Home → VA Prosthetics → VA Handbook 1173.15 - Clothing Allowance Benefit → Prosthetic, Orthopedic Appliances and Skin Medications

15.8. Prosthetic, Orthopedic Appliances and Skin Medications

While the ultimate determination is left to the individual treating provider, the following guidance is provided:

a. Examples of items that tend to tear and wear clothing include: Prostheses, rigid braces, ankle/foot orthosis (AFO) with hooks, rigid AFO, manual wheelchairs without clothing guards, specialized wheelchairs with sliding board/sliding transfer functionalities, and wheelchairs with positioning and posturing adaptations, crutches, wrist braces, prosthesis, rigid orthotics, service dogs, colostomy or ileostomy, cervical braces. A guide and updated listing created by the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O&P) Field Advisory Committee identifies prostheses and orthotics that may cause wear and tear to outergarments. It is available under the Clothing Allowance folder on the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids SharePoint at: 

Guide of Orthotic and Prosthetic items that commonly impacts outergarments

Prostheses and orthotics not included in the guide should be reported to VHA’s Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Services (10P4R). The O&P Field Advisory Committee will review the prostheses and orthotics to determine its impact on clothing. Consultation with local 

VHA Orthotists and Prosthetists can substitute when a prompt decision is needed. This list is updated by the O&P Field Advisory Committee on a semi-annual basis, provided new prostheses and orthotics may qualify for the clothing allowance benefit.

b. Examples of items that do not tend to tear and wear clothing include: Soft orthotics, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units, shoes, shoe inserts, non-specialized wheelchairs (sedentary/sitting purposes), scooters, canes, rollador, walkers, elastic/flexible braces, items with Velcro stays, hinged braces covered in fabric (metal stays covered), braces with plastic stays covered in fabric. 

c. A guide and updated listing created by the Prosthetic and Pharmacy workgroup identifies skin medications, ointments, or lotions that may cause irreparable staining, discoloration, bleeding, and damage not removable by laundering or dry cleaning. It is available under the Clothing Allowance folder on the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids SharePoint at: 

https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/Documents/MEDSTHATSTAINCLOTHING11172016.pdf   

Skin medications not included in the guide should be reported to VHA’s Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Services (10P4R). The Prosthetic and Pharmacy workgroup will review the skin medication to determine its impact on clothing. Consultation with a local VHA 

Pharmacist can substitute when a prompt decision is needed. This list is updated by the Prosthetic and Pharmacy workgroup on a semi-annual basis, provided any new skin medication, ointment, or lotion may qualify for the clothing allowance. Over-the-counter
skin medications, ointments and lotions that are prescribed by a VHA physician are to meet the same criteria in paragraph 5 of this Handbook.