Winter

Sports Clinic

Sandy Trombetta

(970) 244-1314

Golden Age

Games

Dewayne Vaughn

(202) 745-8615

Wheelchair

Games

Tom Brown

(210) 617-5125

Creative Arts

Festival

Elizabeth Mackey

(320) 255-6351

VA Special Events for 2003

The Department of Veterans Affairs sponsors a number

of special events each year as part of the recreation

therapy provided to veterans under VA care. For

details on eligibility and participation, or to be a

volunteer, contact the VA National Advisor at the phone

number listed below. The schedule for 2003:

March 31 - April 5

Snowmass, Colo.

August 7-12

Bangor, Maine

July 5-9

Long Beach, Calif.

October 6-12

Oklahoma City, Okla.
i

Federal Benefits for

Veterans and Dependents

2003 Edition

Department of

Veterans Affairs

Office of Public Affairs (80D)

810 Vermont Ave., N.W.

Washington, DC 20420
ii

S/N 051-000-00226-1

For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents

Washington, DC 20402
iii

Contents

Introduction 1

Wartime Service 2

Special Groups 2

Filipino Veterans 4

Health Care Enrollment 4

Important Documents 5

Privacy Act 5

Introduction in Spanish 5

1. Health Care Benefits 6

Health Care Enrollment 6

Special Access to Care 7

Financial Assessment 7

Services Requiring Copayments 8

Outpatient Visits Not Requiring Copayments 8

Billing Insurance Companies 9

Nursing-Home Care 9

Domiciliary Care 10

Outpatient Pharmacy Services 11

Outpatient Dental Treatment 11

Gulf War, Agent Orange and

Ionizing Radiation Registry Programs 12

Beneficiary Travel 12

Alcohol and Drug-Dependence Treatment 13

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Program 13

CWT /Transitional Residence Program 13

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations 14

Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Services 14

Services and Aids for Blind Veterans 14

Readjustment Counseling 15

Medical Care for Dependents and Survivors 15

Veterans Living or Traveling Overseas 16

Merchant Marine Seamen 16

Allied Veterans 17

Emergency Medical Care in Non-VA Facilities 17
iv

2. Benefit Programs 18

Disability Compensation 18

Receiving Benefit Payments 18

Prisoners of War 18

Agent Orange and Other Herbicides 19

Veterans Exposed to Radiation 19

Gulf War Veterans 19

Members of the National Guard 20

Allowances for Dependents 20

Aid and Attendance or Housebound 20

Incarcerated Veterans 20

Specially Adapted Homes 21

Automobile Assistance 21

Clothing Allowance 22

Pension 22

Improved Pension 22

Protected Pension Programs 23

Aid and Attendance or Housebound 23

Medal of Honor Pension 23

Incarcerated Veterans 23

Education and Training 23

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty 23

Montgomery Gl Bill - Selected Reserve 27

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) 29

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 30

Program for Unemployable Veterans 31

Home Loan Guaranties 32

Eligibility 32

Guaranty Amount 34

Required Occupancy 35

Closing Costs 36

Financing, Interest Rates and Terms 36

Release of Liability, Loan Assumption 36

Loans for Native American Veterans 37

Repossessed Homes 37

Safeguards for Veterans 38

Children of Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects 38

Spina Bifida 38

Children of Women Vietnam Veterans 39

Life Insurance 40

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 40

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 40

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance 41
v

Accelerated Death Benefits for SGLI, FSGLI and VGLI 41

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance 41

Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance 42

Insurance Dividends 42

Miscellaneous Insurance Information 42

3. Burial Benefits 44

Burial in National Cemeteries 44

VA Cemeteries 44

Arlington National Cemetery 45

Department of the Interior and

State Veterans Cemeteries 45

Headstones and Markers 45

Memorial Headstones or Markers 46

Presidential Memorial Certificates 46

Military Funeral Honors 47

Burial Flags 47

Reimbursement of Burial Expenses 48

Incarcerated Veterans 48

4. Survivor Benefits 49

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) 49

DIC Payments to Surviving Spouse 49

DIC Payments to Parents and Children 49

Special Allowances 50

Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors 50

Death Pension 50

Home Loan Guaranties 51

Dependents’ Education 51

Monthly Payments 52

Special Benefits 52

Educational Loans 52

Montgomery GI Bill Death Benefit 53

5. Women Veterans 53

6. Homeless Veterans 53

7. Overseas Benefits 54

Medical Benefits 54

Other Overseas Benefits 54

8. Small and Disadvantaged Businesses 55
vi

9. Workplace Benefits 56

Unemployment Compensation 56

Transition Assistance Program 56

Pre-separation Counseling 56

Verification of Military Experience and Training 57

Transition Bulletin Board 57

DoD Transportal 57

Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program 57

State Employment Services 58

Re-employment Rights 58

Federal Contractor Affirmative Action 59

Federal Jobs for Veterans 60

Veterans Readjustment Appointment 61

10. Miscellaneous Programs and Benefits 61

Loans for Farms and Homes 61

Housing and Urban Development 61

Naturalization Preference 62

Small Business Administration 62

Federal Tax Credits and Assistance 63

Social Security 63

Supplemental Security Income 64

Passports to Visit Overseas Cemeteries 64

Medals 64

Review of Discharges 65

Replacing Military Records 66

Correction of Military Records 66

Armed Forces Retirement Homes 67

Commissary and Exchange Privileges 67

Death Gratuity 68

11. Appeals 68

Board of Veterans’ Appeals 69

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 69

12. Tables 70-74

13. Important Phone Numbers 75

14. World Wide Web Links 76

15. VA Facilities 77

16. Index 111
1

Introduction

This pamphlet describes the variety of federal benefits available to

veterans and their dependents as of Jan. 1, 2003. Changes may

occur during the year as a result of legislative or other requirements.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) World Wide Web pages are

updated throughout the year to present the most current information.

The VA Home page (http://www.va.gov) contains links to sections on

compensation and pension benefits, health care benefits, burial and

memorial benefits, home loan guarantees and other information.

Eligibility depends upon individual circumstances. To determine

eligibility for VA health care, contact the Health Benefits Service

Center at 1-877-222-8387. For VA benefits eligibility, contact a VA

benefits office at 1-800-827-1000 from any location in the United

States. Assistance is also available through Telecommunication

Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 1-800-829-4833. Phone numbers of VA

offices, including those in the Philippines and Puerto Rico, are listed

in the back of this book. VA facilities also are listed in the federal

government section of telephone directories under Department of

Veterans Affairs.

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active

military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active

service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air

Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of

the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration

or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Current and

former members of the Selected Reserve may be eligible for certain

benefits, such as home loan guarantees and education, if they meet

time-in-service and other criteria. Men and women veterans with

similar service are entitled to the same VA benefits.

Honorable and general discharges qualify a veteran for most VA

benefits. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by

general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and

parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices

can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees and individuals with

multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.
2

Wartime Service: Certain VA benefits require wartime service.

Under the law, VA recognizes these war periods:

Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917, for

veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters.

World War I: April 6, 1917, through Nov. 11, 1918; for veterans

who served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April 1, 1920; extended

through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of

service between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918.

World War II: Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946.

Korean War: June 27, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955.

Vietnam War: Aug. 5, 1964 (Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who

served “in country” before Aug. 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.

Gulf War: Aug. 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or

Presidential Proclamation.

Special Groups: A number of groups who have provided militaryrelated service to the United States have been granted VA benefits.

For the service to qualify, the Secretary of Defense must certify that

the group has provided active military service. Individuals must be

issued a discharge by the Secretary of Defense to qualify for VA

benefits. Service in the following groups has been certified as active

military service for benefits purposes:

1. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

2. World War I Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit.

3. Engineer Field Clerks.

4. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

5. Quartermaster Corps female clerical employees serving with

the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

6. Civilian employees of Pacific naval air bases who actively

participated in defense of Wake Island during World War II.

7. Reconstruction aides and dietitians in World War I.

8. Male civilian ferry pilots.

9. Wake Island defenders from Guam.

10. Civilian personnel assigned to OSS secret intelligence.

11. Guam Combat Patrol.

12. Quartermaster Corps members of the Keswick crew on

Corregidor during World War II.
3

13. U.S. civilians who participated in the defense of Bataan.

14. U.S. merchant seamen who served on blockships in support

of Operation Mulberry in the World War II invasion of Normandy.

15. American merchant marines in oceangoing service during

World War II.

16. Civilian Navy IFF radar technicians who served in combat

areas of the Pacific during World War II.

17. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served

overseas in World War I.

18. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served

overseas under U.S. armies and U.S. army groups in World War II.

19. U.S. civilian employees of American Airlines who served

overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between

Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

20. Civilian crewmen of U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessels

who served in areas of immediate military hazard while conducting

cooperative operations with and for the U.S. Armed Forces between

Dec. 7, 1941, and Aug. 15, 1945.

21. Members of the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers)

who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and July 18, 1942.

22. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of United Air Lines who served overseas in a contract with Air

Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

23. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. (TWA), who served

overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between

Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

24. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. (Consairway Division) who

served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between

Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

25. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Pan American World Airways and its subsidiaries and affiliates, who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport

Command and Naval Air Transport Service between Dec. 14, 1941,

and Aug. 14, 1945.

26. Honorably discharged members of the American Volunteer

Guard, Eritrea Service Command, between June 21, 1942, and

March 31, 1943.

27. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northwest Airlines who served overseas under the airline’s

contract with Air Transport Command from Dec. 14, 1941, through

Aug. 14, 1945.
4

28. U.S. civilian female employees of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps

who served in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor during the

period Jan. 2, 1942, to Feb. 3, 1945.

29. U.S. flight crew and aviation ground support employees of

Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, who served overseas as a result

of Northeast Airlines’ contract with the Air Transport Command during

the period Dec. 7, 1941, through Aug. 14, 1945.

30. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Braniff Airways, who served overseas in the North Atlantic or

under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport

Command, as a result of a contract with the Air Transport Command

during the period Feb. 26, 1942, through Aug. 14, 1945.

Filipino Veterans: World War II era Filipino veterans are eligible for

certain VA benefits subject to entitlement criteria in 38 United States

Code, §107. Generally, Old Philippine Scouts are eligible for VA

benefits in the same manner as U.S. veterans. Service-disabled

Commonwealth Army veterans, including members of recognized

guerrilla units, may be eligible for disability compensation, hospital or

nursing-home care, medical services and burial benefits. New

Philippine Scouts also may be eligible for disability compensation,

and they may receive health care at VA facilities on a discretionary

basis, but only for treatment of service-connected disabilities.

Survivors of World War II era Filipino veterans may be eligible for

dependency and indemnity compensation. Eligibility for some VA

benefits and the rates of monetary benefits may vary based on the

recipient’s citizenship and place of residence.

Health Care Enrollment: For most veterans, entry into the VA health

care system starts with applying for enrollment. To apply, veterans

must complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits.

The form may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, or by calling the VA Health Benefits Service

Center toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). It is also available

through the World Wide Web at (http://www.va.gov/1010ez.htm).

Veterans may complete the form in person at a VA health care

facility, or at home and mail it to a local VA health care facility for

processing. Once enrolled, a veteran is eligible to receive services at

VA facilities anywhere in the country. Details of the enrollment

program are discussed in the Health Care Benefits section of this

publication. VA health care facilities also provide information on

medical care, including readjustment counseling, and examinations

for Agent Orange, radiation exposure and ailments incurred from

service in the Gulf War.
5

Additional information on enrollment, including enrollment forms and

online applications, can be found on the VA Web site

(http://www.va.gov/health/elig/).

Important Documents: Those seeking a VA benefit for the first time

must submit a copy of their service discharge form (DD-214,

DD-215, or for WWII veterans, a WD form), which documents service

dates and type of discharge, or give their full name, military service

number, branch and dates of service.

The veteran’s service discharge form should be kept in a safe

location accessible to the veteran and next of kin or designated

representative. The veteran’s preference regarding burial in a

national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be

documented and kept with this information. The following documents

will be needed for claims processing related to a veteran’s death:

(1) veteran’s marriage certificate for claims of a surviving spouse or

children; (2) veteran’s death certificate if the veteran did not die in a

VA health care facility; (3) children’s birth certificates or adoption

papers to determine children’s benefits; (4) veteran’s birth certificate

to determine parents’ benefits.

Privacy Act: The Privacy Act affords individuals the right to access

and request amendment of information collected and used by the

federal government. For more information, contact the Privacy Act

officer at the facility where the information is maintained or visit the

Privacy and Security section on VA’s Home page

(http://www.va.gov).

Información Para Veteranos

De Habla Hispana y Sus Dependientes

La versión en español de este folleto se encuentra disponible en

formato Adobe Acrobat a través de el link (http://www.va.gov/opa/

feature/index.htm) en la página de la Oficina de Asuntos Públicos del

Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos (VA) en la red mundial del

internet. Las oficinas del VA en areas de gran concentración de

veteranos y dependientes hispanos tienen disponibles consejeros

bilingües que le pueden ayudar a aplicar para obtener beneficios.

Puede encotrar una lista de las oficinas del VA en la parte de atrás

de este folleto.
6

Health Care Benefits

Health Care Enrollment

To receive health care, veterans generally must be enrolled with VA.

They may apply for enrollment at any time. Veterans do not have to

be enrolled if they:

(1) have a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;

(2) want care for a disability that the military determined was incurred

or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated,

during the 12-month period following discharge; or (3) want care for

a service-connected disability only. To permit better planning of

health resources, however, these three categories of veterans also

are urged to enroll.

Veterans will be enrolled to the extent Congressional appropriations

allow. If appropriations are limited, enrollment will occur based on the

following priorities:

1. veterans with service-connected disabilities who are rated

50 percent or more disabled;

2. veterans with service-connected disabilities who are rated

30 or 40 percent disabled;

3. veterans who are former POWs or were awarded a Purple

Heart, veterans with disabilities rated 10 and 20 percent, and veterans awarded special eligibility for disabilities incurred in treatment;

4. veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound

benefits and veterans who have been determined by VA to be

catastrophically disabled, although some catastrophically disabled

veterans could be responsible for copayments;

5. veterans who are determined to be unable to defray the

expenses of needed care;

6. all other eligible veterans who are not required to make

copayments for their treatment. This includes veterans of the Mexican border period or of World War I; veterans seeking care solely for

a disorder associated with exposure to a toxic substance or radiation, for a disorder associated with service in the Southwest Asia

theater of operations during the Gulf War, or for any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a

period of hostility after Nov. 11, 1998; and veterans with zero percent

service-connected disabilities who are nevertheless compensated,

including veterans receiving compensation for inactive tuberculosis;
7

7. nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable zero

percent service-connected veterans with income above VA’s national

means test threshold and below VA’s geographic means test threshold for the fiscal year ending on September 30 of the previous

calendar year, or with income below both the VA national threshold

and the VA geographically based threshold, but whose net worth

exceeds VA’s ceiling (currently $80,000) who agree to pay copayments; and

8. all other nonservice-connected veterans and zero percent

noncompensable service-connected veterans who agree to pay

copayments. (Note: Effective Jan. 17, 2003, VA no longer enrolls

new veterans in priority group 8).

These groups are enrollment priorities only. The services and

treatment available to enrolled veterans generally are not based on

enrollment priority groups. Enrollment will be reviewed each year and

veterans will be notified in writing of any change in their enrollment

status. Call your nearest health care facility or the Health Benefits

Service Center, 1-877-222-8387, to obtain the latest information.

Additional information on enrollment, including enrollment forms and

online applications, also can be found on the World Wide Web

(http://www.va.gov/elig/).

Special Access to Care

Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or

greater based on one or more disabilities or unemployability and

veterans receiving care for a service-connected disability receive

priority in the scheduling of appointments for outpatient medical

services and admissions for inpatient hospital care.

Financial Assessment

Veterans who want to enroll in priority group 5 based on their inability

to defray the cost of their care must provide VA with information on

their annual income and net worth to determine whether they are

below the annually adjusted “means test” financial threshold. A

veteran’s household income, or income plus net worth, is considered

when making this financial assessment.

