---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1717"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1717"
heading: "Home health services; invalid lifts and other devices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1717"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter II — Hospital, Nursing Home, or Domiciliary Care and Medical Treatment"
---

# §1717. Home health services; invalid lifts and other devices

- (a)
  - (1) As part of [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) furnished to a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) under [section 1710(a) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish such home health services as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) finds to be necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1).
  - (2) Improvements and structural alterations may be furnished as part of such home health services only as necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) or to provide access to the home or to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. The cost of such improvements and structural alterations (or the amount of reimbursement therefor) under this subsection may not exceed—
    - (A) in the case of [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) furnished under [section 1710(a)(1) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a-1), or for a [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) described in [section 1710(a)(2)(C) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a-2-C)—
      - (i) in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who first applies for benefits under this paragraph before May 5, 2010, $4,100; or
      - (ii) in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after May 5, 2010, $6,800; and
    - (B) in the case of [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) furnished under any other provision of [section 1710(a) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a)—
      - (i) in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who first applies for benefits under this paragraph before May 5, 2010, $1,200; or
      - (ii) in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after May 5, 2010, $2,000.
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish home health services to a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) in any setting in which the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is residing. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may not furnish such services in such a manner as to relieve any other person or entity of a contractual obligation to furnish services to the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1). When home health services are furnished in a setting other than the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s home, such services may not include any structural improvement or alteration.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish an invalid lift, or any type of therapeutic or rehabilitative device, as well as other medical equipment and supplies (excluding medicines), if medically indicated, to any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who is receiving (1) [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) under [section 1114(l)](/usc/38/1114.md?p=l)–(p) of this title (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to [section 1134 of this title](/usc/38/1134.md)), or (2) [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under [chapter 15](/usc/38/chptII/ch15.md) of this title by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance.
- (c) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish devices for assisting in overcoming the handicap of deafness (including telecaptioning television decoders) to any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who is profoundly deaf and is entitled to [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) on account of hearing impairment.
- (d)
  - (1) In the case of a member of the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10) who, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), has a [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the [active military, naval, air, or space service](/usc/38/101.md?p=24), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish improvements and structural alterations for such member for such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) or as otherwise described in [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) while such member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment for such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) if the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines that such member is likely to be discharged or released from the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10) for such [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1).
  - (2) The furnishing of improvements and alterations under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) in connection with the furnishing of [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) described in subparagraph [(A)](#a-2-A) or [(B)](#a-2-B) of subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to the limitation specified in the applicable subparagraph.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 86–211, § 5, Aug. 29, 1959, 73 Stat. 435, § 617; amended Pub. L. 88–450, § 6(a), (c), Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 504; Pub. L. 90–77, title I, § 109, Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 180; Pub. L. 90–493, § 3(a), Aug. 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 809; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(18), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1306; Pub. L. 98–528, title I, § 107, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2690; Pub. L. 99–576, title II, § 202(2), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3254; Pub. L. 100–322, title I, § 101(d), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 491; renumbered § 1717 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406; Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1973; Pub. L. 104–262, title I, § 101(d)(6), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3180; Pub. L. 105–114, title IV, § 402(b), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2294; Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title VI, § 2601, July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2858; Pub. L. 111–163, title V, § 516(a), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1166; Pub. L. 111–275, title X, § 1001(c)(1), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2896; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(24), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”.

2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted “May 5, 2010” for “the date of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 111–163 added subpars. (A) and (B) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:

“(A) $4,100 in the case of medical services furnished under section 1710(a)(1) of this title, or for a disability described in section 1710(a)(2)(C) of this title; or

“(B) $1,200 in the case of medical services furnished under any other provision of section 1710(a) of this title.”

2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–289 added subsec. (d).

1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–114, § 402(b)(1), substituted “treatment of the veteran” for “treatment of the veteran’s disability”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–114, § 402(b)(2), substituted “section 1710(a)” for “section 1710(a)(2)”.

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(A), substituted “section 1710(a)” for “section 1712(a)”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(B)(i), substituted “section 1710(a)(1) of this title, or for a disability described in section 1710(a)(2)(C) of this title” for “paragraph (1) of section 1712(a) of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(B)(ii), substituted “section 1710(a)(2)” for “section 1712”.

1992—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “$4,100” for “$2,500” in subpar. (A) and “$1,200” for “$600” in subpar. (B).

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 617 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1712(a)” for “612(a)” in pars. (1) and (2)(A) and “1712” for “612” in par. (2)(B).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing in pars. (1) and (3).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1114(l)–(p)” for “314(l)–(p)” and “1134” for “334”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(3), substituted “Home health services; invalid” for “Invalid” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(1)(B), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(2), transferred subsec. (k) of section 612 of this title to subsec. (a) of this section and redesignated it as par. (3).

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(1)(A), redesignated subsecs. (a) and (b) as (b) and (c), respectively.

1986—Subsec. (a)(3) [formerly § 612(k)]. Pub. L. 99–576 added subsec. (k). See 1988 Amendment note above.

1984—Pub. L. 98–528 designated existing provision as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1982—Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “section 314(l)–(p) of this title (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to section 334 of this title)” for “subsections 314(l)–(p) (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to section 334) of this title”.

1968—Pub. L. 90–493 substituted “Invalid lifts and other devices” for “Invalid lifts and other devices for pensioners” in section catchline, and inserted provisions authorizing the Administrator to furnish lifts and other devices to any veteran who is receiving compensation under subsections 314(l)–(p) (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to section 334) of this title.

1967—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–77 substituted “to any veteran in receipt of pension under chapter 15 of this title based on need of regular aid and attendance” for “to any veteran who is eligible to receive an invalid lift under subsection (a) of this section, or who would be so eligible, but for the fact that he has such a lift”.

1964—Pub. L. 88–450 inserted “and other devices” in section catchline, designated existing provisions of section as subsec. (a), and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(b), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1973, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to a veteran who first applies for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, after December 31, 1989.”

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–322 applicable with respect to furnishing of medical services to veterans who apply for such services after June 30, 1988, see section 101(i) of Pub. L. 100–322, set out as a note under section 1703 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1960, see section 10 of Pub. L. 86–211, set out as an Effective Date of 1959 Amendment note under section 1521 of this title.

### Applicability of Increase in Grant Limits

Pub. L. 111–163, title V, § 516(b), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1167, provided that: “A veteran who exhausts such veteran’s eligibility for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of such title [probably means 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(2)] before the date of the enactment of this Act [May 5, 2010], is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”

Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(c), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1973, provided that: “A veteran who exhausts such veteran’s eligibility for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, before January 1, 1990, is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”