---
kind: "range"
citation: "38 C.F.R. §§ 21.370–21.376"
title: "38"
from: "21.370"
to: "21.376"
count: 4
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/21.370..21.376"
---

# §21.370. Intraregional travel at government expense.

- (a) **Introduction.** VA may authorize transportation expenses for intraregional travel to a veteran in a rehabilitation program or a program of employment services for the purposes presented in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. When approved for purposes stated in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, authorization of travel is limited to the veteran's transportation, and does not include transportation for the veteran's dependents, or for moving personal effects.
- (b) **Necessary condition for intraregional travel at government expense.** VA may authorize a veteran to travel at government expense within the regional territory of the VA field station of jurisdiction when:
  - (1) VA determines that the travel is necessary in the discharge of the government's obligation to the veteran; and
  - (2) **The veteran is instructed to travel for any of the following reasons—**
    - (i) To report to the chosen school or training facility for the purpose of starting training;
    - (ii) To report to a prospective employer-trainer for an interview prior to induction into training, when there is definite assurance in advance of approving the travel that, upon interview, the employer will start the veteran in training, if the employer finds the veteran acceptable, or
    - (iii) **To report to the chosen school for a personal interview prior to induction into training when—**
      - (A) The school requires the interview as a condition of admission,
      - (B) There is assurance before the travel is approved that the veteran's records (school, counseling, etc.) show he or she meets all basic requirements for induction under [§ 21.282](/cfr/38/21.282.md); and
      - (C) The veteran submits to the school a transcript of his or her high school credits and a transcript from any school he or she attended following high school.
    - (iv) To report to a rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop;
    - (v) **To return to his or her home from the training or rehabilitation facility when—**
      - (A) Services are not available for a period of 30 days or more (including summer vacation periods), and
      - (B) Travel from his or her home to the training or rehabilitation facility was at government expense;
    - (vi) **To return to the training or rehabilitation facility from his or her home, when—**
      - (A) The purpose of the travel is to continue the rehabilitation program, and
      - (B) Travel from the training or rehabilitation facility to the veteran's home was at government expense;
    - (vii) To return to the point from which he or she was transported at government expense, upon being placed in “discontinued” or “interrupted” status for any reason, except abandonment of training by the veteran without good reason;
    - (viii) To report to a place of prearranged satisfactory employment upon completion of vocational rehabilitation for the purpose of beginning work;
    - (ix) To return to his or her home from the place of training following rehabilitation to the point of employability, when suitable employment is not available;
    - (x) To return from the place of training to the veteran's prior location, when VA could have approved travel to the place of training at government expense, but did not issue the necessary travel authorization; and
    - (xi) To report to a place to take a scheduled examination required to practice the trade or profession for which the veteran has been trained. This travel shall be limited to points within the state in which the veteran has pursued his or her training or, if the veteran returned to the state from which he or she was sent to pursue training, he or she may be sent at government expense to a place within that state to take the examination. If there is more than one place within the state at which the veteran may take the examination, travel shall be limited to the nearest place.
- (c) **Approval of intraregional transfer.** Intraregional travel must be approved by the case manager.

# §21.372. Interregional transfer at government expense.

- (a) **Introduction.** A veteran may need to transfer from the jurisdiction of one VA facility to another in order to accomplish rehabilitation. This section states the conditions which will permit the transfer to be made at government expense. Authorization of travel is limited to the veteran's transportation, and does not include transportation for the veteran's dependents or for moving personal effects.
- (b) **Conditions which permit interregional transfers at government expense.** A veteran may be provided travel at government expense when it has been determined that such travel is necessary to accomplish rehabilitation. VA will authorize an interregional transfer at government expense only to allow the veteran:
  - (1) **To enter training in the nearest satisfactory facility if—**
    - (i) The nearest satisfactory facility is within the jurisdiction of another VA facility; or
    - (ii) There are no satisfactory facilities within the jurisdiction of the facility in which the veteran resides.
  - (2) To enter training in the state in which the veteran has long-standing family and social ties, and in which he or she plans to live following rehabilitation;
  - (3) To report to an employer-trainer when all necessary steps have been taken to establish an on-job training program;
  - (4) To report to rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop;
  - (5) **To return to his or her home from the place of training when—**
    - (i) Training is not available for a period of 30 days or more (including summer vacation periods), and
    - (ii) Travel from his or her home to the place of training or rehabilitation services was at government expense;
  - (6) To return to the place of training or rehabilitation services from his or her home, when;
    - (i) The purpose of the travel is to continue training or rehabilitation services; and
    - (ii) Travel from the place of training or rehabilitation services to the veteran's home was at government expense;
  - (7) To return to the point from which he or she was transferred at government expense, upon being assigned to “discontinued” or “interrupted” status, for any reason, except abandonment of training by the veteran without good reason;
  - (8) To report to a place of prearranged satisfactory employment or for a prearranged employment interview following completion of his or her program of vocational rehabilitation, when:
    - (i) There is no satisfactory opportunity for employment in the veteran's occupation within the jurisdiction of the facility which has jurisdiction over his or her residence, and
    - (ii) **The veteran has a serious employment handicap.**
  - (9) To return to his or her home, from which he or she was transferred at government expense to pursue training, when, upon completion of his or her course, satisfactory employment is not available;
  - (10) To return to the location from which he or she traveled without authorization because VA did not issue the necessary travel authorization on a timely basis.
- (c) **Approval of interregional transfer.** Interregional travel must be approved by the case manager.

# §21.374. Authorization for travel of attendants.

- (a) **Travel for attendants.** The services of an attendant to accompany a veteran while traveling for rehabilitation purposes may be provided when such services are necessitated by the severity of the veteran's disability. Attendants may only be used to enable a veteran to attend appointments for initial evaluation, counseling, or intraregional or interregional travel at government expense under [§ 21.370](/cfr/38/21.370.md) and [§ 21.372](/cfr/38/21.372.md).
- (b) **Attendants not employed by the Federal government.**
  - (1) VA may authorize persons not in regular civilian employment of the Federal government to act as attendants. Payment of travel expenses for attendants will be authorized on the same basis as for the veteran the attendant is accompanying. VA:
    - (i) Will furnish the attendant with common-carrier transportation, meal and lodging expenses; or
    - (ii) Will grant the attendant a mileage allowance in lieu of furnishing the assistance cited in [paragraph (b)(1)(i)](#b-1-i) of this section.
  - (2) VA will not pay the attendant a fee if he or she is a relative of the veteran. A relative, for this purpose, is a person who by blood or marriage is the veteran's
    - (i) Spouse,
    - (ii) Parent,
    - (iii) Child,
    - (iv) Brother,
    - (v) Sister,
    - (vi) Uncle,
    - (vii) Aunt,
    - (viii) Niece, or
    - (ix) **Nephew.**
- (c) **Attendant employed by the Federal government.**
  - (1) VA may authorize a person in the regular civilian employment of the Federal government to act as an attendant. When assigned, the attendant:
    - (i) Will be entitled to transportation and expenses, or
    - (ii) May be allowed per diem in place of subsistence in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Travel Regulations (5 U.S.C. Chapter 57).
  - (2) VA will pay no fee to civilian employees of the Federal government who act as attendants.

# §21.376. Travel expenses for initial evaluation and counseling.


When VA asks a disabled veteran to report to a designated place for an initial evaluation, reevaluation or counseling (including personal or vocational adjustment counseling), the veteran will travel to and from the place of evaluation and counseling at government expense. When a veteran, because of a severe disability, requires the services of an attendant while traveling, VA will authorize payment of travel expenses for the attendant under the provisions of [§ 21.374](/cfr/38/21.374.md).