An Accessible-Parking Placard on a VA Psychiatrist's Certification for PTSD
CGS 14-253a(b) lets a veteran with service-connected PTSD obtain a windshield accessible-parking placard on the certification of a U.S. VA psychiatrist, where the condition meets the federal walking-disability definition. It is a veteran-specific certification route into an ordinary placard — a different instrument and a different disability basis from the disabled veteran plate.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
CGS 14-253a(b) lets a veteran with service-connected PTSD obtain a windshield accessible-parking placard on the certification of a U.S. VA psychiatrist, where the condition meets the federal walking-disability definition. It is a veteran-specific certification route into an ordinary placard — a different instrument and a different disability basis from the disabled veteran plate.
What it's worth: A windshield accessible-parking placard, certified by a VA psychiatrist
- The certifying clinician must be a U.S. VA psychiatrist. A civilian psychiatrist's certificate is not the route this section creates.
- The condition must meet the federal walking-disability definition. Having service-connected PTSD is necessary but not sufficient.
- It produces an ordinary windshield placard, not a special plate.
- This is a separate route from the disabled veteran plate, with a different disability basis.
- There is no fee figure in the sources reviewed.
Who is entitled to it
- You served in the U.S. armed forces.
- You have service-connected PTSD.
- You are in Connecticut.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Ask your VA psychiatrist for the certification. The section specifies a U.S. VA psychiatrist — a civilian one will not do.
- 2Ask them to address the federal walking-disability definition explicitly. That is what the certification has to establish.
- 3Apply to the DMV for the windshield placard, citing CGS 14-253a(b).
- 4If you also hold a disabled veteran plate, that is a different thing and does not replace this.
- Form
- DMV accessible parking placard application
- File with
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
- Documents you will need
- va benefit summary letter
- No renewal
- Once granted it does not need renewing.
Sources
- authority · published policyConnecticut OLR 2022-R-0155 (CGS 14-253a(b), PA 21-106)
- operating · published policyConnecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
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