"Our disabled veterans are models of courage, resilience and determination," said United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

"This new allowance will enable our disabled athletes to further their recovery by taking part in world-class adaptive sports."

VA officials warned, however, that not all disabled veterans will qualify for the subsistence allowance, which will actually be administered by the US Paralympics, the governing body of disability sport in the United States.

The allowance will be pegged to VA's subsistence allowance for participants in a full-time institutional programme under chapter 31 of title 38 of the US Code.

Those rates start at $554 (£344) per month for veterans without dependents.

Under the new rule, VA will pay the allowance to a veteran with a service-connected or non-service-connected disability if the veteran is invited by the US Paralympics to compete for a slot on the Paralympic team or is residing at a US Paralympic training centre.

"While in uniform, our service men and women are continually challenged to push themselves beyond expectations, both physically and mentally," said Christopher J. Nowak who is the director of VA's Paralympic programme.

"Their motivation and desire to succeed doesn't end with injury.

"Paralympic sports allow them to harness their competitive nature and push themselves beyond any perceived limitations."

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