Army veteran Orlando Gill is an athlete. It’s safe to say that if Gill is not on the slopes snowboarding or skiing, he’s golfing, kayaking, climbing or cycling. You might even find him in SCUBA gear. As a program assistant with the Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project, Orlando Gill introduces other veterans to the benefits of sports on a regular basis. You might say being active is a way of life for Gill.
Orlando Gill’s life took a difficult turn when, in October of 2004, he took a direct hit from a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) near Ramadi during his second tour of duty in Iraq. The explosion amputated one of his legs at the knee. He was introduced to sports during his rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and was excited to learn that he was eligible for sport-specific gear and equipment through the VA because of his designation as a disabled veteran.
“The VA got me a wheelchair and a leg and also bought me my first handcycle,” explains Orlando Gill. “They told me I would be eligible for additional equipment and legs to help me become active in sports again.” He adds, “They stressed that becoming active was a part of my rehabilitation and before I even left active duty, I knew what I’d be eligible to receive for the rest of my life. It really helps.”
Gill is not alone. Since the Iraq War began over four years ago, there have been more than 27,000 injuries, although that number may be as high as 53,000, says the Associated Press. An estimated 7,500 of the wounded have suffered serious head and spinal cord injuries and an additional 500 are amputees, with nearly a quarter having lost more than one limb.
The majority of these veterans are eligible for the same grants as Orlando Gill. Veterans who sustained injuries in the past are eligible for the same grants as those who are recently injured. To be eligible for sports grants through the VA, a veteran must be enrolled in the VA Healthcare network and be receiving routine care from a VA facility. Eligibility for grants is not dependent on a veteran’s service connected rating.
VHA Handbook 1173.06 details the wheelchair and special mobility aids that disabled veterans are entitled to receive. According to this document updated and released January 15, 2008, a veteran is eligible to receive an everyday (or commercial source) wheelchair as well as a spare wheelchair. These chairs may be manual, motorized, pushrim-activated, enhanced function, or scooters.
Additionally, a sport-model wheelchair (or sport-specific limb) may be furnished after approval by a VA Major Medical Committee or physician who specializes in rehabilitative medicine. This equipment might include a racing wheelchair, sit-ski, water ski, off-road wheelchair, basketball or quad rugby chair, C-leg, etc.
Realizing that certain veterans participate in more than one sport, the VA recently expanded coverage to authorize eligible veterans to receive an additional sports-specific piece of equipment (such as a handcycle or cycling leg) in addition to the sports model wheelchair or limb. These allotments must be approved on a case-by-case basis by a VA Major Medical Committee.
While the VA does not offer preventive maintenance on chairs and equipment it prescribes, it does offer maintenance and repair services through prosthetic services departments. Certain veterans may also be eligible for a “Prosthetic Services Card” which authorizes preapproved service on equipment by private vendors in the case of an emergency breakdown or when VA repair services are not immediately available. The card covers repairs up to $400.
For veterans who might want to try out a new sport and may not be ready to purchase new equipment, the VA has loaner equipment like handcycles, sit skis, basketball wheelchairs, and tennis wheelchairs available for use.
“I made the choice not to spend the rest of my life sitting on the couch and doing nothing in a wheelchair,” concludes Orlando Gill. “I’m glad I’ve got the resources out there to make it possible for me to play sports again. They are a valuable part of my life.”
To learn more about available grants, veterans should consult their local VA medical center or visit www.va.gov.
Photos courtesy of the Rex Foundation and DS/USA.
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