38 CFR § 71.35 - General Caregivers.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t38/s71.35"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "38 CFR § 71.35 - General Caregivers."
title_number: 38
title_name: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
section_number: "71.35"
section_name: "General Caregivers."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "71"
part_name: "CAREGIVERS BENEFITS AND CERTAIN MEDICAL BENEFITS OFFERED TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "38 U.S.C. 501, 1720G, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "76 FR 26172, May 5, 2011, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "71"
---


# 71.35 General Caregivers.

(a) A General Caregiver is a person who:

(1) Is not a Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver; and

(2) Provides personal care services to a covered veteran under this section, even if the individual does not reside with the veteran.

(b) A covered veteran, for purposes of this section, is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and needs personal care services because the veteran either:

(1) Is unable to perform an activity of daily living; or

(2) Needs supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury.

(c) No application or clinical evaluation is required to obtain benefits as a General Caregiver. Veterans or General Caregivers may request any of the benefits listed in § 71.40(a) as needed, from the appropriate VA clinicians and staff at their local VA facilities.

(d) A veteran is not required to meet the eligibility requirements in § 71.20 to be considered a covered veteran.

[76 FR 26172, May 5, 2011, as amended at 80 FR 1377, Jan. 9, 2015. Redesignated and amended at 85 FR 46296, July 31, 2020]