The financial assessment includes Social Security, U.S. Civil Service

retirement, U.S. Railroad retirement, military retirement, unemployment insurance, any other retirement income, total wages from all

employers, interest and dividends, workers’ compensation, black

lung benefits and any other gross income for the calendar year prior

to application for care.
8

Also considered are assets such as the market value of stocks,

bonds, notes, individual retirement accounts, bank deposits, savings

accounts and cash.

VA is also required to compare veterans’ financial assessment

information with a geographically based income threshold. If the

veteran’s income is below the threshold where the veteran lives, he

or she is eligible for an 80 percent reduction in the inpatient copayment rates. VA may compare income information provided by the

veteran with information obtained from the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

Services Requiring Copayments

Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable zero percent

service-connected veterans whose income is above the national

“means test” threshold must agree to pay appropriate copayments

for care. If the veteran does not agree to make copayments, the

veteran will be ineligible for VA care. Veterans whose income is

determined to be above the means test threshold and below VA’s

geographically based income threshold are responsible for paying 20

percent of the Medicare deductible for the first 90 days of inpatient

hospital care during any 365-day period. For each additional 90 days

of hospital care, the patient is charged 10 percent of the Medicare

deductible. In addition to these charges, the patient is charged $2 a

day for hospital care. Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable zero percent service-connected veterans with incomes

above the geographic income threshold will be charged the full

Medicare deductible for the first 90 days of care during any 365-day

period. For each additional 90 days of hospital care, the patient is

charged one half of the Medicare deductible and $10 per day.

With certain exceptions, a veteran must agree to pay copayments for

extended care services. A veteran’s application for extended care

services (VAF 10-10EC) requires financial information used to

determine the monthly copayment amount, based on each individual

veteran’s financial situation. For outpatient medical care, a threetiered copayment system is effective for all outpatient services. The

copayment is $15 for a primary care visit and $50 for some specialized care. Certain services do not require a copayment.

Outpatient Visits Not Requiring Copayments

Outpatient visits for which no copayment will be assessed include:

publicly announced VA public health initiatives (e.g., health fairs) or
9

an outpatient visit solely consisting of preventive screening and/or

immunizations, such as influenza immunization, pneumococcal

immunization, hypertension screening, hepatitis C screening, tobacco screening, alcohol screening, hyperlipidemia screening, breast

cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, screening for colorectal

cancer by fecal occult blood testing, and education about the risks

and benefits of prostate cancer screening. Laboratory, flat film

radiology services, and electrocardiograms are also exempt from

copayments.

Billing Insurance Companies

VA is authorized to submit claims to health insurance carriers for

recovery of VA’s reasonable charges in providing medical care to

nonservice-connected veterans and to service-connected veterans

for nonservice-connected conditions. Money collected in this way is

used to maintain and improve VA’s health care system for veterans.

VA cannot bill Medicare for medical services provided to veterans.

VA can bill Medicare supplemental health insurance carriers for 20

percent of the Medicare bill.

All veterans applying for VA medical care will be asked to provide

information on their health insurance coverage, including coverage

provided under policies of their spouses. Although veterans are not

responsible for paying any remaining balance of VA’s insurance

claim that is not paid or covered by their health insurance, veterans

whose income is above the national “means test” threshold are

responsible for the VA copayments required by federal law. However,

when VA receives payment from the veteran’s health insurance

company for the care furnished, VA credits that recovery toward the

amount of the veteran’s copayment obligation.

Nursing-Home Care

Nursing care in VA or private nursing homes may be provided for

veterans who are not acutely ill and not in need of hospital care. VA

will provide nursing-home care to veterans whose service-connected

disability requires such care. Also eligible are veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 70 percent or more, or who are

permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected condition,

or are 60 percent service connected and receiving individual unemployability and need this type of care. If space and resources are

available, VA may also provide nursing-home care to other veterans.
10

Nonservice-connected veterans and zero percent, noncompensable,

service-connected veterans requiring nursing-home care for any

nonservice-connected disability must complete the financial section

on VA Form 10-10EZ to determine whether they will be billed for

nursing-home care. To determine their copayment responsibility,

certain veterans applying for nursing home care services will be

required to provide additional income information on the VA Form

10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Benefits. With certain

exceptions, a veteran must pay copayments to receive extended

care services. Extended care services include nursing home care,

adult day health care, domiciliary care, inpatient or outpatient geriatric evaluation, and inpatient or outpatient respite care.

Some veterans may be eligible for VA nursing-home care without an

income eligibility assessment, including veterans with a compensable, service-connected disability, those requiring nursing-home care

for a disorder associated with exposure to a toxic substance or

radiation, those requiring nursing-home care for a disorder associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during

the Gulf War, veterans receiving treatment for sexual trauma and

certain veterans receiving care or services for cancer of the head

and neck. Also eligible are veterans with an illness associated with

service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of

hostility after Nov. 11, 1998.

Veterans who are receiving health care from VA may be transferred

to a private nursing home at VA expense. This care normally may not

be provided in excess of six months, except for veterans who need

nursing-home care for a service-connected disability or veterans who

were hospitalized primarily for treatment of a service-connected

disability when funding is available and such care has been determined by a VA physician to be medically appropriate.

Domiciliary Care

Domiciliary care provides rehabilitative and long-term, healthmaintenance care for veterans who require minimal medical care but

do not need the skilled nursing services provided in nursing homes.

VA may provide domiciliary care to veterans whose annual income

does not exceed the maximum annual rate of VA pension or to

veterans the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines have no

adequate means of support. The copayments for extended care

services apply to domiciliary care. Call your nearest benefits or

health care facility to obtain the latest information.
11

Outpatient Pharmacy Services

Outpatient pharmacy services are provided free to: (1) veterans with

a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more; (2) veterans

receiving medication for treatment of service-connected conditions;

(3) veterans whose annual income does not exceed the maximum

VA annual rate of the VA pension; (4) veterans receiving medication

for conditions related to exposure to Agent Orange or ionizing

radiation; (5) veterans receiving medication for conditions related to

Gulf War or post-Gulf War service; (6) veterans receiving medication

for conditions related to sexual trauma experienced while in the

military; (7) certain veterans receiving medication for treatment of

cancer of the head or neck; and (8) veterans receiving medication as

part of a VA-approved research project. Other veterans will be

charged a copayment of $7 for each 30-day or less supply of medication. To eliminate a financial hardship for veterans who require an

unusually large amount of medications, there is a maximum copayment amount that veterans enrolled in Priority Groups 2 through 6

pay in any single year. Veterans do not pay copayments for medications dispensed during the remainder of a calendar year in which this

annual cap amount has been paid. For calendar year 2003, the cap

is $840.

The medication copayment applies to prescription and over-thecounter medications, such as aspirin, cough syrup or vitamins,

dispensed by a VA pharmacy. Medication copayments are not

charged for medications injected during the course of treatment or

for medical supplies, such as syringes or alcohol wipes. In the event

over-the-counter drugs are ordered, the veteran can choose to

purchase them at a local pharmacy or at the VA Canteen Retail Store

rather than pay $7 for items such as aspirin, cough syrup or vitamins.

Outpatient Dental Treatment

Outpatient dental treatment provided by VA includes examinations

and the full spectrum of diagnostic, surgical, restorative and preventive procedures. The following veterans may receive care:

(1) veterans having service-connected and compensable dental

disabilities or conditions; (2) former prisoners of war imprisoned 90

days or more; (3) veterans with service-connected, noncompensable

dental conditions as a result of combat wounds or service injuries;

(4) veterans with nonservice-connected dental conditions determined

by VA to be aggravating a medical problem; (5) veterans having

service-connected conditions rated as permanently and totally

disabling; (6) veterans participating in a vocational rehabilitation

program; and (7) certain homeless veterans.
12

Veterans may receive one-time dental treatment for service-connected and noncompensable dental disabilities or conditions if the

following conditions are met: the dental condition can be shown to

have existed at time of discharge; the veteran served on active

military duty for at least 180 days, (or 90 days during Gulf War Era);

the veteran applied to VA for dental care within 90 days of discharge

or release from active duty, and the certificate of discharge does not

include certification that all appropriate dental treatment had been

rendered prior to discharge.

Gulf War, Agent Orange and

Ionizing Radiation Registry Programs

VA has developed databases called registries to help analyze the

type of health conditions being reported by veterans who served in

the Gulf War (Aug. 2, 1990 to a date not yet established), claim

exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War (between 1962

and 1975), served in Korea in 1968 or 1969, claim exposure to

atomic radiation, or were treated with nasopharyngeal (NP) radium

during military service. This includes veterans who served in certain

official military duties in Paducah, Ky.; Portsmouth, Ohio; Area K-25

at Oak Ridge, Tenn.; or in certain underground nuclear weapons

tests in Alaska. These veterans, regardless of service time, are

provided free, comprehensive medical examinations, including

laboratory and other diagnostic tests deemed necessary by an

examining physician to determine health status. Other veterans who

may have been exposed to dioxin or other toxic substances in a

herbicide or defoliant associated with the testing, transporting or

spraying of herbicides for military purposes also are eligible to

participate in the Agent Orange registry program.

Eligible veterans do not have to be enrolled in VA health care to

participate in registry examinations. Examination results, along with

reviews of veterans’ military service and exposure histories, are

entered into the registries. Participants are advised of the results of

their examinations in personal consultations and by letters. Veterans

wishing to participate should contact the nearest VA health care

facility for an examination.

Beneficiary Travel

Certain veterans may be eligible for payment or reimbursement for

travel costs to receive VA medical care. Reimbursement is paid at

$.11 per mile and is subject to a deductible of $3 for each one-way

trip and an $18-per-month maximum payment. Two exceptions to the
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deductible are travel for a compensation or pension examination and

travel by special modes of transportation, such as an ambulance or a

specially equipped van. Beneficiary travel payments may be made to

the following: (1) veterans whose service-connected disabilities are

rated at 30 percent or more; (2) veterans traveling for treatment of a

service-connected condition; (3) veterans who receive a VA pension;

(4) veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension

examinations; (5) veterans whose income does not exceed the

maximum annual VA pension rate; and (6) veterans whose medical

condition requires special mode of transportation, if the veteran is

unable to defray the costs and travel is pre-authorized. Advance

authorization is not required in a medical emergency if a delay would

be hazardous to life or health.

Alcohol and Drug-Dependence Treatment

Veterans eligible for VA medical care may apply for substance abuse

treatment. Contact the nearest VA medical facility to apply.

Compensated Work Therapy Program

VA’s Mental Health Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs provide

therapeutic work opportunities through the Compensated Work

Therapy Program (CWT) for veterans with physical disabilities and/or

recovering from chronic mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders or homelessness.

The CWT program offers rehabilitative treatment to help veterans

work and live in their community. Veterans referred to CWT by their

primary care physician are provided an individualized vocational

assessment, rehabilitation planning, and transitional work experiences through partnerships with VA, other federal agencies, and the

business community. The services are designed to help veterans

achieve a maximum degree of self-sufficiency based on the veteran’s

needs, preferences and abilities rather than on illness and symptoms. The CWT program works closely with community-based

organizations and state and federal agencies for direct job placement

and supportive follow-up services.

Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence

The Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence program

provides work-based, residential treatment in a stable living environment for veterans involved in CWT. This program differs from other

VA residential bed programs in that participants contribute (using

their CWT earnings) to the cost of operating and maintaining their
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residences and are responsible for planning, purchasing and preparing their own meals. The program offers a comprehensive array of

rehabilitation services including home, financial and life skills management in a therapeutic community model.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations

The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations program provides funding for eligible veterans to make home improvements

necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to

the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. Home improvement benefits up to $4,100 for service-connected veterans and

up to $1,200 for nonservice-connected veterans may be provided.

For application information, contact the prosthetic representative at

the nearest VA medical center or outpatient clinic.

Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Services

VA will furnish needed prosthetic appliances, equipment and devices,

such as artificial limbs, orthopedic braces and shoes, wheelchairs,

crutches and canes, to veterans receiving VA care for any condition.

VA will provide hearing aids and eyeglasses to veterans who receive

increased pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance

or being permanently housebound, receive compensation for a

service-connected disability or are former prisoners of war. Otherwise, hearing aids and eyeglasses will be provided only in special

circumstances, and not for normally occurring hearing or vision loss.

For additional information, contact the prosthetic representative at

your local VA health care facility.

Services and Aids for Blind Veterans

Blind veterans may be eligible for services at a VA medical center or

for admission to a VA blind rehabilitation center. Services are available at all VA medical facilities through the Visual Impairment Services coordinator. In addition, blind veterans enrolled in the VA health

care system may receive VA aids for the blind, including:

1. a total health and benefits review by a VA Visual Impairment Services team;

2. adjustment to blindness training;

3. home improvements and structural alterations to homes;

4. specially adapted housing and adaptations;

5. automobile grant;

6. low-vision aids and training in their use;

7. electronic and mechanical aids for the blind, including
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adaptive computers and computer-assisted devices such as reading

machines and electronic travel aids;

8. guide dogs, including the expense of training the veteran to

use the dog and the cost of the dog’s medical care; and

9. talking books, tapes and Braille literature.

Readjustment Counseling

Readjustment counseling is provided at community-based Vet

Centers to help veterans resolve psychological war trauma and to

help them achieve a successful post-war adjustment to civilian life.

Assistance includes group, individual and family counseling. Eligible

veterans include those who served on active duty in a combat

theater during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the

Gulf War, or the campaigns in Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia,

Bosnia, Kosovo or Afghanistan. Veterans who served in the active

military during the Vietnam Era, but not in the Republic of Vietnam,

are also eligible, provided they request services at a Vet Center

before Jan. 1, 2004.

Psychological readjustment problems include post-traumatic stress

disorder, or PTSD. This refers to such symptoms as nightmares,

intrusive recollections or memories, anxiety or sudden reactions

following exposure to traumatic wartime conditions. Readjustment

difficulties may affect functioning in school, family or work. Counseling also is provided for trauma due to sexual assault or harassment

while on active duty. In areas distant from Vet Centers or VA medical

facilities, veterans may obtain readjustment counseling from privatesector professionals who are on contract with VA. For additional

information about available services, contact the nearest Vet Center.

Medical Care for Dependents and Survivors

CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides reimbursement for most medical

expenses – inpatient, outpatient, mental health, prescription medication, skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment. To be

eligible for CHAMPVA, an individual cannot be eligible for TRICARE

(the medical program for civilian dependents provided by the Department of Defense) and must be one of the following:

1. the spouse or child of a veteran who VA has rated as 100

percent permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected

disability;
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2. the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a

VA-rated service-connected disability, or who, at the time of death,

was rated 100 percent permanently and totally disabled; or

3. the surviving spouse or child of a military member who died in

the line of duty, not due to misconduct. However, in most of these

cases, these family members are eligible for TRICARE, not

CHAMPVA.

Individuals over the age of 65 must also meet additional CHAMPVA

benefits eligibility conditions. Individuals who reached age 65 before

June 5, 2001, and only have Medicare Part A, will be eligible for

CHAMPVA without having to have Medicare Part B coverage; those

who have Medicare Parts A and B, must keep both parts. Individuals

who reached age 65 on or after June 5, 2001, must be enrolled in

Medicare Parts A and B to be eligible.

For more information, or to apply for CHAMPVA benefits, visit the

CHAMPVA Web site (http://www.va.gov/hac/), call 1-800-733-8387 or

contact the VA Health Administration Center, P.O. Box 65023,

Denver, CO 80206.

Many VA medical centers provide services to CHAMPVA beneficiaries under the CHAMPVA In House Treatment Initiative (CITI)

program. CHAMPVA beneficiaries who use a CITI facility incur no

cost for the services they receive. However, services provided under

this program are on a space available basis, after the needs of

veterans are met. Because of this, not all services are available at all

times, nor are the same services available every day. CHAMPVA

beneficiaries should contact their nearest VA medical center to see if

it is a participating facility.

Veterans Living or Traveling Overseas

VA will pay veterans living or traveling overseas for medical care

associated with a service-connected condition. See the Overseas

Benefits section for more information.

