which the veteran has been furnished to enable him or her to read printed material unassisted.
- (e) **Recording.** VA will not normally pay for recording textbooks or other materials as a part of reader services, since excellent recording services are provided by volunteer organizations at no cost.
- (f) **Selecting a relative as a reader.** Utilization of a relative of the veteran as a reader is subject to the limitations on use of a relative as an attendant under [§ 21.374](/cfr/38/21.374.md).

# §21.152. Interpreter service for the hearing impaired.

- (a) **General.** The main purpose of interpreter service for the hearing impaired is to facilitate instructor-student communication. VA will provide interpreter service as necessary for the development and pursuit of a rehabilitation program. This service will be provided if:
  - (1) **A VA physician determines that—**
    - (i) The veteran is deaf or his or her hearing is severely impaired; and
    - (ii) All appropriate services and aids have been furnished to improve the veteran's residual hearing; or
  - (2) **A VA physician determines that the veteran—**
    - (i) Can benefit from language and speech training; and
    - (ii) **Agrees to undertake language and speech training.**
- (b) **Periods during which interpreter service may be provided.** Interpreter service may be furnished during:
  - (1) Initial evaluation or reevaluation;
  - (2) Extended evaluation;
  - (3) Rehabilitation to the point of employability;
  - (4) Independent living services; or
  - (5) **Employment services, including the first three months of employment.**
- (c) **Selecting the interpreter.** Only certified interpreters or persons meeting generally accepted standards for interpreters shall provide interpreter service. When an individual is not certified by a State or professional association, VA shall seek the assistance of a State certifying agency or a professional association in ascertaining whether the individual is qualified to serve as an interpreter.
- (d) **Relatives.** Interpreter service at VA expense may not be provided by a relative of the veteran. The term relative has the same meaning as under [§ 21.374](/cfr/38/21.374.md) pertaining to the use of relatives as attendants.

# §21.154. Special transportation assistance.

- (a) **General.** A veteran, who because of the effects of disability has transportation expenses in addition to those incurred by persons not so disabled, shall be provided a transportation allowance to defray such additional expenses. The assistance provided in this section is in addition to provisions for interregional and intraregional travel which may be authorized under provisions of [§§ 21.370 through 21.376](/cfr/38/21.370..21.376.md).
- (b) **Periods during which special transportation allowance may be provided.** A special transportation allowance may be provided during:
  - (1) Extended evaluation;
  - (2) Rehabilitation to the point of employability;
  - (3) Independent living services; or
  - (4) **Employment services, including the first three months of employment.**
- (c) **Scope of transportation assistance.**
  - (1) Transportation assistance includes mileage, parking fees, reasonable fee for a driver, transportation furnished by a rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop, and other reasonable expenses which may be incurred in local travel;
  - (2) The veteran's monthly transportation allowance may not exceed the lesser of actual expenses incurred or one-half of the subsistence allowance of a single veteran in full-time institutional training, unless extraordinary arrangements, such as transportation by ambulance, are necessary to enable a veteran to pursue a rehabilitation program.
- (d) **Determining the need for a transportation allowance.** The case manager will determine the need for a transportation allowance. The assistance of a medical consultant shall be utilized, as necessary, to determine the need for special transportation assistance and to develop transportation arrangements which do not unduly tax the veteran's ability to travel and pursue a rehabilitation program.
- (e) **Use of a relative precluded.** A relative of the veteran may not be paid any part of a special transportation allowance. The term relative has the same meaning as under [§ 21.374](/cfr/38/21.374.md) pertaining to the use of a relative as an attendant.

# §21.155. Services to a veteran's family.

- (a) **General.** VA shall provide services to a veteran's family which are necessary to the implementation of the veteran's rehabilitation plan. The term family includes the veteran's immediate family, legal guardian, or any individual in whose home the veteran certifies an intention to live.
- (b) **Scope of services to a veteran's family.** The services which may be furnished to the family are generally limited to consultation, homecare training, counseling, and mental health services of brief duration which are designed to enable the family to cope with the veteran's needs. Extended medical, psychiatric or other services may not be furnished to family members under these provisions.
- (c) **Providing services to a veteran's family.** Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Staff will:
  - (1) Identify services which family members may need to facilitate the rehabilitation of the veteran; and
  - (2) **Arrange for provision of the services which have been identified.**
- (d) **Resources for provision of services to family members.**
  - (1) The established program and services which are furnished by Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to family members of veterans eligible for Chapter 31 should be used to the extent practicable; but
  - (2) If services are not readily available through regular VHA programs, necessary services will normally be secured through arrangements with other public and nonprofit agencies.

