Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned. The VA adheres to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, integrity and stewardship. The VA carries out four specific missions to make good on its commitment, including Veterans Health Care, Veterans Benefits, National Cemetery Administration and The Fourth Mission.

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The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care network in the U.S. It has nearly 1,300 facilities that serve 9 million enrolled veterans each year.

VA health care offers comprehensive medical support for veterans, including routine checkups, specialist visits (e.g., cardiology, gynecology and mental health) and services such as home health and elder care.

Veterans can also access medical equipment, prosthetics, prescriptions and wellness programs. If you’re eligible, you can apply for care online, by phone, mail or in person. VA health benefits extend to some family members and caregivers, and discounted dental insurance is also available.

Tools such as My HealtheVet make it easy to manage appointments, refill prescriptions, view medical records and get reimbursed for travel. Specialized care is available for service-related conditions and exposures, and veterans can also receive community care when necessary.

The VA ensures veterans’ rights are protected while providing affordable, high-quality care tailored to their unique needs.

The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a wide range of support services and benefits to help veterans transition back to civilian life.

Key programs include disability compensation for service-connected injuries, managed by the Compensation Service, and financial support through the Pension and Fiduciary Service for those facing financial hardship or needing assistance managing their benefits.

The Insurance Service provides life insurance options to ensure financial security, while the Education Service supports access to training and academic programs. Homeownership is made more accessible through the Loan Guaranty Service, which also helps disabled veterans with housing adaptations.

VBA also promotes economic stability through transition services, and the Veteran Readiness and Employment program helps disabled veterans achieve career goals. Operational support and outreach are handled by the Office of Field Operations, while the Office of Administrative Review manages the modernized appeals process, offering multiple review options and faster claim resolutions.

The job of the NCA is to ensure that veterans, eligible service members and their families are honored with dignified final resting places and meaningful memorials.

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available to most veterans who served under conditions other than dishonorable, as well as certain reserve members and their families, including spouses, minor children and in some cases, adult children with disabilities.

The VA provides free burial services, including a gravesite, headstone or marker, burial flag, grave opening and closing, and perpetual care. With 156 national cemeteries and numerous state, tribal and private cemetery grants, more than 4 million Americans have been laid to rest through the program.

NCA is committed to respectful, accurate and timely service, including scheduling burials, providing memorial items and maintaining cemeteries as national shrines. Families can find support through the VA website, local offices or by calling dedicated service lines to make arrangements and access information about benefits.

VA’s Fourth Mission is to support the nation’s readiness and response during times of war, terrorism, national emergencies and natural disasters. While its core role is to serve veterans, the VA is also legally committed to backing up national, state and local emergency efforts every day — not just during crises.

This mission is carried out by the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Emergency Management, which ensures continuity of care through robust preparedness policies and systems. The Fourth Mission is fulfilled through four key efforts:

• Serving as the backup health care system for the Defense Department during conflict.
• Supporting the National Response Framework coordinated by FEMA.
• Participating in the National Disaster Medical System to care for civilian and military casualties.
• Providing humanitarian care to civilians through VA medical centers, when needed.

This ongoing commitment strengthens both national resilience and the VA’s ability to care for those in need, during any emergency.

Find out more about your VA benefits by locating a VA facility or an in-network community care provider. The VA website provides a locator for finding these facilities.

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