Merchant Marine Seamen

Merchant Marine seamen who served in World War II may qualify for

veterans benefits. When applying for medical care, seamen must

present their discharge certificate from the Department of Defense to

the VA medical facility. VA regional offices can assist in obtaining a

certificate.
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Allied Veterans

VA is authorized to provide medical care to certain veterans of

nations allied or associated with the United States during World War

I or World War II. Such treatment is available at any VA medical

facility if authorized and reimbursed by the foreign government. VA

also is authorized to provide hospitalization, outpatient and domiciliary care to former members of the armed forces of Czechoslovakia

or Poland who participated during World Wars I or II in armed conflict

against an enemy of the United States, if they have been citizens of

the United States for at least 10 years.

Emergency Medical Care in Non-VA Facilities

VA may provide reimbursement or payment for medical care provided to enrolled veterans by non-VA facilities only in cases of

medical emergencies when (1) VA or other federal facilities were not

feasibly available and (2) delay in seeking immediate medical

attention would have been hazardous to the veteran’s life or likely to

result in serious harm. Other conditions also apply. To determine

eligibility or to initiate a claim, contact the VA medical facility nearest

to where the emergency service was provided.
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Benefit Programs

Disability Compensation

Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who

are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during

active military service. The service of the veteran must have been

terminated through separation or discharge under conditions that

were other than dishonorable. Disability compensation varies with

the degree of disability and the number of dependents, and is paid

monthly. The benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax.

The payment of military retirement pay, disability severance pay and

separation incentive payments known as SSB and VSI (Special

Separation Benefits and Voluntary Separation Incentives) also

affects the amount of VA compensation paid. See the “Tables”

section of this booklet for more information.

Receiving Benefit Payments

VA offers three methods for receiving benefit payments. Nearly 80

percent of veterans and beneficiaries receive their payments by

direct deposit through an electronic funds transfer to their bank,

savings and loan or credit union accounts. In some areas, benefit

recipients who do not have an account at a financial institution may

open a federally insured Electronic Transfer Account, which costs

about $3 a month, provides a monthly statement and allows cash

withdrawals. Recipients may also choose to receive benefits by

check. To choose a payment method, veterans and beneficiaries

should call VA’s toll-free helpline at 1-877-838-2778, Monday through

Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Central Standard Time.

Prisoners of War

Former prisoners of war who were imprisoned for at least 30 days

are presumed to be eligible for disability compensation if they

become at least 10 percent disabled from diseases associated with

the prisoner of war experience. These presumptive diseases are

avitaminosis, beriberi heart disease, ischemic heart disease (if the

prisoner of war experienced localized edema during captivity),

chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (including optic atrophy), pellagra and/or other nutritional deficiencies, psychosis, anxiety

states, dysthymic disorder, depressive neurosis, post-traumatic

osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy, residuals of cold injury (including arthritis, neuropathy, and/or skin cancer at the site of the cold injury).
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Agent Orange and Other Herbicides

Ten diseases are presumed by VA to be service-related for compensation purposes for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other

herbicides used in support of military operations in the Republic of

Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The diseases

presumed are chloracne or other acneform disease similar to chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, soft-tissue sarcoma (other than

osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothelioma), Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers

(lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate

cancer, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy and diabetes

mellitus (Type 2). VA has announced plans to establish a presumption for one additional disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),

in 2003.

Veterans Exposed to Radiation

Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation while on active duty may be

eligible for disability compensation if they have disabilities related to

that exposure. Conditions presumed to be service-connected for

veterans who participated in “radiation-risk activities” as defined by

VA regulations are all forms of leukemia (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia); cancer of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus,

stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary

gland, urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra),

brain, bone, lung, colon, and ovary, bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma,

multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and

primary liver cancer, (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated).

To determine service-connection for other conditions or exposures

not eligible for presumptive compensation, factors considered

include amount of radiation exposure, duration of exposure, elapsed

time between exposure and onset of the disease, gender and family

history, age at time of exposure, the extent to which a nonservicerelated exposure could contribute to disease, and the relative

sensitivity of exposed tissue.

Gulf War Veterans

Gulf War veterans who suffer from chronic disabilities resulting from

undiagnosed illnesses, medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom

illnesses (such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or irritable

bowel syndrome) that are defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms,

and any diagnosed illness that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

determines warrants a presumption of service-connection may

receive disability compensation.
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The undiagnosed illnesses must have appeared either during active

duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf

War or to a degree of at least 10 percent at any time since then

through Dec. 31, 2006.

The following symptoms are among the manifestations of an undiagnosed illness: fatigue, skin disorders, headache, muscle pain, joint

pain, neurologic symptoms, neuropsychological symptoms, symptoms involving the respiratory system, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, abnormal weight

loss and menstrual disorders. A disability is considered chronic if it

has existed for at least six months.

Members of the National Guard

Members of the National Guard activated for federal service during a

period of war or domestic emergency may be eligible for certain VA

benefits, such as VA health care, compensation for injuries or

conditions connected to that service, and burial benefits. Activation

for other than federal service does not qualify guard members for all

VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal service filed by

members of the National Guard should include a copy of the military

orders, presidential proclamation or executive order that clearly

demonstrates the federal nature of the service.

Allowances for Dependents

Veterans whose service-connected disabilities are rated at 30

percent or more are entitled to additional allowances for dependents.

The additional amount is determined by the number of dependents

and the degree of disability. A disabled veteran evaluated 30 percent

or more is entitled to receive a special allowance for a spouse who is

in need of the aid and attendance of another person.

Aid and Attendance or Housebound

A veteran who is determined by VA to be in need of the regular aid

and attendance of another person, or a veteran who is permanently

housebound, may be entitled to additional benefits.

Incarcerated Veterans

VA benefits are restricted if a veteran, surviving spouse, child or

dependent parent is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more

than 60 days. The disability compensation paid to an incarcerated

veteran is limited to the 10 percent disability rate. For a surviving

spouse, child, dependent parent or veteran whose disability rating is
21

10 percent, the payment is at the 5 percent rate. Any amounts not

paid may be apportioned to eligible dependents. Payments are not

reduced for recipients participating in work-release programs,

residing in halfway houses or under community control. Overpayments for failure to notify VA of a veteran’s incarceration result in the

loss of all financial benefits until the overpayment is recovered.

Specially Adapted Homes

Disabled veterans may be entitled to a grant from VA for a home

specially adapted to their needs or for adaptations to a house.

$48,000 Grant: VA may approve a grant of not more than 50 percent

of the cost of building, buying or remodeling adapted homes or

paying indebtedness on those homes already acquired, up to a

maximum of $48,000. Veterans must be entitled to compensation for

permanent and total service-connected disability due to one of the

following:

1. loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to

preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a

wheelchair;

2. disability that includes (a) blindness in both eyes, having only

light perception, plus (b) loss or loss of use of one lower extremity;

3. loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with

(a) residuals of organic disease or injury, or (b) the loss or loss of use

of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance or

propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the use of braces,

canes, crutches or a wheelchair.

$9,250 Grant: VA may approve a grant for the actual cost, up to a

maximum of $9,250, for adaptations to a veteran’s residence that are

determined by VA to be reasonably necessary. The grant also may

be used to help veterans acquire a residence that already has

adaptations for the veteran’s disability. Veterans must be entitled to

compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability

due to (1) blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or

(2) anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.

Supplemental Financing: Veterans with available loan guaranty

entitlement may also obtain a guaranteed loan or a direct loan from

VA to supplement the grant to acquire a specially adapted home.

Automobile Assistance

Veterans and servicemembers qualify for this benefit if they have

service-connected loss or permanent loss of use of one or both
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hands or feet, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a

certain degree. Veterans entitled to compensation for ankylosis

(immobility) of one or both knees, or one or both hips, also qualify for

adaptive equipment for an automobile. There is a one-time payment

by VA of not more than $9,000 toward the purchase of an automobile

or other conveyance. VA pays for adaptive equipment, and for repair,

replacement, or reinstallation required because of disability, and for

the safe operation of a vehicle purchased with VA assistance. To

apply, contact a VA regional office 1-800-827-1000 or medical center.

Clothing Allowance

Any veteran who is entitled to receive compensation for a serviceconnected disability for which he or she uses prosthetic or orthopedic

appliances may receive an annual clothing allowance. The allowance

also is available to any veteran whose service-connected skin

condition requires prescribed medication that irreparably damages

the veteran’s outer garments. To apply, contact a VA regional office.

Pension

Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled

may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of

active military service, at least one day of which was during a period

of war. The discharge from active duty must have been under

conditions other than dishonorable. The permanent and total disability must be for reasons other than the veteran’s own willful misconduct. Payments are made to qualified veterans to bring their total

income, including other retirement or Social Security income, to a

level set by Congress. Unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce

countable income. Veterans of a period of war who are age 65 or

older and meet service and income requirements are also eligible to

receive a pension, regardless of current physical condition.

Improved Pension

The Improved Pension program provides for the maximum annual

rates listed in the “Tables” section of this booklet. The payment is

reduced by the amount of the countable income of the veteran and

the income of the spouse or dependent children. When a veteran

without a spouse or a child is furnished nursing-home or domiciliary

care by VA, the pension is reduced to an amount not to exceed $90

per month after three calendar months of care. The reduction may be

delayed if nursing-home care is being continued for the primary

purpose of providing the veteran with rehabilitation services.
23

Protected Pension Programs

Pensioners entitled to benefits as of Dec. 31, 1978, who do not elect

to receive a pension under the Improved Pension program, continue

to receive pension benefits at the rate they were entitled to receive

on Dec. 31, 1978, as long as they remain permanently and totally

disabled, do not lose a dependent, a dependent pensioner retains

surviving spouse or child status, net worth limitations are not exceeded, and their incomes do not exceed the income limitation,

adjusted annually.

Aid and Attendance or Housebound

A veteran who is determined by VA to be in need of the regular aid

and attendance of another person, or a veteran who is permanently

housebound, may be entitled to additional benefits.

Medal of Honor Pension

VA administers pensions to holders of the Medal of Honor. Congress

increased the monthly pension from $600 to $1000 effective

Sept. 1, 2003.

Incarcerated Veterans

A veteran may not receive VA pension benefits while incarcerated for

more than 60 days. The veteran’s dependents, however, may receive

a portion of such benefits. Failure to notify VA of a veteran’s incarceration will cause the loss of all financial benefits until any overpayment is recovered.

Education and Training

Education laws are complex. The following is only a summary.

Additional information for school officials, veterans and dependents

can be found at (http://www.gibill.va.gov), VA’s Education Services

Web page, or by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty

Eligibility

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) - Active Duty provides a program of

education benefits that may be used while on active duty or after

separation from active duty. Veterans must receive a fully honorable
24

military discharge for the period of service on which MGIB eligibility

is based. Discharges “under honorable conditions” and “general”

discharges do not establish eligibility. All participants must have a

high school diploma or equivalency certificate before applying for

benefits. Completing 12 hours toward a college degree before

applying for benefits also meets this requirement.

Additionally, every veteran must establish eligibility under one of the

following four categories.

Category 1 – Service After June 30, 1985

To be eligible under Category 1, veterans must: (1) have entered

active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985; (2) not have declined MGIB in writing upon entry onto active duty; and (3) have had

their military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months of

active duty. The participants’ monetary contributions to this program

are not refundable.

Veterans with qualifying service are not eligible under Category 1,

however, if they graduated from a service academy and received a

commission or completed an ROTC scholarship program and

received a commission – unless one of the following exceptions

applies: (1) received a commission after becoming eligible for MGIB

benefits (including completing the minimum service requirements for

the initial period of active duty); (2) completed ROTC without a full

scholarship; (3) received a commission after Sept. 30, 1996, and

received less than $3,400 during any one year under ROTC scholarship; or (4) declined MGIB because they received repayment from

the military for an education loan. If they did not decline MGIB and

received loan repayment, the months served to repay the loan will be

deducted from entitlement. Individuals who received loan payment

for one period of active duty can still be eligible based on another

obligated period of active duty as long as they did not decline MGIB

upon entering active duty.

Servicemembers can use the MGIB benefit while on active duty after

completing two continuous years of service. Veterans can use the

MGIB benefit after completing three continuous years of active duty,

or after only two years of continuous active duty if they first signed up

for less than three years of active duty or have an obligation to serve

four years in the Selected Reserve (the 2x4 program) and enter the

Selected Reserve within one year of release from active duty.
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Early Separation

Veterans who did not complete the required period of service may

still be eligible under Category 1 if discharged for one of the following

reasons: (1) convenience of the government—with more than 30

months of service for an obligation of three or more years, or 20

months of service for an obligation of less than three years;

 (2) disability; (3) hardship; (4) a medical condition diagnosed prior to

joining the service; (5) a condition that interfered with performance of

duty; (6) a reduction in force (in most cases).

Category 2 – Vietnam Era GI Bill Conversion

To be eligible under Category 2, veterans must have had remaining

entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill on Dec. 31, 1989. Additionally, they must have served on active duty for any number of days

during the period Oct. 19, 1984, to June 30, 1985; or served on

active duty for at least three years beginning on July 1, 1985; or

served at least two years active duty beginning after June 30, 1985,

followed by a minimum of four years in the Selected Reserve.

Veterans not on active duty on Oct. 19, 1984, may be eligible under

Category 2 if they served three continuous years on active duty at

any time beginning on or after July 1, 1985, or two continuous years

of active duty at any time followed by four continuous years in the

Selected Reserve.

Veterans with qualifying service are not eligible under Category 2,

however, if they graduated from a service academy and received a

commission after Dec. 31, 1976, or if commissioned after

Dec. 31, 1976, upon completion of an ROTC scholarship program,

unless they received their commissions after establishing eligibility

for MGIB.

Category 3 – Involuntary Separation/Special Separation

Veterans may be eligible under Category 3 if they meet one of the

following requirements: (1) elected MGIB before being involuntarily

separated; or (2) were voluntarily separated under the Voluntary

Separation Incentive or the Special Separation Benefit program,

elected MGIB benefits before being separated, and had military pay

reduced by $1200 before discharge.

Category 4 – Veterans Educational Assistance Program

Eligibility under Category 4 may be extended to veterans who

participated in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
26

if they: (1) served on active duty on Oct. 9, 1996; (2) participated in

VEAP and contributed money to a VEAP account; (3) elected MGIB

by Oct. 9, 1997, and paid $1,200. Veterans who participated in VEAP

on or before Oct. 9, 1996, may also be eligible even if they did not

deposit money in a VEAP account if they served on active duty from

Oct. 9, 1996, through April 1, 2000, elected MGIB by Oct. 31, 2001,

and contributed $2,700 to MGIB.

Certain National Guard servicemembers may also qualify under

Category 4 if they (1) served on full-time active duty in the National

Guard under title 32, U.S.C., between June 30, 1985, and

Nov. 29, 1989; (2) elected to have National Guard service count

toward establishing eligibility for MGIB during the nine-month window

ending on July 9, 1997; and (3) paid $1,200.

Period of Eligibility

Eligibility generally expires 10 years after discharge or release from

active duty. However, there are exceptions for disability, re-entering

active duty, and for upgraded discharges.

Payments

A veteran who served on active duty for three years or more, or two

years active duty plus four years in the Selected Reserve, will

receive $900 a month in basic benefits for 36 months effective

Oct. 1, 2002. Those who enlist and serve less than three years will

receive $732 a month. VA will pay an additional amount, commonly

called a “kicker,” if directed by the Department of Defense. Servicemembers currently participating in MGIB can make additional

contributions up to $600 to receive an increased amount of educational assistance.

Training Available

The following types of training are available under the Montgomery

GI Bill: (1) courses at colleges and universities leading to associate,

bachelor or graduate degrees, and accredited independent study;

(2) courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; (3) apprenticeship or on-the-job training

programs for individuals not on active duty; (4) correspondence

courses, under certain conditions; (5) flight training, if the veteran

holds a private pilot’s license upon beginning the training program

and meets the medical requirements; (6) state-approved teacher

certification programs; (7) preparatory courses necessary for admission to a college or graduate school; and (8) licensing and certification tests approved for veterans.
27

Additional MGIB Benefits

1. Accelerated payment of MGIB benefits is available to those

enrolled in certain high-cost programs leading to employment in the

technology industry.

