VA OK needed to receive prosthesis while abroad

Answer: If you reside in a foreign country and require a prosthesis for your Department of Veterans Affairs-rated service-connected condition, and the cost of the prosthetic appliance exceeds $300 (U.S. currency), you must obtain preauthorization from the VA Foreign Medical Program office in Denver.

If the cost is less than $300, you may purchase the prosthetic appliance from a local health care provider and send the invoice to the FMP Office for reimbursement, or the health care provider may bill the VA.

Preauthorization requests and claims for reimbursement should be submitted to: VA Health Administration Center, P.O. Box 65021, Denver, CO 80206-9021.

Requests may be submitted via fax to (303) 331-7803. In Canada, contact the local office of Veterans Affairs Canada or the VA Medical and Regional Office Center, White River Junction, Vt.

Q: I never applied for compensation. Will VA help me in obtaining required information?

A: Yes, if you know of records that will support your claim, VA will help you by requesting them.

On Part B of VA Form 21-526 (Veterans Application for Compensation and Pension), tell us the name and address of the person, medical facility, company or agency that has these records, the approximate time frame covered by these records, and the condition for which you were treated in the case of medical records.

If you received treatment from a military health care facility after your discharge from service, just tell us the name of the facility.

If your treatment was by a private physician or any other health care provider, complete VA Form 21-4142 (Authorization and Consent to Release Information) and return to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

You can find it online at www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/21-4142.pdf, or call the Honolulu VA Office at (800) 827-1000 for further assistance.