# §21.156. Other incidental goods and services.

- (a) **General.** Other incidental goods and services may be authorized if the case manager determines them to be necessary to implement the veteran's rehabilitation plan. For example, a calculator may be authorized for a veteran pursuing an engineering degree, even though the veteran may not be required to have a calculator for any specific subject in his or her course, where there is substantial evidence that lack of a calculator places the veteran at a distinct disadvantage in successfully pursuing the course.
- (b) **Limitation on cost.** The costs of incidental goods and services normally should not exceed five percent of training costs for any twelve-month period.

# §21.160. Independent living services.

- (a) **Purpose.** The purpose of independent living services is to assist eligible veterans whose ability to function independently in family, community, or employment is so limited by the severity of disability (service and nonservice-connected) that vocational or rehabilitation services need to be appreciably more extensive than for less disabled veterans.
- (b) **Definitions.** The term independence in daily living means the ability of a veteran, without the services of others or with a reduced level of the services of others, to live and function within the veteran's family and community.
- (c) **Situations under which independent living services may be furnished.** Independent living services may be furnished:
  - (1) As part of a program to achieve rehabilitation to the point of employability;
  - (2) As part of an extended evaluation to determine the current reasonable feasibility of achieving a vocational goal;
  - (3) Incidental to a program of employment services; or
  - (4) As a program of rehabilitation services for eligible veterans for whom achievement of a vocational goal is not currently reasonably feasible. This program of rehabilitation services may be furnished to help the veteran:
    - (i) Function more independently in the family and community without the assistance of others or a reduced level of the assistance of others;
    - (ii) Become reasonably feasible for a vocational rehabilitation program; or
    - (iii) **Become reasonably feasible for extended evaluation.**
- (d) **Services which may be authorized.** The services which may be authorized as part of an IILP (Individualized Independent Living Plan) include:
  - (1) Any appropriate service which may be authorized for a vocational rehabilitation program as that term is defined in [§ 21.35(i)](/cfr/38/21.35.md?p=i), except for a course of education or training as described in [§ 21.120](/cfr/38/21.120.md); and
  - (2) Independent living services offered by approved independent living centers and programs which are determined to be necessary to carry out the veteran's plan including:
    - (i) Evaluation of independent living potential;
    - (ii) Training in independent living skills;
    - (iii) Attendant care;
    - (iv) Health maintenance programs; and
    - (v) **Identifying appropriate housing accommodations.**
- (e) **Coordination with other VA elements and other Federal, State, and local programs.** Implementation of programs of independent living services and assistance will generally require extensive coordination with other VA and non-VA programs. If appropriate arrangements cannot be made to provide these services through VA, other governmental, private nonprofit and for-profit agencies and facilities may be used to secure necessary services if the requirements contained in [§ 21.294](/cfr/38/21.294.md) are met.

# §21.162. Participation in a program of independent living services.

- (a) **Approval of a program of independent living services.** A program of independent living services and assistance is approved when:
  - (1) The VA determines that achievement of a vocational goal is not currently reasonably feasible;
  - (2) The VA determines that the veteran's independence in daily living can be improved, and the gains made can reasonably be expected to continue following completion of the program;
  - (3) All steps required by §§ [21.90](/cfr/38/21.90.md) and [21.92](/cfr/38/21.92.md) of this part for the development and preparation of an Individualized Independent Living Plan (IILP) have been completed; and
  - (4) **The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Officer concurs in the IILP.**
- (b) **Considerations for the VR&E Officer.** The VR&E Officer will consider the following factors in administering programs providing independent living services:
  - (1) If VA resources available limit the number of veterans who may be provided a program of independent living services and assistance, the first priority shall be given to veterans for whom the reasonable feasibility of achieving a vocational goal is precluded solely as a result of service-connected disability; and
  - (2) To the maximum extent feasible, a substantial portion of veterans provided with programs of independent living services and assistance shall be receiving long-term care in VA medical centers and nursing homes.