2. Transfer of entitlement to dependents is provided for members of

the armed forces in limited circumstances.

3. Tutorial assistance allowance is available for individual tutoring if

training in school at one-half time or more.

4. Tuition Assistance Top-Up provides for payment to an individual

for all or any portion of the difference between the tuition assistance

amount paid by the military component and the total cost of tuition

and related charges.

Work-Study

Veterans may be eligible for a work-study program in which they

work for VA and receive hourly wages. Veterans must train at the

three-quarter or full-time rate. The types of work allowed include:

(1) outreach services for VA and State Approving Agencies; (2) VA

paperwork; (3) work at national or state veterans’ cemeteries;

(4) work at VA medical centers or state veterans homes; and

(5) other VA approved activities.

Counseling

VA counseling is available to help MGIB participants assess their

educational and vocational strengths and weaknesses. Counseling is

also available to help plan education or employment goals. Additionally, individuals not eligible for the MGIB may still receive VA counseling beginning 180 days prior to separation from active duty through

the first full year following honorable discharge.

Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve

Eligibility

The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) provides

education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the Army,

Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and to members of

the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. To be eligible

for this program, a reservist must: (1) have a six-year obligation to

serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985, or, if an

officer, agree to serve six years in addition to the original obligation;

(2) complete Initial Active Duty for Training; (3) have a high school

diploma or equivalency certificate before applying for benefits; and

(4) remain in good standing in a Selected Reserve unit.
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Reserve components determine eligibility for Chapter 1606. VA does

not make decisions about eligibility and cannot make payments until

the reserve component has determined eligibility and notified VA.

Period of Eligibility

If a reservist separates from the Selected Reserve, benefits generally end the day of separation. If an individual stays in the Selected

Reserve, benefits generally end 14 years from the date the reservist

became eligible for the program. Under special circumstances,

eligibility may be extended.

Payments

The full-time rate is $276 a month for 36 months. The Department of

Defense may make additional contributions, or “kickers,” on behalf of

individuals in critical military fields, as deemed necessary to encourage enlistment.

Training Available

Reservists may enroll in undergraduate, graduate or technical

training at colleges and universities. Those who have a six-year

commitment beginning after Sept. 30, 1990, may take courses for a

certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools;

cooperative training; apprenticeship or on-the-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; or

remedial, refresher and other training.

Work-Study

Eligibility for the Work-Study program under the Selected Reserve

Montgomery GI Bill is the same as in the Active Duty Montgomery GI

Bill.

Tutorial Assistance

A reservist may receive an allowance for individual tutoring if training

is conducted at one-half time or more and the reservist has a weakness in a subject necessitating tutoring. The maximum tutorial

benefit is $1,200 ($100 per month).

Counseling

VA counseling is available to help Chapter 1606 participants assess

their educational and vocational strengths and weaknesses. Counseling is also available to help plan educational or employment

goals.
29

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

Eligibility

Under VEAP, active duty personnel voluntarily participated in a plan

for education or training in which their savings were administered

and added to by the federal government. Servicemembers were

eligible to enroll in VEAP if they entered active duty for the first time

after Dec. 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985. Some contribution to

VEAP must have been made prior to April 1, 1987. The maximum

participant contribution is $2,700. While on active duty, participants

may make a lump-sum contribution to the training fund.

Servicemembers who participated in VEAP are eligible to receive

benefits while on active duty if: (1) at least three months of contributions are available, except for high school or elementary school, in

which case only one month is needed; and (2) the first active-duty

commitment is completed. If the individual’s first term is for more

than six years, benefits may be available after six years. To attend an

elementary or high school program, the individual must be in the last

six months of the first enlistment.

Veterans who participated in VEAP are eligible to receive benefits if

they served for a continuous period of 181 days and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable on or after

Jan. 1, 1977. Eligibility may be established even though the required

active duty is not completed if the veteran was discharged or

released for a service-connected disability.

Period of Eligibility

Eligibility generally expires 10 years from the date of last discharge

or release from active duty. Under special circumstances, the

10-year period may be extended.

Payments

The Department of Defense will match the participant’s contribution

at the rate of $2 for every $1 the individual put into the fund. The

Department of Defense may make additional contributions, or

“kickers,” on behalf of individuals in critical military fields, as deemed

necessary to encourage enlistment. The amount of money participants receive each month depends on the type and hours of training

pursued.
30

Training Available

VEAP participants may pursue associate, bachelor or graduate

degrees at colleges or universities; courses leading to a certificate or

diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs; cooperative courses; correspondence courses; flight training; tutorial assistance; refresher,

deficiency and other training; and state-approved alternative teacher

certification programs. VEAP participants may also pursue licensing

and certification tests approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Work-Study

Eligibility for the Work-Study program under VEAP is the same as

under the Montgomery GI Bill.

Tutorial Assistance

A veteran may receive an allowance for individual tutoring if training

is conducted at one-half time or more and the veteran has a weakness in a subject necessitating tutoring. The maximum tutorial

benefit is $1,200 ($100 per month).

Counseling

Eligibility for VA counseling under VEAP is the same as under the

Montgomery GI Bill.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment is an employmentoriented program that helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find and keep suitable employment. Suitable employment is work that is within the veterans’ physical, mental and

emotional capabilities and matches their patterns of skills, talents

and interests. For veterans whose disabilities make employment

unlikely, VA helps them attain as much independence in daily living

as possible. Additional information is available on the Internet at

(http://www.vba.va.gov).

Eligibility

A veteran must have a VA established service-connected disability

rated 10 percent disabling with a serious employment handicap or at

least 20 percent with an employment handicap and be discharged or

released from military service under other than dishonorable conditions. A servicemember pending medical separation from active duty

may apply, but the disability rating must be at least 20 percent.
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Services

Depending on an individual’s needs, services provided by VA may

include:

1. an evaluation of the individual’s talents, skills and interests;

2. assistance getting and keeping suitable employment;

3. vocational counseling and planning;

4. training, such as on-the-job and work experience programs;

5. training, such as certificate, two, or four-year college or

technical programs;

6. supportive rehabilitation services and additional counseling.

VA pays the cost of these services and pays a living allowance to

veterans who participate in training.

Entitlement

Eligible veterans are evaluated to determine if they need vocational

rehabilitation services to help overcome barriers to employment.

Period of a Rehabilitation Program

Generally, veterans must complete a vocational rehabilitation program within 12 years from their separation from military service or

within 12 years from the date VA notifies them that they have a

compensable service-connected disability. Depending on the length

of program needed, veterans may be provided up to 48 months of

full-time services or their part-time equivalent. These limitations may

be extended in certain circumstances.

Work-Study

Participants may be paid a work-study allowance if they train at the

three-quarter or full-time rate. They may elect to be paid in advance

a portion of the allowance equal to 40 percent of the total. Participants under the supervision of a VA employee may provide VA

outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a

VA medical facility or perform other VA-approved activities.

Program for Unemployable Veterans

Veterans awarded 100 percent disability compensation based upon

unemployability may still request an evaluation. If they are found

eligible, they may participate in a vocational rehabilitation program

and receive help in getting a job. A veteran who secures employment

under the special program will continue to receive 100 percent

disability compensation until the veteran has worked continuously for

at least 12 months.
32

Home Loan Guaranties

VA loan guaranties are made to servicemembers, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes,

condominiums and manufactured homes, and for refinancing loans.

VA guarantees part of the total loan, permitting the purchaser to

obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, even without a

down payment if the lender agrees. VA requires that a down payment

be made for the purchase of a manufactured home. VA also requires

a down payment for a home or condominium if the purchase price

exceeds the reasonable value of the property or the loan has a

graduated payment feature. With a VA guaranty, the lender is protected against loss up to the amount of the guaranty if the borrower

fails to repay the loan. A VA loan guaranty can be used to:

1. buy a home;

2. buy a residential condominium;

3. build a home;

4. repair, alter or improve a home;

5. refinance an existing home loan;

6. buy a manufactured home with or without a lot;

7. buy and improve a manufactured home lot;

8. install a solar heating or cooling system or other

weatherization improvements;

9. purchase and improve a home simultaneously with

energy-efficient improvements;

10. refinance an existing VA loan to reduce the interest rate

and make energy-efficient improvements;

11. refinance a manufactured home loan to acquire a lot.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a good credit rating, have an income sufficient

to support mortgage payments, and agree to live in the property. To

obtain a VA Certificate of Eligibility, complete VA Form 26-1880,

Request for a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loan Benefits, and

mail it to one of the two VA Eligibility Centers (Winston-Salem and

Los Angeles). In general, those veterans living in the Western part of

the country mail their applications to the Los Angeles Eligibility

Center, while those living in the Eastern part of the country mail

applications to Winston-Salem. Additional information on eligibility

and addresses for the Centers is available on VA’s loan guaranty

eligibility page (http://www.homeloans.va.gov/elig.htm) on the World

Wide Web. Veterans may also have their lenders obtain a Certificate
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of Eligibility for them through VA’s ACE (Automated Certificate of

Eligibility) system. This is an online application that, in some cases,

can generate a certificate immediately. Not all cases can be processed through this system but, if all necessary information is

available, ACE provides the quickest way to determine eligibility.

Periods of Eligibility

World War II: (1) active duty service after Sept. 15, 1940, and prior

to July 26, 1947; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable

conditions; and (3) at least 90 days service unless discharged early

for a service-connected disability.

Post-World War II: (1) active duty service after July 25, 1947, and

prior to June 27, 1950; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable

conditions; and (3) 181 days continuous active duty unless discharged early for service-connected disability.

Korean War: (1) active duty after June 26, 1950, and prior to

Feb. 1, 1955; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; and (3) at least 90 days total service, unless discharged early

for a service-connected disability.

Post-Korean War: (1) active duty between Jan. 31, 1955, and

Aug. 5, 1964; (2) discharge under conditions other than dishonorable; (3) 181 days continuous service, unless discharged early for

service-connected disability.

Vietnam: (1) Active duty after Aug. 4, 1964, and prior to

May 8, 1975; (2) discharge under conditions other than dishonorable;

and (3) 90 days total service, unless discharged early for serviceconnected disability. For veterans who served in the Republic of

Vietnam, the beginning date is Feb. 28, 1961.

Post-Vietnam: For veterans whose enlisted service began before

Sept. 8, 1980, or whose service as an officer began before

Oct. 17, 1981: (1) active duty for 181 continuous days, all of which

occurred after May 7, 1975, and discharge under conditions other

than dishonorable or early discharge for service-connected disability.

24 Month Rule: If service was between Sept. 8, 1980,

(Oct. 16, 1981, for officers) and Aug. 1, 1990, veterans must generally complete 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period

(at least 181 days) for which they were called or ordered to active
34

duty, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Exceptions are allowed if the veteran completed at least 181 days of

active duty but was discharged earlier than 24 months for (1) hardship, (2) the convenience of the government, (3) reduction-in-force,

(4) certain medical conditions, or (5) service-connected disability.

Gulf War: Veterans of the Gulf War era must generally complete 24

months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 90 days)

for which they were called or ordered to active duty, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Exceptions are

allowed if the veteran completed at least 90 days of active duty but

was discharged earlier than 24 months for (1) hardship, (2) the

convenience of the government, (3) reduction-in-force, (4) certain

medical conditions, or (5) service-connected disability.

Reservists and National Guard members are eligible if they were

activated after Aug. 1, 1990, served at least 90 days, and received

an honorable discharge.

Active Duty Personnel: Until the Gulf War era is ended by law or

presidential proclamation, persons on active duty are eligible after

serving on continuous active duty for 90 days.

Members of the Selected Reserve: Individuals are eligible if they

have completed at least six years in the reserves or National Guard

or were discharged because of a service-connected disability. This

eligibility expires Sept. 30, 2009. Reservists who do not qualify for VA

housing loan benefits may be eligible for loans on favorable terms

insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Others: Other eligible individuals include unmarried spouses of

veterans or reservists who died on active duty or as a result of

service-connected causes; spouses of active-duty servicemembers

who have been missing in action or a prisoner of war for at least 90

days; U.S. citizens who served in the armed forces of a U.S. ally in

World War II; and members of organizations with recognized contributions to the U.S. World War II effort. Eligibility may be determined

at the VA Eligibility Centers.

Guaranty Amount

The guaranty amount is the amount of the VA guaranty available to

an eligible veteran and may be considered the equivalent of a down
35

payment by lenders. The basic VA guaranty amount is $36,000, but

up to $60,000 in entitlement may be available to veterans purchasing

or constructing homes, to be financed with a loan of more than

$144,000, and to veterans who obtain an Interest Rate Reduction

Refinancing Loan of more than $144,000. The amount of entitlement

varies with the loan amount. Loan guaranty limits are listed in the

“Tables” section of this booklet.

VA does not establish a maximum loan amount. However, no loan for

the acquisition of a home may exceed the reasonable value of the

property, which is based on an appraiser’s estimate. A buyer, seller,

real estate agent or lender can request a VA appraisal by completing

VA Form 26-1805, Request for Determination of Reasonable Value.

The requester pays for the appraisal, often called a “VA appraisal,”

according to a fee schedule approved by VA. This VA appraisal

estimates the value of the property, but is not an inspection and does

not guarantee that the house is free of defects. VA guarantees the

loan, not the condition of the property.

A loan for the purpose of refinancing existing mortgage loans or

other liens secured on a dwelling is generally limited to 90 percent of

the appraised value of the dwelling. A loan to reduce the interest rate

on an existing VA-guaranteed loan, however, can be made for an

amount equal to the outstanding balance on the old loan plus closing

costs, up to two discount points, and energy-efficient improvements.

A loan for the purchase of a manufactured home or lot is limited to 95

percent of the amount that would be subject to finance charges. The

VA funding fee and up to $6,000 in energy-efficient improvements

also may be included in the loan.

A veteran who previously obtained a VA loan can use the remaining

entitlement for a second purchase. The amount of remaining entitlement is the difference between $36,000 ($60,000 for certain loans as

previously described) and the amount of entitlement used on prior

loans. Remaining entitlement is not necessary for veterans to

refinance an existing VA loan with a new one at a lower interest rate.

Required Occupancy

Veterans must certify that they intend to live in the home they are

buying or building with a VA guaranty. A veteran who wishes to

refinance or improve a home with a VA guaranty also must certify to

being in occupancy at the time of application. A spouse may certify

occupancy if the buyer is on active duty. In refinancing a VA-guaranteed loan solely to reduce the interest rate, veterans need only certify

to prior occupancy.
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Closing Costs

Payment in cash is required on all home loan closing costs, including

title search and recording, hazard insurance premiums, prepaid

taxes and a one percent origination fee, which may be required by

lenders in lieu of certain other costs. In the case of refinancing loans,

all such costs may be included in the loan, as long as the total loan

does not exceed 90 percent of the reasonable value of the property.

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans may include closing

costs and a maximum of two discount points. Loans, including

refinancing loans, are charged a funding fee by VA, except for loans

made to disabled veterans and unmarried surviving spouses of

veterans who died as a result of service. The VA funding fee is based

on the loan amount and, at the discretion of the veteran and the

lender, may be included in the loan. Funding fee rates are listed in

the “Tables” section of this booklet.

Financing, Interest Rates and Terms

Veterans obtain VA-guaranteed loans through the usual lending

institutions, including banks, savings and loan associations, building

and loan associations, and mortgage loan companies. Veterans may

obtain a loan with a fixed interest rate, which may be negotiated with

the lender. If the lender charges discount points on the loan, the

veteran may negotiate with the seller as to who will pay points or if

they will be split between buyer and seller. Points paid by the veteran

may not be included in the loan, except that a maximum of two

points may be included in Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing

Loans. The loan may be for as long as 30 years and 32 days.

VA does not require that a down payment be made, except in the

following instances: (1) a manufactured home or lot loan; (2) a loan

with graduated payment features; and (3) to prevent the amount of a

loan from exceeding VA’s determination of the property’s reasonable

value. If the sale price exceeds the reasonable value, the veteran

must certify that the difference is being paid in cash without supplementary borrowing. A cash down payment of five percent of the

purchase price is required for manufactured home or lot loans.

