3.809—Specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101(a).
A certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) or 2101A(a) may be extended to a veteran or a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty if the following requirements are met:
(a) Eligibility.
A veteran must have had active military, naval, or air service after April 20, 1898. Benefits are not restricted to veterans with wartime service. On or after December 16, 2003, the benefit under this section is also available to a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty.
(b) Disability.
A member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty must have a disability rated as permanent and total that was incurred or aggravated in line of duty in active military, naval, or air service. A veteran must be entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for a disability rated as permanent and total. In either case, the disability must be due to:
(1)
The loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or
(2)
Blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, plus the anatomical loss or loss of use of one lower extremity, or
(3)
The loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or.
(4)
The loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, or .
(5)
The loss or loss of use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbow, or
(6)
Full thickness or subdermal burns that have resulted in contractures with limitation of motion of two or more extremities or of at least one extremity and the trunk.
(c)
“Preclude locomotion.” This term means the necessity for regular and constant use of a wheelchair, braces, crutches or canes as a normal mode of locomotion although occasional locomotion by other methods may be possible.