[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR17.37]

[Page 644]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 17_MEDICAL--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 17.37  Enrollment not required--provision of hospital and 

outpatient care to veterans.

    Even if not enrolled in the VA healthcare system:
    (a) A veteran rated for service-connected disabilities at 50 percent 
or greater will receive VA care provided for in the ``medical benefits 
package'' set forth in Sec. 17.38.
    (b) A veteran who has a service-connected disability will receive VA 
care provided for in the ``medical benefits package'' set forth in Sec. 
17.38 for that service-connected disability.
    (c) A veteran who was discharged or released from active military 
service for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty will 
receive VA care provided for in the ``medical benefits package'' set 
forth in Sec. 17.38 for that disability for the 12-month period 
following discharge or release.
    (d) When there is a compelling medical need to complete a course of 
VA treatment started when the veteran was enrolled in the VA healthcare 
system, a veteran will receive that treatment.
    (e) Subject to the provisions of Sec. 21.240, a veteran 
participating in VA's vocational rehabilitation program described in 
Sec. Sec. 21.1 through 21.430 will receive VA care provided for in the 
``medical benefits package'' set forth in Sec. 17.38.
    (f) A veteran may receive care provided for in the 'medical benefits 
package' based on factors other than veteran status (e.g., a veteran who 
is a private-hospital patient and is referred to VA for a diagnostic 
test by that hospital under a sharing contract; a veteran who is a VA 
employee and is examined to determine physical or mental fitness to 
perform official duties; a Department of Defense retiree under a sharing 
agreement).
    (g) For care not provided within a State, a veteran may receive VA 
care provided for in the ``medical benefits package'' set forth in Sec. 
17.38 if authorized under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 1724 and 38 CFR 
17.35.
    (h) Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts may receive 
care provided for in the ``medical benefits package'' set forth in Sec. 
17.38 if authorized under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 1724 and 38 CFR 
17.35.
    (i) A veteran may receive certain types of VA care not included in 
the ``medical benefits package'' set forth in Sec. 17.38 if authorized 
by statute or other sections of 38 CFR (e.g., humanitarian emergency 
care for which the individual will be billed, compensation and pension 
examinations, dental care, domiciliary care, nursing home care, 
readjustment counseling, care as part of a VA-approved research project, 
seeing-eye or guide dogs, sexual trauma counseling and treatment, 
special registry examinations).
    (j) A veteran may receive an examination to determine whether the 
veteran is catastrophically disabled and therefore eligible for 
inclusion in priority category 4.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1701, 1705, 1710, 1721, 1722)

[64 FR 54217, Oct. 6, 1999, as amended at 67 FR 35039, May 17, 2002]