Release of Liability, Loan Assumption

When a veteran sells a home financed through a VA guaranty to a

purchaser who assumes the loan, the veteran may request release

from liability to the federal government, provided the loan is current,

the purchaser has been obligated by contract to purchase the

property and assume all of the veteran’s liabilities, and VA is satisfied
37

that the purchaser is a good risk. A release of liability does not mean

that a veteran’s guaranty entitlement is restored. If the new veteranbuyer agrees to substitute entitlement for that of the veteran-seller,

entitlement may be restored to the veteran-seller.

A VA loan for which a commitment was made on or after

March 1, 1988, is not assumable without approval of VA or its

authorized agent. The person who assumes a VA loan for which a

commitment was made on or after March 1, 1988, must pay a fee to

VA. Effective Dec. 13, 2002, this fee was increased to one percent of

the balance of the loan being assumed. This fee is scheduled to

revert to one-half percent on Oct. 1, 2003. If a person disposes of the

property securing a VA-guaranteed loan for which a commitment was

made after March 1, 1988, without first notifying the holder of the

loan, the holder may demand immediate and full payment of the

loan. Veterans whose loans were closed after Dec. 31, 1989, have

no liability to the government following a foreclosure, except in cases

involving fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith.

Loans for Native American Veterans

VA direct home loans are available to eligible Native American

veterans who wish to purchase, construct or improve a home on

Native American trust land. These loans may be used to simultaneously purchase and improve a home. Direct loans also are available to reduce the interest rate on existing loans obtained under this

program. VA direct loans may be limited to the cost of the home or

$80,000, whichever is less. A funding fee must be paid to VA. The

fee is 1.25 percent for loans to purchase, construct or improve a

home. For loans to refinance an existing loan, the fee is 0.5 percent

of the loan amount. Veterans receiving compensation for serviceconnected disability are not required to pay the funding fee. The

funding fee may be paid in cash or included in the loan. The following may not be included in the loan: VA appraisal, credit report, loan

processing fee, title search, title insurance, recording fees, transfer

taxes, survey charges or hazard insurance.

Repossessed Homes

VA sells homes that have been acquired after foreclosure of a VAguaranteed loan. These homes are available to both veterans and

nonveterans. Contact local real estate agents for available listings or

check the Property Management section of VA’s home loan guarantee Web site for listings and additional information

(http://www.homeloans.va.gov/).
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Safeguards for Veterans

The following home loan guarantee safeguards have been established to protect veterans:

1. Homes completed less than a year before purchase with VA

financing and inspected during construction by either VA or HUD

must meet VA requirements.

2. VA may suspend from the loan program those who take unfair

advantage of veteran borrowers or decline to sell a new home or

make a loan because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family

status or national origin.

3. The builder of a new home is required to give the purchasing

veteran a one-year warranty that the home has been constructed to

VA-approved plans and specifications. A similar warranty must be

given for new manufactured homes.

4. In cases of new construction completed under VA or HUD

inspection, VA may pay or otherwise compensate a veteran borrower

for correction of structural defects seriously affecting livability if

assistance is requested within four years of a home-loan guaranty.

5. The borrower obtaining a loan may only be charged the fees

and other charges prescribed by VA as allowable.

6. The borrower can prepay without penalty the entire loan or

any part not less than the amount of one installment or $100.

7. VA encourages holders to extend forbearance if a borrower

becomes temporarily unable to meet the terms of the loan.

Children of Vietnam Veterans Born with

Certain Birth Defects

Children of Vietnam veterans born with certain birth defects may be

eligible for benefits under one of two separate programs. Benefits

under both programs include a monthly monetary allowance, health

care specific to the disability, and vocational training if reasonably

feasible. The law defines “child” as the natural child of a Vietnam

veteran, regardless of age or marital status. The child must have

been conceived after the date on which the veteran first entered the

Republic of Vietnam. Qualifying service includes active military, naval

or air service, including service in the waters offshore and other

locations if the service involved duty or visitation in Vietnam.

Spina Bifida

This program applies to biological children of male and female

veterans who served in Vietnam during the period beginning
39

Jan. 9, 1962, and ending May 7, 1975. Benefits are paid at three

disability levels based on the neurological manifestations that define

the severity of disability: impairment of the functioning of extremities,

impairment of bowel or bladder function, and impairment of intellectual functioning.

Children of Women Vietnam Veterans

This program applies to biological children of women veterans who

served in Vietnam during the period beginning on Feb. 28, 1961, and

ending on May 7, 1975. The birth defects covered are those that are

associated with a mother’s service in Vietnam and that resulted in

permanent physical or mental disability. The covered birth defects do

not include conditions due to familial disorders, birth-related injuries,

or fetal or neonatal infirmities with well-established causes. Benefits

are paid at four disability levels based on the child’s degree of

permanent disability.

Allowances

The 2003 monthly rates for both programs can be found in the

“Tables” section of this booklet. Contact a VA regional office to apply

for medical treatment or benefits payments. Note: a monetary

allowance paid to an individual under these programs shall not be

considered as income or resources in determining eligibility for, or

the amount of benefits paid under, any other federal or federally

assisted program.

Vocational Training

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program administers

a vocational training program to enable a qualified child to prepare

for and attain suitable employment. Services may include counseling

and rehabilitative services, education, training and employment

services leading to suitable employment. VA pays for the cost of

these services.

Eligibility

To qualify for a vocational training program, an applicant must be a

child:

1. to whom VA has awarded a monthly allowance for spina bifida,

or to whom VA has established the existence of another covered

birth defect, and

2. for whom VA has determined that achievement of a vocational

goal are reasonably feasible.
40

A vocational training program may not begin before a child’s 18th

birthday or the date the child completes secondary schooling,

whichever comes first. Depending on need and eligibility for VA

education benefits, a child may be provided up to 48 months of fulltime training.

Life Insurance

There are currently eight VA life insurance programs. Only five of

these programs are currently open to new issues. Two of those open

to new issues, the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance and Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance programs, are specifically designed for

disabled veterans. The other three “open” programs, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance

(VGLI), and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI),

are administered by the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life

Insurance (290 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ 07039-2747)

under the supervision of VA.

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

The following are automatically insured for $250,000 under SGLI:

active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and

Coast Guard; commissioned members of the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service; cadets or

midshipmen of the service academies; members, cadets and midshipmen of the ROTC while engaged in authorized training; members of the Ready Reserves; and members who volunteer for

assignment to a mobilization category in the Individual Ready

Reserve. Individuals may elect to be covered for a lesser amount or

not to be covered at all. Part-time coverage may be provided to

members of the reserves who do not qualify for full-time coverage.

Premiums are deducted automatically from an individual’s pay or are

collected by the individual’s service branch. At the time of separation

from service, SGLI can be converted to either VGLI or a commercial

permanent plan through participating companies.

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) provides up

to a maximum of $100,000 of life insurance coverage for spouses,

not to exceed the amount of SGLI the insured member has in force,

and $10,000 for dependent children of members insured under the

SGLI program. FSGLI is a servicemembers’ benefit, and the member

is the beneficiary of the policy. If a servicemember drops his or her
41

SGLI coverage or leaves the military, the spouse’s policy can be

converted to a private life insurance policy within 120 days.

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance

SGLI may be converted to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI),

which provides renewable five-year term coverage. VGLI is available

to: (a) individuals with full-time SGLI coverage upon release from

active duty or the reserves; (b) individuals with part-time SGLI

coverage who incur a disability or aggravate a pre-existing disability

during a reserve period which renders them uninsurable at standard

premium rates; and (c) members of the Individual Ready Reserve

and Inactive National Guard.

Individuals who separate from service with SGLI coverage can

convert to VGLI by submitting the premium within 120 days of

separating. After 121 days, the individual may be granted VGLI

provided an initial premium and evidence of insurability are submitted within one year after termination of SGLI coverage. Servicemembers who are totally disabled at the time of separation are eligible for

the SGLI Disability Extension of up to one year. The extension of

coverage is free and continues for one year from separation or until

the veteran is no longer disabled, whichever comes first. At the end

of the one-year Disability Extension, the insured can convert their

SGLI to VGLI without evidence of good health. VGLI is convertible at

any time to a permanent plan policy with any of the commercial

insurance companies that participate in the program.

Accelerated Death Benefits for SGLI, FSGLI and VGLI

A member insured under SGLI or VGLI program, if terminally ill

(prognosis of nine months or less to live), may elect to receive up to

50 percent of the coverage amount in advance. Servicemembers

with FSGLI coverage may also elect to receive up to 50 percent of

their spouse’s coverage if the spouse becomes terminally ill.

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance

A veteran who has a service-connected disability but is otherwise in

good health may apply to VA for up to $10,000 in life insurance

coverage within two years from the date of being notified of serviceconnected status. This insurance is limited to veterans who left

service after April 24, 1951. Veterans who are totally disabled may

apply for a waiver of premiums. For those veterans who are eligible

for this waiver, additional supplemental coverage of up to $20,000 is

available, however, premiums cannot be waived on the additional

insurance.
42

Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance

VMLI is available to severely disabled veterans who receive a

Specially Adapted Housing grant. Maximum coverage is $90,000.

Protection is issued automatically unless the veteran declines

coverage. Coverage automatically terminates when the mortgage is

satisfied. If a mortgage is disposed of through sale of the property,

VMLI may be obtained on the mortgage of another home.

Insurance Dividends

Active government life insurance policies beginning with the letters V,

RS, W, J, JR, JS or K, automatically pay dividends annually on the

policy anniversary date. Policyholders do not need to apply for these

dividends, but may select from a number of options for how they

should be handled. VA insurance dividends, and interest on dividends left on deposit or credit with VA, are not taxable. For more

information, visit the VA Life Insurance Program Web page

(http://www.insurance.va.gov) or contact the VA Insurance Center at

1-800-669-8477.

Policyholders with National Service Life Insurance, Veterans Special

Life Insurance and Veterans Reopened Insurance can use their

dividends to purchase additional paid-up coverage.

Persistent rumors about special SGLI or VGLI dividends and dividends for holders of lapsed policies are not true.

Miscellaneous Insurance Information

Reinstating Lapsed Insurance: Lapsed term policies may be

reinstated within five years from the date of lapse. Contact the VA

Insurance Center for details. A five-year term policy that is not lapsed

at the end of the term period is automatically renewed for an additional five-year period. Lapsed permanent plan policies may be

reinstated within certain time limits and with certain health requirements. Reinstated policies require repayment of all back premiums,

plus interest.

Converting Term Policies: A term policy that is in force may be

converted to a permanent plan. Upon reaching renewal at age 70 or

older, National Service Life Insurance term policies on total disability

premium waiver are automatically converted to permanent insurance, which provides cash and loan values and higher dividends.

Cash Value for Term Capped Policies: Since Sept. 11, 2000,

policyholders of National Service Life Insurance and Veterans
43

Special Life Insurance whose term policies are capped at renewal

age 70, have cash values associated with their policies. Policyholders who voluntarily cancel their policies may either take the cash

value or use it to purchase paid-up insurance.

Modified Life Policy: A “modified life at age 65” plan is available to

National Service Life Insurance policyholders. The premium rates for

this plan remain the same throughout the premium-payment period,

while the face value reduces by 50 percent at age 65. The reduced

amount may be replaced with a “special ordinary life policy.” A

“modified life at age 70” plan also is available.

Disability Provisions: National Service Life Insurance policyholders

who become totally disabled before age 65 should consult VA about

premium waivers.

Borrowing on Policies: Policyholders may borrow up to 94 percent

of the cash surrender value of their insurance and continue the

insurance in force by payment of premiums. Interest on policy loans

is compounded annually. The current interest rate may be obtained

by calling toll-free 1-800-669-8477.

For additional information about government life insurance, call the

VA Insurance Center in Philadelphia toll-free, 1-800-669-8477.

Specialists are available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.,

Eastern Time, to discuss premium payments, insurance dividends,

address changes, policy loans, naming beneficiaries and reporting

the death of the insured. After hours, a caller may leave a recorded

message, which will be answered on the next workday, or may use

the Interactive Voice Response system.

If the insurance policy number is not known, send whatever information is available, such as the veteran’s VA file number, date of birth,

social security number, military serial number or military service

branch and dates of service to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Regional Office and Insurance Center

Box 42954

Philadelphia, PA 19101
44

Burial Benefits

Burial in National Cemeteries

VA Cemeteries: Servicemembers who die while on active duty and

veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are

eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. With certain exceptions,

service beginning after Sept. 7, 1980, as an enlisted person, and

after Oct. 16, 1981, as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24

consecutive months or the full period for which the person was called

to active duty. Reservists and National Guard members are eligible if

they were entitled to retired pay at the time of death, or would have

been entitled had they not been under the age of 60.

Certain Filipino veterans of World War II, to include those who

served in the Philippine Commonwealth Army (USAFFE) or recognized guerilla forces, may be eligible if the veteran, at time of death,

was a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for

permanent residence in the United States who had resided in the

United States.

Spouses and minor children of servicemembers and eligible veterans

also may be buried in a national cemetery. If a surviving spouse of

an eligible veteran remarries, and that marriage is terminated by

death or dissolved by annulment or divorce, the surviving spouse is

eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Burial of minor children of

eligible persons is limited to unmarried children under 21 years of

age, or under 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of

instruction at an approved educational institution. Eligible veterans’

unmarried adult children who became physically or mentally disabled

and incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 21, or 23 if

a full-time student, also are eligible for burial.

Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. The funeral

director or the next of kin makes interment arrangements for an

eligible veteran or dependent at the time of need by contacting the

national cemetery in which burial is desired. Reservations made

under previous programs are honored. VA normally does not conduct

burials on weekends. However, weekend callers will be directed to a

national cemetery that can schedule burials for the following week at

all national cemeteries.
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Arlington National Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery is

operated by the Department of the Army. Eligibility for burials is more

restrictive than at other national cemeteries. Information on Arlington

National Cemetery burials may be found on the Internet

(http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/), or by writing to Superintendent,

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211, or calling

703-695-3250.

Department of the Interior and State Veterans Cemeteries: The

two active national cemeteries administered by the Department of

the Interior are Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia and

Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Tennessee. Eligibility for

burial is similar to VA cemetery eligibility. Cemeteries for veterans

also are operated by many states. Contact the state cemetery or

state veterans affairs office, as the eligibility requirements for these

cemeteries may differ from those for national cemeteries.

Headstones and Markers

Upon request, VA furnishes headstones or markers worldwide and at

no charge for the grave of an eligible veteran or a servicemember

who dies while on active duty. VA also provides headstones or

markers for spouses and dependents buried in military, state or

national veterans cemeteries, but not for those buried in private

cemeteries. Flat bronze, granite or marble markers and upright

granite and marble headstones are available. In the case of national

cemeteries, the style chosen must be consistent with existing

monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers also are available

to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Government-furnished headstones and markers must be inscribed

with the name of the deceased, branch of service, and the year of

birth and death, in this order. Headstones and markers also may be

inscribed with other items, including an authorized emblem of belief

and, space permitting, additional text including military grade, rate or

rank, war service such as “World War II”, complete dates of birth and

death, military awards, military organizations and civilian or veteran

affiliations. When burial or memorialization is in a national, state or

military veterans cemetery, the headstone or marker must be ordered through cemetery officials. To apply and to obtain specific

information on available styles, contact the cemetery where the

headstone or marker is to be placed.
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When burial occurs in a private cemetery, an application for a

government-furnished headstone or marker must be made to VA.

The government will ship the headstone or marker free of charge,

but will not pay for its placement. Headstones and markers previously provided by the government may be replaced at government

expense if badly deteriorated, illegible, stolen or vandalized.

To apply, mail a completed VA Form 40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private or

State Veterans Cemetery, along with a copy of the veteran’s military

service discharge document to Memorial Programs Service (402E),

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20420-0001. Or fax documents to 1-800-455-7143. Do not

send original discharge documents, as they will not be returned. For

information and application instructions, visit

(http://www.cem.va.gov).

