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I have something positive to say about the ILP program. Words I thought I would never speak.

I purchased a few of the items approved and sent in a reimbursement request. The request was sent out Tue. for pay, I got a check on Saturday. I had to email the counselor and thank them for the quick response.

Now I have to go buy some more stuff.

To date
Convection Oven
Skillet
Cannister vacuum (sucks)
swiffer mop (awesome)

I submitted a plan that asked for certain products and services based on specific needs my disabilities caused me.

1. Mobility. Requested a laptop computer w/wireless router and printer. Based on my needs for communication, and my inability to sit in a normal chair for more than 15-20 minutes due to the knee and back conditions. Communication with friends and family is a must and without it I would feel alone and it most definitely would impact my mental conditions.

2. Fishing gear. I have a friend who is also a Veteran and he takes me fishing 1-2x a month. I have a harvester card along with my fishing license which means I don't actually have to do anything other than be within 50 feet of where he is. He can cast, bait, and reel in whatever is on my pole. Problem was, I didn't have a fishing pole for sturgeon, or the associated gear. Fishing in the Northwest is popular, especially among Retired Veterans, and almost any day we are on the river there are multiple Retirees who I can talk with and it helps me get out into the community. There are areas along the Columbia where we can pull up and literally fish within 10 feet of where we parked, and since I am not driving I can take the medication necessary to do this.

Oyster, if you need any more than that let me know. Once I submitted my plans they approved most products I requested, initially, before the counselor denied them again, and now I am receiving them. But they pretty much tossed my objectives and needs identified and just wrote the products in the plan and said "Veteran is in need of"

I can see why they get blasted during assessments. They cannot write out why a product is needed, what it will do, and how will it affect the Veterans Needs.

Fishing gear, $400.00
Juicer $180
Food processor $200

Working on electric toothbrush because my arm is so shot I can barely brush my teeth for 20-30 seconds.

Going tomorrow to pick up my mattress & Memory foam topper.

I have had to buy everything except the laptop, and ask for reimbursement. I have been receiving my reimbursement within 5 days.

Counselor said he does not plan on using the 24 months allowed, said he can stop it at 6 months. Said without any IL goals there is no reason to go for 24 months. I guess I will have to sit down and pull up everything for disabled people, especially the ergo furniture Ilyanir posted here. I told them earlier the 24 months was to MAXIMIZE IL services that would allow me to become more independent in daily living to include the whole Social, Family, Avocational, yadda yadda yadda. They said without needs they cannot go past 6 months. Well, based on my needs I think we need to go for the whole 24 months, and since to this point since I am the only part of this program that has identified needs and products to help me overcome them I would think they would recognize that. Since they have not identified they have not established 1 need or offered any type of product or service to address those, I doubt that they can understand I will have needs long past the next 18 months, and probably many years after that.

That is definitely true.

Today the counselor emailed me trying to explain that an ILP period can run anywhere from 6-24 months without an extension. So I responded by asking him if I need to request another period of IL servcices, say next year, is there 18 months left of ILP use? He wrote back stating each ILP period can last as long as 24 months. So once again I asked him to confirm his meaning, if I need to apply for ILP services in 12 months do I start all over again with a fresh plan that can run for 24 months, and if so what can he provide for evidence to confirm I can have more than 1 period of VR&E services.

I think normally there is only 1 approval for Chapter 31 services, unless the Veteran has extenuating circumstances beyond their control, then they can ask for approval for another period. I have not read anywhere that ILP Veterans can have multiple IL plans running for 24 months each time.

Also I found a disability resource online that discusses products and services for people with severe arthritis so I reviewed the 2,000 products and selected a few out of there that I think can help me. Then I sent a letter to my VA PCM, who is very willing to help me, and asked for his recommendation or Rx of these items, explaining the program I am in and that if Occ, Phys therapy or prosthetics cannot provide them that the program will purchase them for me. I also sent one to my dentist becuase the IL counselor wants some sort of medical proof that I need one. I had medical proof for a power lift recliner with heat & massage and they denied it anyway. I did ask the PCM to recommend a power lift recliner, or an ergonomic chair like the Zero gravity link you provided. If he recommends one of those and I send the request to the counselor he is going to sh!& his pants.

They are still providing exceptionally fast reimbursement. After 3 submissions I have had each one paid within 5 days. 

I got my second counseling call in 22 months. Discussed products purchased and how they are helping, and the products approved I have not yet purchased and then the big question.

"Does the VA purchase ergonomic furniture for Veterans in the ILP" I thought the counselor had hung up for about 10 seconds, then very slowly he told me that they do, but it is an extremely difficult process to get one. I have to go see my PCM get a referall for PT and have them describe the type of chair I should have. Sounded like he was choking on something when I asked because I think he realizes it could be a good amount of money. I sent my doc a letter asking for recommendations for a bunch of products including office pens with ergonomic grips for people with arthritis, hand grips that you can hold comfortably and put plastic gtocery bags on so they don't dig into your hands, and a couple of others. Since I only have 3 months left (without an appeal) I plan on making the most of it, before coming back next year needing more help.