John Paul Cook, 57, of Buncombe County, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf to enter the guilty plea to fraudulently claiming the service-connected disabilities. According to a criminal indictment, filed plea documents and admissions made in court, Cook enlisted in the Army in November 1985 and six months later sustained an accidental injury while on duty. Following the incident, Cook complained that injuries he sustained worsened a preexisting eye condition. In 1987, following a medical evaluation, Cook was discharged, placed on the retired list and began receiving VA disability-based compensation at a rate of 60 percent. Over the next 30 years, Cook’s disability-based compensation increased as Cook continued to falsely claim that he had visual impairment and an inability to work due to “severe visual deficit.” As Cook admitted in court, in 2005, based on his claims of severe visual impairment, the VA declared Cook legally blind and he began receiving disability-based compensation at the maximum rate in addition to a Special Monthly Compensation — an extra monetary allowance paid to a qualifying veteran due to the severity of his disability — Specially Adapted Housing — a grant that goes toward paying for adaptations in a new home — and Special Housing Adaptation — a grant that goes toward remodeling an existing home.