Memorial Headstones or Markers

VA provides memorial headstones and markers, bearing the inscription “In Memory of” as their first line, to memorialize eligible veterans

whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea,

donated to science or cremated and scattered. Eligible dependents

may be memorialized only in national or state veterans cemeteries.

To be memorialized, dependents do not need to outlive the veteran

from whom their eligibility is based.

Memorial headstones or markers must be placed in national, state

veterans, local or private cemeteries. VA supplies and ships memorial headstones and markers free of charge for placement in state,

local and private cemeteries, but does not pay for their plots or

placement.

Presidential Memorial Certificates

Certificates signed by the president are issued upon request to

recognize the military service of honorably discharged deceased

veterans. Next of kin, other relatives and friends may request Presidential Memorial Certificates in person at any VA regional office or by

mail: Presidential Memorial Certificates (402E), National Cemetery

Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420-

0001. There is no pre-printed form to complete or time limit for

requesting these certificates, but requests should include a copy, not

the original, of the deceased veteran’s discharge document and

clearly indicate to what address the certificate should be sent.
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Additional information and a sample certificate can be found on the

Internet (http://www.cem.va.gov/pmc.htm).

Military Funeral Honors

Upon request, the Department of Defense will provide military funeral

honors for the burial of military members and eligible veterans. A

basic military funeral honors ceremony consists of the folding and

presentation of the United States flag and the playing of Taps by a

bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. A funeral honors detail

to perform this ceremony consists of two or more uniformed members of the armed forces, with at least one member from the service

in which the deceased veteran served.

Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve are

eligible for military funeral honors. Also eligible are former military

members who served on active duty and departed under conditions

other than dishonorable, former members of the Selected Reserve

who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial

obligated service and departed under conditions other than dishonorable, and former military members discharged from the Selected

Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

The Department of Defense maintains a toll-free telephone line

(1-877-MIL-HONR) for use by funeral directors only to request

honors. Family members should inform their funeral directors if they

desire military funeral honors for a veteran. VA national cemetery

staff can help arrange for honors during burials at VA national

cemeteries. Veterans service organizations or volunteer groups may

help provide honors. For more information, visit the military funeral

honors Web page (http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil).

Burial Flags

VA will furnish a United States burial flag for memorialization of:

(1) veterans who served during wartime, or served after

Jan. 31, 1955; or

(2) veterans who were entitled to retired pay for service in the

reserves, or would have been entitled to such pay but not for being

under 60 years of age; or

(3) members or former members of the Selected Reserve who

served at least one enlistment or, in the case of an officer, the period

of initial obligation, or were discharged for disability incurred or

aggravated in line of duty, or died while a member of the Selected

Reserve.
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Reimbursement of Burial Expenses

VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran’s death is

service-connected. In some instances, VA also will pay the cost of

transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national

cemetery nearest the home of the deceased that has available

gravesites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran’s burial

expenses may claim reimbursement from VA. There is no time limit

for filing reimbursement claims in service-connected death cases.

VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans

who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of

military retirement pay. Eligibility also may be established when

death occurs in a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract or a

state veterans nursing home. Additional costs of transportation of the

remains may be paid. In nonservice-connected death cases, claims

must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried in a

cemetery that is under U.S. government jurisdiction under the

following circumstances: the veteran was discharged from active

duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty;

the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have

been except for receiving military retired pay; or the veteran died in a

VA facility.

The $300 plot allowance may be paid to the state if a veteran is

buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a stateowned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials. Burial expenses

paid by the deceased’s employer or a state agency will not be

reimbursed. For information on monetary benefits, call

1-800-827-1000. Additional information about burial and memorial

benefits may be obtained at any VA national cemetery, regional office

or on the Internet (http://www.cem.va.gov/). To check on the status of

an application for headstone or marker, call 1-800-697-6947.

Incarcerated Veterans

Persons convicted of a federal or state capital crime, and sentenced

to death or life imprisonment without parole, are barred by law from

burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery or in Arlington

National Cemetery, or from receiving a government-furnished

headstone or marker, burial flag or Presidential Memorial Certificate.
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Survivor Benefits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments may be

available for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried

children under 18, helpless children, those between 18 and 23 if

attending a VA-approved school, and low-income parents of deceased servicemembers or veterans. For survivors to be eligible, the

deceased veteran must have died from: (1) a disease or injury

incurred or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training;

(2) an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty while on inactive

duty training; or (3) a disability compensable by VA. Death cannot be

the result of the veteran’s willful misconduct. If a spouse remarries,

eligibility for benefits may be restored if the marriage is terminated

later by death, annulment or divorce.

DIC payments also may be authorized for survivors of veterans who

were totally service-connected disabled when they died, even though

their service-connected disabilities did not cause their deaths. The

survivor qualifies if: (1) the veteran was continuously rated totally

disabled for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding

death; (2) the veteran was so rated for a period of at least five years

from the date of military discharge; or (3) the veteran was a former

prisoner of war who died after Sept. 30, 1999, and who was continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least one year immediately preceding death. Payments are subject to offset by any amount

received from judicial proceedings brought on account of the

veteran’s death. The discharge must have been under conditions

other than dishonorable.

DIC Payments to Surviving Spouse

Surviving spouses of veterans who died on or after Jan. 1, 1993,

receive $948 a month. For a spouse entitled to DIC based on the

veteran’s death prior to Jan. 1, 1993, the amount paid is $948 or an

amount based on the veteran’s pay grade. See the “Tables” section

of this booklet for more information.

DIC Payments to Parents and Children

The monthly payment for parents of deceased veterans depends

upon their income. There are additional DIC payments for dependent

children. A child may be eligible if there is no surviving spouse, and

the child is unmarried and under age 18, or if the child is between the
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ages of 18 and 23 and attending school. See the “Tables” section of

this booklet for more information on DIC for children.

Special Allowances

Surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC may be granted a

special allowance to pay for aid and attendance by another person if

they are patients in a nursing home or require the regular assistance

of another person. Surviving spouses receiving DIC may be granted

a special allowance if they are permanently housebound. The current

allowances for spouses are shown in the “Tables” section of this

booklet.

Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors

Survivors of veterans who died of service-connected causes incurred

or aggravated prior to Aug. 13, 1981, may be eligible for special

benefits. This benefit is similar to the benefits for students and

surviving spouses with children between ages 16 and 18 that were

eliminated from Social Security benefits. The benefits are payable in

addition to any other benefits to which the family may be entitled.

The amount of the benefit is based on information provided by the

Social Security Administration.

Death Pension

Pensions based on need are available for surviving spouses and

unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service.

Spouses must not have remarried and children must be under age

18, or under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school. Pension is

not payable to those with estates large enough to provide maintenance. The veteran must have been discharged under conditions

other than dishonorable and must have had 90 days or more of

active military service, at least one day of which was during a period

of war, or a service-connected disability justifying discharge for

disability. If the veteran died in service but not in line of duty, benefits

may be payable if the veteran had completed at least two years of

honorable service. Children who become incapable of self-support

because of a disability before age 18 may be eligible for a pension

as long as the condition exists, unless the child marries or the child’s

income exceeds the applicable limit. A surviving spouse may be

entitled to higher income limitations or additional benefits if living in a

nursing home, in need of aid and attendance by another person or

permanently housebound.

The Improved Pension program provides a monthly payment to bring

an eligible person’s income to a support level established by law. The
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payment is reduced by the annual income from other sources such

as Social Security paid to the surviving spouse or dependent children. Medical expenses may be deducted from the income ceiling.

Pension is not payable to those who have assets that can be used to

provide adequate maintenance. Maximum rates for the Improved

Death Pension are shown in the “Tables” section of this booklet.

Home Loan Guaranties

A VA loan guaranty to acquire a home may be available to an

unmarried spouse of a veteran or servicemember who died as a

result of service-connected disabilities, or to a spouse of a

servicemember who has been officially listed as missing in action or

as a prisoner of war for more than 90 days. Spouses of those listed

as prisoners of war or missing in action are limited to one loan.

Dependents’ Education

Educational assistance benefits are available to spouses who have

not remarried and children of: (1) veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a disability arising from

active military service; (2) veterans who died from any cause while

rated permanently and totally disabled from service-connected

disability; (3) servicemembers listed for more than 90 days as

currently missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile

force; (4) servicemembers listed for more than 90 days as currently

detained or interned by a foreign government or power.

The termination of a surviving spouse’s remarriage — by death,

divorce, or ceasing to live with another person as that person’s

spouse — will reinstate Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits

to the surviving spouse. Benefits may be awarded for pursuit of

associate, bachelor or graduate degrees at colleges and universities,

including independent study, cooperative training and study abroad

programs. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business,

technical or vocational schools also may be taken.

Benefits may be awarded for apprenticeships, on-the-job training

programs and farm cooperative courses. Benefits for correspondence courses under certain conditions are available to spouses

only. Secondary-school programs may be pursued if the individual is

not a high-school graduate. An individual with a deficiency in a

subject may receive tutorial assistance benefits if enrolled halftime or

more. Deficiency, refresher and other training also may be available.
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Monthly Payments

Payments are made monthly. The rate is $670 a month for full-time

school attendance, with lesser amounts for part-time training. A

person may receive educational assistance for full-time training for

up to 45 months or the equivalent in part-time training. Payments to

a spouse end 10 years from the date the individual is found eligible

or from the date of the death of the veteran. VA may grant an extension. Children generally must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to

receive education benefits, though extensions may be granted.

Work-Study

Participants must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. They

may be paid in advance 40 percent of the amount specified in the

work-study agreement or an amount equal to 50 times the applicable

minimum wage, whichever is less. Under the supervision of a VA

employee, participants may provide outreach services, prepare and

process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform

other approved activities. They may also help at national or state

veterans’ cemeteries or assist in outreach services furnished by

State Approving Agencies.

Counseling Services

VA may provide counseling services to help an eligible dependent

pursue an educational or vocational objective.

Special Benefits

An eligible child over age 14 with a physical or mental disability that

impairs pursuit of an educational program may receive special

restorative training to lessen or overcome that impairment. This

training may include speech and voice correction, language retraining, lip reading, auditory training, Braille reading and writing, and

similar programs. Certain disabled or surviving spouses are also

eligible for special restorative training. Specialized vocational training

also is available to an eligible spouse or child over age 14 who is

handicapped by a physical or mental disability that prevents pursuit

of an educational program.

Educational Loans

Loans are available to spouses who qualify for educational assistance. Spouses who have passed their 10-year period of eligibility

may be eligible for an educational loan. During the first two years

after the end of their eligibility period, they may borrow up to $2,500

per academic year to continue a full-time course leading to a college

degree or to a professional or vocational objective that requires at
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least six months to complete. VA may waive the six-month requirement. Loans are based on financial need.

Montgomery GI Bill Death Benefit

VA will pay a special Montgomery GI Bill death benefit to a designated survivor in the event of the service-connected death of an

individual while on active duty or within one year after discharge or

release. The deceased must either have been entitled to educational

assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill program or a participant in

the program who would have been so entitled but for the high school

diploma or length-of-service requirement. The amount paid will be

equal to the participant’s actual military pay reduction, less any

education benefits paid.

Women Veterans

Women veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as male

veterans. However, additional gender-specific services and benefits

are available for women veterans, including breast and pelvic

examinations and other general reproductive health care services.

VA provides preventive health care counseling, contraceptive services, menopause management, Pap smears and mammography.

Referrals are made for services that VA is unable to provide. Women

Veterans’ Coordinators are available in a private setting at all VA

facilities to assist women veterans seeking treatment and benefits.

VA health care professionals provide counseling and treatment to

help veterans overcome psychological trauma resulting from sexual

trauma during active military service. Appropriate care and services

are provided for any injury, illness or psychological condition resulting from such trauma.

Homeless Veterans

A number of VA benefits, including disability compensation, pension

and education benefits, can prevent at-risk veterans from becoming

homeless. VA conducts community-based “stand downs” to make

benefits information and assistance more accessible to homeless

veterans. Homeless veterans also are provided special assistance

through other VA program initiatives.
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VA provides health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans. Health Care for Homeless Veterans programs provide outreach

and comprehensive medical, psychological and rehabilitation treatment programs. Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans programs

provide residential rehabilitation services. VA supports Compensated

Work Therapy/Therapeutic Residence group homes, special daytime, drop-in centers, and Comprehensive Homeless Centers.

VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program assists

nonprofit and local government agencies to establish housing or

service centers for homeless veterans. Grants are awarded for the

construction, acquisition or renovation of facilities. VA also works with

the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Social

Security Administration, veterans service organizations, and community nonprofit groups to assist homeless veterans. For information on

benefits for homeless veterans, contact the nearest VA facility.

More information about this program, including information about VA

loan guarantees for construction or rehabilitation of multifamily

transitional housing for homeless veterans, can be found on the

Internet (http://www.va.gov/homeless/).

Overseas Benefits

Medical Benefits

VA will pay for medical services for the treatment of service-connected disabilities and related conditions for veterans living or

traveling outside the U.S. Before using the program, veterans living

in Canada should register with the VA Center in White River Junction, VT 05009-0001, USA, phone 802-296-6379. Those living in the

Philippines should register with the U.S. VA office in Pasay City,

phone 011-632-833-4566. All other veterans living outside the U.S.

should register with the Denver Foreign Medical Program office, P.O.

Box 65021, Denver, CO 80206-9021, USA, phone 303-331-7590.

Outside the United States, VA pays for nursing-home care only in the

Philippines.

Other Overseas Benefits

VA monetary benefits, including compensation, pension, educational

assistance and burial allowances, generally are payable overseas.

Some programs in foreign jurisdictions are restricted. Home-loan
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guaranties are available only in the United States and selected U.S.

territories and possessions. Educational benefits are limited to

approved degree-granting programs in institutions of higher learning.

Beneficiaries residing in foreign countries should contact the nearest

American embassy or consulate for information and claims assistance. In Canada, veterans should contact an office of Veterans

Affairs Canada. Additional information on benefits and services

available outside the United States can be found on the World Wide

Web (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/foreign/index.htm).

Small and Disadvantaged Businesses

VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

(OSDBU) helps small businesses obtain information on acquisition

opportunities with VA. Like other federal offices, VA is required to

place a portion of its contracts and purchases with small and disadvantaged businesses. For more information, write to OSDBU, U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs (OOSB), 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20420-0001, call 1-800-949-8387 toll-free, or visit

the OSDBU Web site at (http://www.va.gov/osdbu).

OSDBU’s Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) helps veterans

interested in forming or expanding small businesses. The CVE helps

VA contracting offices identify veteran-owned small businesses and

works with the Small Business Administration’s Veterans Business

Development Officers and Small Business Development Centers

nationwide regarding veterans’ business financing, management and

technical assistance needs. For more information, write to CVE, U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs (OOVE), 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20420-0001, call 1-866-584-2344 toll-free, or visit

the CVE web site (http://www.vetbiz.gov).
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Workplace Benefits

Some benefits for veterans and their dependents are administered

by agencies other than the Department of Veterans Affairs. The

following information describes these benefits and how to apply for

them.

Unemployment Compensation

Weekly unemployment compensation may be paid to discharged

servicemembers for a limited period of time. The amount and duration of payments are determined by individual states. To apply,

veterans who do not begin civilian employment immediately after

leaving military service should contact their nearest state employment office and present a copy of their military discharge, form

DD-214.

Transition Assistance Program

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) assists servicemembers

and their spouses who are scheduled for separation from active duty.

The program, a joint effort by the Departments of Defense, Labor

(DoL), Transportation and Veterans Affairs, provides employment

and training information to servicemembers within 12 months of their

separation from the military. Together with the military services, these

agencies offer a number of services and benefits designed to equip

separating servicemembers with the basic job-hunting skills, tools

and self-confidence necessary to successfully find employment in

the civilian workforce.

Three-day workshops to help separating servicemembers and their

spouses make the transition from military to civilian employment are

conducted at military installations. Disabled servicemembers also are

provided employment counseling during this workshop. More information can be found on the DoL Veterans’ Employment and Training

Service Web page (http://www.dol.gov/vets/welcome.html), by

contacting the Veterans’ Employment Service Representative at the

nearest state employment service office (listed in the phone book

under U.S. Government, Labor Department) or the Transition Office

at the nearest military base.

