New push to help Veterans pay for service dogs

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - 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 of New York is releasing a letter to the Veterans Administration asking that it rescind its directive. He says the benefit of service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional concerns is already clear and no further research is needed.

The Veterans Administration 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.