#Legally blind how to#

To qualify for any of these services, you must have a VA Disability rating. The VA offers more support than most other healthcare providers in assisting blind veterans. While losing your sight can be a traumatic experience, there is still the potential to live a long, fulfilling life independently. The VA also provides help from Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists who are professionally trained to assist legally blind veterans where they live in case they cannot make it to a Center. and Puerto Rico, where legally blind veterans can receive the help they need while they transition into independent living while blind. The VA will, in turn, pay for the veterinary care and any equipment needed for the dog to provide the most assistance.Īt this time there are thirteen Blind Rehabilitation Centers located in the U.S. Counseling and group therapy to help with the adjustment to life with blindnessĪs of right now the VA does not provide guide dogs but will help pair you up with other agencies that do.Mobility and orientation training to create mental maps for moving about.

Sensory training to better use other senses like hearing and touch.Training new visual skills to assist in everyday tasks like cooking, reading, writing, managing medicines and reading signs.

Vision-enhancing devices for legally blind veterans like electronic reading machines and electronic mobility devices along with the training on how to use them.

The VA offers a number of blind and low vision rehabilitation services to assist legally blind veterans in living an independent life. VA Provided Services for Legally Blind Veterans A strong, detailed breakdown of the ratings can be found by clicking here. Other ratings are determined by the combination of vision in both eyes. If it is determined that you are legally blind (5/200 or worse vision in both eyes) you will automatically qualify for 100% disability compensation from the VA. In other words, you must still be blind while using corrective lenses to qualify. It’s only after receiving corrective lenses the VA will determine if a veteran is legally blind or not. Also, the test will determine your vision both before and after correction.

Only distant vision is used to rate for blindness. When visual acuity is tested they will determine both your near and distant vision. 20/20 vision is considered normal vision (not “perfect” vision), meaning that you see an object at 20 feet the same way a “normal” person would.Īccording to this system, a person with 5/200 or worse vision is considered blind. That refers to the results of the visual acuity test. You’ve probably heard the phrase “20/20 vision”. To determine veterans’ benefits for blindness, the VA uses the Central Visual Acuity Rating System. VA Provided Services for Legally Blind Veterans.

#Legally blind how to#