Pre-separation Counseling

The military services are required by law to provide individual preseparation counseling at least 90 days prior to servicemember’s
57

discharge. These sessions present information on education, training, employment assistance, National Guard and reserve programs,

medical benefits and financial assistance to separating

servicemembers.

Verification of Military Experience and Training

The Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) Document, DD Form 2586, is provided to all eligible departing

servicemembers. The document helps servicemembers verify

previous experience and training to potential employers, write their

resumes, prepare for job interviews, negotiate credits at schools, and

obtain certificates or licenses. The military departments make the

VMET document available by mail and on the Internet

(http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/vmet), from which servicemembers can

view it online or print locally. Servicemembers should receive their

DD Form 2586 between 90 and 180 days prior to separation.

Transition Bulletin Board (TBB)

This Web site (http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/ot) allows employers to

make advertisements for short-term or long-term jobs available

online. In addition, the TBB contains business opportunities, a

calendar of transition seminars, job fairs, information on military and

veterans associations, transition products and services, training and

educational opportunities, as well as other announcements pertinent

to separating personnel.

DoD Transportal

This DoD Web site (http://www.dodtransportal.org) supplements the

various TAP program resources available to separating military

personnel. In addition to providing the locations and phone numbers

of all Transition Assistance Offices, the site offers mini-courses on

conducting successful job search campaigns, writing resumes, using

the Internet to find a job and links to job search and recruiting Web

sites. A DoD job search Web site (http://www.dod.jobsearch.org)

features online resume entry, job advertisements and referrals.

Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program

The Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program provides employment

and training programs to increase employment, job retention, earnings, and occupational skills of recently separated veterans and

veterans who have service-connected disabilities, significant barriers

to employment or who served on active duty in the armed forces

during a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has

been authorized.
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These programs may be conducted through state or local public

agencies, community-based organizations or private, nonprofit

organizations. Job counseling, resume preparation, job development

and placement services are also available to help homeless veterans

re-enter the workforce. Veterans should contact their nearest state

employment service office for more information.

State Employment Services

In addition to providing unemployment compensation information,

Workforce Career or One-Stop Centers provide a variety of services

for veterans seeking employment, including current employment

information, education and training opportunities, job counseling and

job search workshops and resume preparation assistance. Disabled

Veterans Outreach Program specialists at these offices and at VA

regional offices and readjustment counseling centers (Vet Centers)

work closely with employers, veterans service organizations, community-based organizations and other government agencies to

promote job development and improve employment and training

opportunities for disabled veterans.

Re-employment Rights

A person who left a civilian job to enter active duty in the Armed

Forces may be entitled to return to the job after discharge or release

from active duty. Re-employment rights are provided for those who

served in the active duty or reserve components of the Armed

Forces. To be re-employed, four requirements must be met: (1) the

person must give advance notice of military service to the employer;

(2) the cumulative absence from the civilian job shall not exceed five

years (with some exceptions); (3) the person must submit a timely

application for re-employment; and (4) the person must not have

been released with a dishonorable or other punitive discharge.

The law calls for the returning veteran to be placed in the job as if the

veteran had remained continuously employed. This means that the

person may be entitled to benefits that are based on seniority, such

as pensions, pay increases and promotions. The law also prohibits

discrimination in hiring, promotion or other advantages of employment on the basis of military service. Applications for re-employment

should be given, verbally or in writing, to a person authorized to

represent the company for hiring purposes. A record should be kept

of the application. If there are problems gaining re-employment, the

employee should contact the Department of Labor’s Veterans’

Employment and Training Service (VETS) in the state of the employer concerned. This applies to private sector, as well as state,
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local and federal government employees, including the Postal

Service.

Employees should contact their agency personnel office if they have

questions about their employment restoration rights. If a veteran is

not re-employed or is not re-employed properly, the veteran has the

right to file a complaint with VETS. Additionally, federal employees

may appeal directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Nonfederal employees may file complaints in U.S. district court. Additional information is available on the Internet from the Department of

Labor at (http://www.dol.gov/vets/welcome.html).

Federal Contractor Affirmative Action

The 2002 Jobs For Veterans Act, signed by President Bush on

Nov. 7, 2002, will change federal contractor affirmative action

requirements for certain groups of covered veterans and the

threshold dollar limits for qualifying contracts. However, these

changes will not go into effect until December 2003. Until then,

the information contained in this section is correct and complete.

Federal legislation prohibits employers with a federal contract of

$25,000 or more from discriminating in employment against veterans

who separated from active duty within the previous twelve months

and those who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign

or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized. This

prohibition also applies to Vietnam Era veterans who served on

active duty for more than 180 days, any part of which occurred

during the period listed in the “Introduction” section of this booklet,

who were discharged or released with other than a dishonorable

discharge or with a service-connected disability.

Federal legislation also prohibits employers with federal contracts

from discriminating in employment against “special disabled” veterans. Special disabled veterans are veterans who have a VA disability

rating of 30 percent or more, veterans who are rated at 10 or 20

percent who have been determined to have a serious employment

handicap and veterans who were discharged or released from active

duty because of a service-connected disability. Federal legislation

requires these contractors to take affirmative action to employ and

advance in employment campaign veterans, Vietnam Era and

special disabled veterans. It also requires these contractors to list

jobs, including full-time, temporary and part-time jobs, with state

employment services. Veterans who believe their rights have been
60

violated may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service or at a state employment office.

Federal Jobs for Veterans

Certain veterans, principally those who are disabled or who served in

a hostile area, are entitled to preference for civil service jobs being

filled by open, competitive exams. This preference includes five or 10

points added to passing scores in examinations and preference in

job retention. Preference also is provided for certain unremarried

widows and widowers of deceased veterans and for mothers of

military personnel who died in service; spouses of service-connected

disabled veterans who are no longer able to work in their usual

occupations; and mothers of veterans who have permanent and total

service-connected disabilities. Individuals interested in federal

employment should contact the personnel offices of the federal

agencies in which they wish to be employed. Or contact any Office of

Personnel Management (OPM) Service Center. The centers are

listed in telephone books under U.S. Government.

Veterans enjoy many advantages in applying for federal jobs, but

they are not guaranteed a position. Federal agencies are required by

law to adhere to Merit System Principles in making appointments.

Agencies have broad authority under law to select from a number of

different sources of candidates. An agency can, for example, hire

from an open competitive list of eligibles in which case veterans’

preference applies.

Alternatively, the agency can reinstate a former federal employee,

transfer someone from another agency, reassign someone from

within the agency, make a selection under merit promotion procedures, or appoint someone noncompetitively who is eligible under a

special appointing authority such as a Veterans Readjustment

Appointment or the special authority for 30 percent or more disabled

veterans. Veterans’ preference is not a factor here, and the decision

of which authority to use rests solely with the agency.

Finally, veterans who are eligible under the more recent Veterans’

Employment Opportunities Act enjoy the right to apply for jobs under

agency merit promotion procedures that are closed to others outside

the federal service. However, veterans receive no preference under

this authority.
61

Veterans Readjustment Appointment

The Veterans Readjustment Appointment (VRA) authority allows

federal agencies to appoint eligible veterans to jobs without competition. Such appointments may lead to conversion to career or careerconditional employment upon satisfactory work for two years.

Veterans seeking VRA appointment should apply directly to the

agency where they wish to work.

OPM administers the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program,

which requires that all federal departments and agencies establish

plans to facilitate the recruitment and advancement of disabled

veterans. OPM provides information on veterans’ federal service

employment rights and privileges on the Internet

(http://www.opm.gov/veterans/). Federal job openings can be found

on the Internet (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov).

Miscellaneous Programs and Benefits

Loans for Farms and Homes

Loans and guaranties may be provided by the U.S. Department of

Agriculture to buy, improve or operate farms. Loans and guaranties

are available for housing in towns generally up to 20,000 in population. Applications from veterans have preference. For further information contact Farm Service Agency or Rural Development, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or apply at local

Department of Agriculture offices, usually located in county seats.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Many of HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funded

activities can benefit homeless veterans, disabled veterans and

veterans with low or moderate-incomes. Activities include

homeownership assistance, micro enterprise development, job

training and substance abuse counseling. HUD grants are provided

to qualified applicants, including non-profit organizations and state

and local governments, to acquire, construct, lease or operate

transitional or permanent housing for homeless veterans. HUD’s

Veteran Resource Center (HUDVET), sponsored by national veterans service organizations, is an information center for veterans on all

HUD sponsored housing and community development programs and

services. To contact a HUDVET information specialist, call

1-800-998-9999, TDD 800-483-2209, or e-mail hudvet@hud.gov.
62

Naturalization Preference

A naturalization applicant who served three years in the U.S. military

and is a lawful permanent resident is excused from any specific

period of required residence, period of residence in any specific

place, or physical presence within the United States if the application

for naturalization is filed while the applicant is still serving in the

military or within six months of honorable discharge. Applicants who

file for naturalization more than six months after termination of three

years of U.S. military service may count any periods of honorable

service as residence and physical presence in the United States.

Applicants must file Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

Military Naturalization Packet consisting of INS: Form N-400, Form

G-325B and Form N-426.

Aliens and non-citizen nationals with honorable service in the U.S.

Armed Forces during specified periods of hostilities may be naturalized without having to comply with the general requirements for

naturalization. This is the only section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, which allows persons who have not been

lawfully admitted for permanent residence to file an application for

naturalization. Any person who has served honorably during qualifying time may file an application at any time in his or her life if, at the

time of enlistment, reenlistment, extension of enlistment or induction,

such person shall have been in the United States, the Canal Zone,

American Samoa or Swain’s Island, or, on or after Nov., 18, 1997,

aboard a public vessel owned or operated by the United States for

non-commercial service, whether or not lawful admittance to the

United States for permanent residence has been granted.

On July 3, 2002, President Bush issued Executive Order 13269

providing naturalization for aliens and non-citizen nationals serving

on active duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces during Operation

Enduring Freedom, from Sept. 11, 2001, to a date not yet determined. In addition, if a person dies as a result of injury or disease

incurred or aggravated by such service, their survivor(s) can apply

for posthumous citizenship at any time within two years of the death

of the alien or non-citizen national by submitting Form N-644 to their

local INS district office. For additional information, visit the INS

Internet Web site: (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/index.htm).

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a number of

services to assist veterans who own or are considering starting small
63

businesses. Among the services provided are loan guarantee

programs, venture capital assistance, entrepreneurial development

programs, government contracting assistance, and Military Reservist

Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Information about SBA’s full range

of services can be found on the Internet (http://www.sba.gov/vets) or

by contacting the Office of Veterans Business Development at

(202) 205-6773. Veterans Business Development Officers at SBA

District Offices can provide additional information. Call

1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722) to locate the nearest SBA

Office or for additional information.

Federal Tax Credits and Assistance

Federal law provides tax credits and deductions that apply to many

veterans or their families. The Earned Income Tax Credit may be

available to low or moderate-income workers, depending on the

amount of earned income and the number of children in the household. Even when income is below the threshold for filing a tax return,

eligible individuals can file a return and claim the credit to receive a

refund. Education credits and deductions for non-reimbursed expenses may be available to individuals when they or members of

their family are pursuing post-secondary or job-related education.

Child Tax Credits may be available to those with children under

age 17. Special deductions and credits can benefit disabled taxpayers or their families. Free tax help is available for low-income, elderly,

disabled, and non-English speaking individuals. Returns can be filed

electronically to speed receipt of refunds and increase accuracy. For

additional information, call the Internal Revenue Service at

1-800-829-1040 or visit the IRS Web site at (http://www.irs.gov).

Social Security

Monthly retirement, disability and survivor benefits under Social

Security are payable to veterans and dependents if the veteran has

earned enough work credits under the program. Upon the veteran’s

death, a one-time payment of $255 also may be made to the

veteran’s spouse or child. In addition, a veteran may qualify at

age 65 for Medicare’s hospital insurance and medical insurance.

Medicare protection is available to people who have received Social

Security disability benefits for 24 months, and to insured people and

their dependents who need dialysis or kidney transplants.

Active duty or active duty for training in the U.S. uniformed services

has counted toward Social Security since January 1957. Since

Jan. 1, 1988, inactive duty for training as a member of reserve
64

components of the armed forces also counts toward Social Security.

Servicemembers and veterans receive an extra $300 credit for each

quarter in which they received any basic pay for active duty or active

duty for training after 1956 and before 1978. Veterans who served in

the military from 1978 through 2001, receive a credit of $100 for

each $300 of reported wages up to a maximum credit of $1,200.

After 2001, additional earnings will no longer be credited. No additional Social Security taxes are withheld from pay for these extra

credits. Also, noncontributory Social Security credits of $160 a month

may be granted to veterans who served after Sept. 15, 1940, and

before 1957, including attendance at service academies. More

information is available on the Internet (http://www.ssa.gov/) or by

calling l-800-772-1213.

Supplemental Security Income

Those age 65 or older and those who are blind or otherwise disabled

may be eligible for monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

payments if they have little or no income or resources. States may

supplement the federal payments to eligible persons and may

disregard additional income. Although VA compensation and pension

benefits are counted in determining income for SSI purposes, some

other income is not counted. Also, not all resources count in determining eligibility. For example, a person’s home and the land it is on

do not count. Personal effects, household goods, automobiles and

life insurance may not count, depending upon their value. Information and assistance in applying for these payments may be obtained

at any Social Security office or by calling l-800-772-1213.

Passports to Visit Overseas Cemeteries

“No-fee” passports are available for family members visiting graves

or memorialization sites at World War I and World War II cemeteries

overseas. Those eligible for such passports include surviving

spouses, parents, children, sisters, brothers and guardians of the

deceased who are buried or commemorated in American military

cemeteries on foreign soil. For additional information, write to the

American Battle Monuments Commission, Courthouse Plaza II,

Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201, phone

703-696-6897, or visit their Homepage on the Internet at

(http://www.abmc.gov/).

Medals

Medals awarded while in active service are issued by the individual

military services if requested by veterans or by the next of kin of
65

deceased veterans. Requests for the issuance or replacement of

military service medals, decorations, and awards should be directed

to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served.

However, for Air Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army veterans, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) verifies the

awards to which a veteran is entitled and forwards requests and

verification to appropriate service department for issuance.

Requests for replacement medals should be submitted on Standard

Form 180, “Request Pertaining To Military Records,” which may be

obtained at VA offices, from veterans organizations or downloaded

from the Internet (http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/otherforms.htm). The

Military Personnel Records section of NPRC’s Web site

(http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis.htm), has forms,

addresses and other information on requesting medals.

When requesting medals, type or clearly print the veteran’s full

name, include the veteran’s branch of service, service number or

Social Security Number and provide the veteran’s exact or approximate dates of military service. The request must contain the signature of the veteran or the signature of the next of kin if the veteran is

deceased. If available, include a copy of the discharge or separation

document, WDAGO Form 53-55 or DD Form 214.

Review of Discharges

Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with

authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals that

are not issued by a sentence of a general courts-martial. The board

has no authority to address medical discharges. The veteran or, if

the veteran is deceased or incompetent, the surviving spouse, next

of kin or legal representative may apply for a review of discharge by

writing to the military department concerned, using Department of

Defense Form 293. This form may be obtained at a VA regional

office, from veterans organizations or from the Internet

(http://web1.whs.osd.mil/icdhome/ddeforms.htm). However, if the

discharge was more than 15 years ago, a veteran must petition the

appropriate service Board for Correction of Military Records using

Department of Defense Form 149, which is discussed in the “Correction of Military Records” section of this booklet. A discharge review is

conducted by a review of an applicant’s record and, if requested, by

a hearing before the board.

Discharges awarded as a result of a continuous period of unauthorized absence in excess of 180 days make persons ineligible for VA
66

benefits regardless of action taken by discharge review boards,

unless VA determines there were compelling circumstances for the

absence. Boards for the correction of military records also may

consider such cases.

Veterans with disabilities incurred or aggravated during active

military service may qualify for medical or related benefits regardless

of separation and characterization of service. Veterans separated

administratively under other than honorable conditions may request

that their discharge be reviewed for possible recharacterization,

provided they file their appeal within 15 years of the date of separation. Questions regarding the review of a discharge should be

addressed to the appropriate discharge review board at the address

listed on Department of Defense Form 293.

