Schumer presses VA on service dogs

Veterans with physical impairments can get reimbursed for the cost of having a service dog help them, but a new Veterans Administration directive is delaying compensation for veterans with mental and emotional concerns until further research is completed.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is releasing a letter to the Veterans Administration asking that it rescind its directive.

He says conducting more research is appropriate, but he wants veterans with emotional problems to be able to get dogs in the interim.

The VA issued a statement that it hasn't been able to determine a medical benefit for the dogs to veterans with mental illness.

The agency says research is needed and should be completed by 2014 to justify the expense.-- AP