VA Form 10-8678a

Application for Annual Clothing Allowance

Auto / Adaptive Equipment / ClothingOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

veteran

Journey phase

Specialty Benefits

Estimated time

15-20 minutes.

When to file

Before August 1st each year (application deadline for that year's allowance). Under PACT Act updates, the application is no longer required annually if you remain eligible.

You have a SC disability requiring a prosthetic limb, brace, or orthopedic device that wears out your clothing, OR you use prescription skin medication for a SC condition that stains or damages your clothes.

Gather before you start

—VA rating decision for qualifying SC condition (prosthetic/orthopedic or skin condition)

—Physician confirmation that the prosthetic/appliance or medication damages clothing

—Your VA patient information for your VAMC

Attach with the form

—VA rating decision showing qualifying SC condition

—Physician statement confirming appliance/medication damages clothing (if not documented in VA records)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, VAMC facilityPII

Your identifying information. Clothing allowance is paid through your VAMC (not through the Benefits Administration), so include which VA medical center you use.

Example

(legal name, SSN, your VAMC name)

Common mistakes

Not knowing this is a different type of VA benefit - paid by the healthcare system, not by the compensation system.
Not knowing you can claim multiple allowances if you have multiple qualifying conditions.

Section II - Qualifying Condition

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10SC disability and prosthetic/medication that damages clothing

Identify: (1) Your SC disability or condition, (2) The prosthetic, orthopedic device, or medication involved, and (3) How it damages clothing. Examples: below-knee prosthesis causes wear on pants cuff and sock; back brace causes tears in shirt fabric; topical steroid for SC psoriasis stains clothing. The VAMC prosthetics department or dermatology confirms this.

Example

e.g., SC below-knee amputation (left leg) - prosthesis causes wear on left pants cuff and sock. SC psoriasis - topical steroid cream (triamcinolone) prescribed for SC psoriasis stains clothing.

Common mistakes

Not knowing both prosthetic wearers AND skin-medication users qualify - two distinct qualifying categories.
Not claiming for a second qualifying condition - each condition that qualifies generates a separate allowance.
Missing the August 1st annual deadline - allowance for that year is forfeited.

Authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

Section III - Certification

1 field

Blocks 11-12Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and submit to your VAMC prosthetics department by August 1st of the claim year.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the August 1st deadline - no extensions typically granted.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

VA Form 10-8678a

Application for Annual Clothing Allowance

Auto / Adaptive Equipment / ClothingOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

veteran

Journey phase

Specialty Benefits

Estimated time

15-20 minutes.

When to file

Before August 1st each year (application deadline for that year's allowance). Under PACT Act updates, the application is no longer required annually if you remain eligible.

Gather before you start

—VA rating decision for qualifying SC condition (prosthetic/orthopedic or skin condition)

—Physician confirmation that the prosthetic/appliance or medication damages clothing

—Your VA patient information for your VAMC

Attach with the form

—VA rating decision showing qualifying SC condition

—Physician statement confirming appliance/medication damages clothing (if not documented in VA records)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, VAMC facilityPII

Your identifying information. Clothing allowance is paid through your VAMC (not through the Benefits Administration), so include which VA medical center you use.

Example

(legal name, SSN, your VAMC name)

Common mistakes

Not knowing this is a different type of VA benefit - paid by the healthcare system, not by the compensation system.
Not knowing you can claim multiple allowances if you have multiple qualifying conditions.

Section II - Qualifying Condition

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10SC disability and prosthetic/medication that damages clothing

Example

e.g., SC below-knee amputation (left leg) - prosthesis causes wear on left pants cuff and sock. SC psoriasis - topical steroid cream (triamcinolone) prescribed for SC psoriasis stains clothing.

Common mistakes

Not knowing both prosthetic wearers AND skin-medication users qualify - two distinct qualifying categories.
Not claiming for a second qualifying condition - each condition that qualifies generates a separate allowance.
Missing the August 1st annual deadline - allowance for that year is forfeited.

Authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

Section III - Certification

1 field

Blocks 11-12Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and submit to your VAMC prosthetics department by August 1st of the claim year.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the August 1st deadline - no extensions typically granted.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

VA Form 10-8678a

Application for Annual Clothing Allowance

Auto / Adaptive Equipment / ClothingOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

veteran

Journey phase

Specialty Benefits

Estimated time

15-20 minutes.

When to file

Before August 1st each year (application deadline for that year's allowance). Under PACT Act updates, the application is no longer required annually if you remain eligible.

Gather before you start

—VA rating decision for qualifying SC condition (prosthetic/orthopedic or skin condition)

—Physician confirmation that the prosthetic/appliance or medication damages clothing

—Your VA patient information for your VAMC

Attach with the form

—VA rating decision showing qualifying SC condition

—Physician statement confirming appliance/medication damages clothing (if not documented in VA records)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, VAMC facilityPII

Your identifying information. Clothing allowance is paid through your VAMC (not through the Benefits Administration), so include which VA medical center you use.

Example

(legal name, SSN, your VAMC name)

Common mistakes

Not knowing this is a different type of VA benefit - paid by the healthcare system, not by the compensation system.
Not knowing you can claim multiple allowances if you have multiple qualifying conditions.

Section II - Qualifying Condition

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10SC disability and prosthetic/medication that damages clothing

Example

e.g., SC below-knee amputation (left leg) - prosthesis causes wear on left pants cuff and sock. SC psoriasis - topical steroid cream (triamcinolone) prescribed for SC psoriasis stains clothing.

Common mistakes

Not knowing both prosthetic wearers AND skin-medication users qualify - two distinct qualifying categories.
Not claiming for a second qualifying condition - each condition that qualifies generates a separate allowance.
Missing the August 1st annual deadline - allowance for that year is forfeited.

Authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

Section III - Certification

1 field

Blocks 11-12Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and submit to your VAMC prosthetics department by August 1st of the claim year.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the August 1st deadline - no extensions typically granted.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

VA Form 10-8678a

Application for Annual Clothing Allowance

Auto / Adaptive Equipment / ClothingOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

veteran

Journey phase

Specialty Benefits

Estimated time

15-20 minutes.

When to file

Before August 1st each year (application deadline for that year's allowance). Under PACT Act updates, the application is no longer required annually if you remain eligible.

Gather before you start

—VA rating decision for qualifying SC condition (prosthetic/orthopedic or skin condition)

—Physician confirmation that the prosthetic/appliance or medication damages clothing

—Your VA patient information for your VAMC

Attach with the form

—VA rating decision showing qualifying SC condition

—Physician statement confirming appliance/medication damages clothing (if not documented in VA records)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, VAMC facilityPII

Your identifying information. Clothing allowance is paid through your VAMC (not through the Benefits Administration), so include which VA medical center you use.

Example

(legal name, SSN, your VAMC name)

Common mistakes

Not knowing this is a different type of VA benefit - paid by the healthcare system, not by the compensation system.
Not knowing you can claim multiple allowances if you have multiple qualifying conditions.

Section II - Qualifying Condition

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10SC disability and prosthetic/medication that damages clothing

Example

e.g., SC below-knee amputation (left leg) - prosthesis causes wear on left pants cuff and sock. SC psoriasis - topical steroid cream (triamcinolone) prescribed for SC psoriasis stains clothing.

Common mistakes

Not knowing both prosthetic wearers AND skin-medication users qualify - two distinct qualifying categories.
Not claiming for a second qualifying condition - each condition that qualifies generates a separate allowance.
Missing the August 1st annual deadline - allowance for that year is forfeited.

Authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.

Section III - Certification

1 field

Blocks 11-12Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and submit to your VAMC prosthetics department by August 1st of the claim year.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the August 1st deadline - no extensions typically granted.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 USC 1162 - Annual clothing allowance for veterans whose SC prosthetic/orthopedic device or prescription skin medication damages clothing.