Replacing Military Records

If discharge or separation papers are lost, veterans or the next of kin

of deceased veterans may obtain duplicate copies by completing

forms found on the Internet at (http://www.archives.gov/

research_room/vetrecs/) and mailing or faxing them to the National

Personnel Records Center. Alternatively, write the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd.,

St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. Specify that a duplicate separation

document or discharge is needed. The veteran’s full name should be

printed or typed so that it can be read clearly, but the request must

also contain the signature of the veteran or the signature of the next

of kin, if the veteran is deceased. Include branch of service, service

number or Social Security number and exact or approximate dates

and years of service. Use Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining

To Military Records.” (See the “World Wide Web Links” section of this

booklet for more information on obtaining this and other federal

forms through the Internet, or contact your local VA regional office.) It

is not necessary to request a duplicate copy of a veteran’s discharge

or separation papers solely for the purpose of filing a claim for VA

benefits. If complete information about the veteran’s service is

furnished on the application, VA will obtain verification of service from

the National Personnel Records Center or the service department

concerned.

Correction of Military Records

The secretary of a military department, acting through a board for

correction of military records, has authority to change any military

record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. A
67

correction board may consider applications for correction of a military

record, including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial.

The veteran, survivor or legal representative generally must file a

request for correction within three years after discovery of an alleged

error or injustice. The board may excuse failure to file within the

prescribed time, however, if it finds it would be in the interest of

justice to do so. It is an applicant’s responsibility to show why the

filing of the application was delayed and why it would be in the

interest of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay.

To justify any correction, it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of

the board that the alleged entry or omission in the records was in

error or unjust. Applications should include all available evidence,

such as signed statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments

supporting the requested correction. Application is made with DD

Form 149, available at VA offices, from veterans organizations or

from the Internet (http://web1.whs.osd.mil/icdhome/ddeforms.htm).

Armed Forces Retirement Homes

Veterans are eligible to live in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in

Gulfport, Miss., or the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., if their active duty military service is at least 50 percent

enlisted, warrant officer or limited duty officer and if they are: 60

years of age or older and have completed 20 years or more of active

duty service; unable to earn a livelihood due to a service-connected

disability; unable to earn a livelihood due to a non-service connected

disability and served in a war theater during a time of war declared

by Congress or received hostile fire pay; female veterans who

served prior to 1948. Veterans are not eligible if they have been

convicted of a felony or are not free from alcohol, drug or psychiatric

problems. Married couples are welcome, but both must be eligible in

their own right. At the time of admission, applicants must be capable

of living independently.

The Armed Forces Retirement Home is an independent federal

agency. For information, please call AFRH-Gulfport at

1-800-332-3527, AFRH-Washington at 1-800-422-9988, or visit their

Web site at: (http://www.afrh.com/).

Commissary and Exchange Privileges

Unlimited exchange and commissary store privileges in the

United States are available to honorably discharged veterans
68

with a service-connected disability rated at 100 percent, unremarried surviving spouses of members or retired members of the

armed forces, recipients of the Medal of Honor, and their dependents and orphans. Certification of total disability is done by VA.

Reservists and their dependents also may be eligible. Privileges

overseas are governed by international law and are available

only if agreed upon by the foreign government concerned.

Though these benefits are provided by DoD, VA does provide

assistance in completing DD Form 1172, “Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card.” For detailed

information, contact the nearest military installation.

Death Gratuity

Military services provide a death gratuity of $6,000 to a deceased

servicemember’s next of kin. The death gratuity is paid for death in

active service or for retirees who died within 120 days of retirement

as a result of service-connected injury or illness. Parents, brothers or

sisters may be provided the gratuity, if designated as next of kin by

the deceased. The gratuity is paid by the last military command of

the deceased. If the beneficiary is not paid automatically, application

may be made to the military service concerned.

Appeals

Veterans and other claimants for VA benefits have the right to appeal

decisions made by a VA regional office or medical center. Typical

issues appealed are disability compensation, pension, education

benefits, recovery of overpayments, medication copayment debts

and reimbursement for medical services that were not authorized.

A claimant has one year from the date of the notification of a VA

decision to file an appeal. The first step in the appeal process is for a

claimant to file a written notice of disagreement with the VA regional

office or medical center that made the decision. This is a written

statement that a claimant disagrees with VA’s decision. Following

receipt of the written notice, VA will furnish the claimant a “Statement

of the Case” describing what facts, laws and regulations were used

in deciding the case. To complete the request for appeal, the claimant must file a “Substantive Appeal” within 60 days of the mailing of

the Statement of the Case, or within one year from the date VA

mailed its decision, whichever period ends later.
69

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

The Board of Veterans’ Appeals, located in Washington, D.C., makes

decisions on appeals on behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Although it is not required, a veterans service organization, an agent

or an attorney may represent a claimant. Appellants may present

their case in person to a member of the Board at a hearing in

Washington, D.C., at a VA regional office or by videoconference.

The texts of appeal decisions made by the Board, as well as a plainlanguage pamphlet, “Understanding the Appeal Process,” can be

found on the Internet (http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva). This pamphlet

may also be requested by writing to Hearings and Transcription Unit

(014HRG), Board of Veterans’ Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420.

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

A final Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision that does not grant a

claimant the benefits desired may be appealed to the U.S. Court of

Appeals for Veterans Claims, an independent court, not part of the

Department of Veterans Affairs.

Notice of an appeal must be received by the court with a postmark

that is within 120 days after the date — stamped on the decision —

on which the Board of Veterans’ Appeals mailed its decision. The

court reviews the record considered by the Board of Veterans’

Appeals. It does not hold trials or receive new evidence. Appellants

may represent themselves before the court or have lawyers or

approved agents as representatives. Oral argument is held only at

the direction of the court. Either party may appeal a decision of the

court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and may

seek review in the Supreme Court of the United States.

The court’s Internet Web site (http://www.vetapp.gov) contains its

decisions, case status information, rules and procedures, and other

special announcements. The court’s decisions can also be found in

West’s Veterans Appeals Reporter, and on the Westlaw and LEXIS

online services. For other questions, write to the Clerk of the Court,

625 Indiana Ave. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004, or call the

clerk’s office at 202-501-5970.
70

2003 Improved Disability Pension

 Maximum

Status Annual Rate ($)

Veteran without dependent 9,690

Veteran with one dependent 12,692

Veteran permanently housebound, no dependents 11,843

Veteran permanently housebound, one dependent 14,844

Veteran needing regular aid and attendance,

 no dependents 16,169

Veteran needing regular aid and attendance,

 one dependent 19,167

Two veterans married to one another 12,692

Veterans of World War I and Mexican Border

 Period, addition to the applicable annual rate 2,197

Increase for each additional dependent child 1,653

Examples and more information can be found in the Compensation and Pension Benefits section of VA’s Internet pages

(http://www.va.gov). Click on “Rate Tables.”

2003 Disability Compensation

Disability Monthly Rate ($)

 10 percent 104

 20 percent 201

 30 percent 310

 40 percent 445

 50 percent 633

 60 percent 801

 70 percent 1,008

 80 percent 1,171

 90 percent 1,317

100 percent 2,193

Veterans with disability ratings between 30 percent and 100

percent are eligible for allowances for a spouse ranging from $37

to $125; and for each child, $19 to $64. The amount depends on

the disability rating.

Tables
71

2003 Vocational Rehabilitation Rates

(Paid monthly ($))

*Type of training

A. Institutional or independent living training, or unpaid work

experience in a federal, state or local agency, or an agency of a

federally recognized Indian tribe.

B. Unpaid on-the-job training in a federal, state or local agency,

or an agency of a federally recognized Indian tribe; training in a

home; vocational course in a rehabilitation facility or sheltered

workshop; independent instructor; institutional non-farm cooperative.

C. Farm cooperative, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or onthe-job non-farm cooperative. VA payment is based on the wage

received.

D. Extended evaluation.

Type of No One Two Each

training* dependent dep. dep. add. dep.

A

Full-time 454.96 564.34 665.03 48.48

3/4-time 341.85 423.87 497.21 37.28

1/2-time 228.74 283.41 333.13 24.87

B

Full-time 454.96 564.34 665.03 48.48

C

Full-time 397.79 481.05 554.39 36.06

D

Full-time 454.96 564.34 665.03 48.48

3/4-time 341.85 423.87 497.21 37.28

1/2-time 228.74 283.41 333.13 24.87

1/4-time 114.35 141.70 166.57 12.41
72

Add $204 if veteran was totally disabled eight continuous

years prior to death.

Spouses

2003 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

(Veteran died on/after Jan. 1, 1993)

Allowances Monthly Rate ($)

Basic Rate $948

Additional:

 Each Dependent Child 237

 Aid and Attendance 237

 Housebound 113

Spouses

2003 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

(Veteran died prior to Jan. 1, 1993)

E-1-E-6 ...................................... 948

E-7............................................. 980

E-8............................................. 1,035

E-9............................................. 1,080

W-1............................................. 1,001

W-2............................................. 1,042

W-3............................................. 1,072

W-4............................................. 1,134

O-1............................................. 1,001

O-2............................................. 1,035

O-3............................................. 1,107

O-4............................................. 1,171

O-5............................................. 1,289

O-6............................................. 1,453

O-7............................................. 1,570

O-8............................................. 1,722

O-9............................................. 1,843

O-10........................................... 2,021

Pay Grade Monthly Rate ($)

For more information on Dependency and Indemnity

Compensation, follow the Compensation and Pension Benefits link

on VA’s Internet pages (http://www.va.gov). Click on “Rate Tables.”
73

Spina Bifida Benefits

(Effective Dec. 1, 2002)

Benefits for Children of Women Vietnam Veterans

Born with Certain Birth Defects

(Effective Dec. 1, 2002)

 Level I Level II Level III Level IV

Monthly ($) 105 232 804 1,373

Provided to children of women Vietnam veterans who

suffer from certain covered birth defects. The four levels

represent degree of disability.

Level I Level II Level III

Monthly Rate ($) 232 804 1,373

Provided to children of Vietnam veterans born with spina

bifida. The three levels represent degree of disability.

2003 Improved Death Pension

 Maximum

 Recipient Annual Rate ($)

Surviving spouse 6,497

 With one dependent child 8,507

Surviving spouse permanently housebound 7,942

 With dependent child 9,948

Surviving spouse in need of regular

aid and attendance 10,387

 With dependent child 12,393

Allowance for each additional

dependent child 1,653

Pension for each surviving child 1,653
74

Funding Fees

Loan Guaranty Maximum

Amount Percent Amount ($)

Up to $45,000 50 22,500

$45,001 to $56,250 40-50 22,500

$56,251 to $144,000 40 36,000

$144,001 or more 25 60,000

Manufactured home or lot 40 20,000

Loan Guaranty Entitlement

Loan Veterans Reservists

Category % of loan % of loan

Purchase or construction loans 2.0 2.75

with down payments of

less than 5 percent,

refinancing loans and

home improvement loans

Purchase or construction loans 1.5 2.25

with down payments of

at least 5 percent but

less than 10 percent

Purchase or construction loans 1.25 2.0

with down payments of

10 percent or more

Manufactured home loans 1.0 1.0

Interest rate reduction loans 0.5 0.5

Assumption of VA-guaranteed loans 0.5 0.5

Second or subsequent use

without a down payment 3.0 3.0
75

For information on: Call:

VA Benefits 1-800-827-1000

Health Benefits 1-877-222-8387

Education Benefits 1-888-442-4551

Life Insurance 1-800-669-8477

Debt Management 1-800-827-0648

Mammography Hotline 1-888-492-7844

Telecommunication Device

 for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-829-4833

CHAMPVA 1-800-733-8387

Headstones and Markers 1-800-697-6947

Gulf War & Agent Orange 1-800-749-8387

Health Eligibility Center 404-235-1257

1644 Tullie Circle or

Atlanta, GA 30329-2303 1-800-929-8387

This VA Federal Benefits booklet and other VA

information is available on VA’s World Wide Web

Home Page at:

http://www.va.gov/

Important

Phone Numbers
76

VA Home page................................................................. www.va.gov

VA consumer affairs........................ www.va.gov/customer/conaff.asp

VA Benefits and Health Care Information:

Compensation & Pension.............................. www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/

VA benefits application......................... vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp

Health benefits and services.......................... www.va.gov/vbs/health/

Burial and memorial benefits................................... www.cem.va.gov/

Education benefits................................................... www.gibill.va.gov/

VA home loan guaranties.............................. www.homeloans.va.gov/

Board of Veterans’ Appeals................................. www.va.gov/vbs/bva

Benefits outside the U.S.................... www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/foreign/

TRICARE............................................................. www.tricare.osd.mil/

CHAMPVA................................................................ www.va.gov/hac/

Forms:

VA forms................................................................ www.va.gov/forms/

Government forms................... www.vba.va.gov/pubs/otherforms.htm

Employment Assistance:

For veterans................................... www.opm.gov/veterans/index.htm

Veterans’ preference ........ www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.htm

Federal government job openings.................. www.usajobs.opm.gov/

Dept. of Labor Employment & Training.............. www.dol.gov/dol/vets

Business Assistance:

Small Business Administration............................ www.sba.gov/VETS/

Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.............. www.va.gov/OSDBU/

Other Useful Sites:

Arlington National Cemetery.................... www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

Department of Defense...................................... www.defenselink.mil/

Military funeral honors.................. www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/

Military records................. www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/

La Versión en Español de Este Folleto:

www.va.gov/opa/feature/

World Wide Web Links
77

VA Facilities

Note: Patients should call the

telephone numbers listed to obtain

clinic hours of operation and

specialties served.

The following symbols indicate

additional programs are available

at medical centers:

* for nursing-home care units

# for domiciliaries

ALABAMA

Medical Centers:

Central AL Veterans HC System (1-

800-214-8387):

Montgomery 36109 (215 Perry Hill

Rd., 334-272-4670)

#*Tuskegee 36083 (2400 Hospital

Rd., 334-727-0550)

Birmingham 35233 (700 S. 19th St.,

205-933-8101)

*Tuscaloosa 35404 (3701 Loop Rd.

East, 205-554-2000)

Clinics:

Anniston/Oxford 36203 (Hwy 78

East/96 Ali Way, Creekside South,

Oxford, 256-832-4141)

Decatur/Madison 35758 (8075

Madison Blvd., Suite 101,

Madison, 256-772-6220)

Dothan 36303 (2020 Alexander Dr.,

334-272-4670, ext. 4768/4690)

Gadsden 35906 (3004/3006 Rainbow Dr., 256-442-0766/413-7154)

Huntsville 35801 (201 Governor’s

Dr. S.W., 256-535-1005/1006/

1007)

Huntsville 35801 (2006 Franklin St.,

SE, Suite 104, 256-534-1691)

Jasper 35501 (3400 Hwy 78 East,

Medical Towers Suite 215, 205-

221-7384)

Mobile 36604 (1504 Springhill Ave.,

251-219-3900)

Shoals Area Sheffield 35660 (422DD

Cox Blvd., 256-381-3602/9055)

Regional Office:

Montgomery 36109 (345 Perry Hill

Rd., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Birmingham 35233 (1500 5th Ave.

S., 205-731-0550)

Mobile 36606 (2577 Government

Blvd., 334-478-5906)

National Cemeteries:

Mobile 36604 (1202 Virginia Street,

for information, 850-453-4108 or

453-4846)

Fort Mitchell 36856 (Fort Mitchell,

553 Hwy. 165, 334-855-4731)

ALASKA

Medical Center:

Alaska Veterans HC System and

Regional Office:

Anchorage 99508-2989 (2925

DeBarr Rd, 907-257-4700)

#Homeless Veterans Service:

Anchorage 99503 (3001 C Street, 1-

800-764-2995)

Clinics:

Kenai 99611 (11355 Frontage Rd.,

Suite 130, 907-283-2231)

Fairbanks 99703 (Ft. Wainwright,

Bassett Army Comm. Hosp.,

Gaffney Bldg. 4065, Rm. 169/176,

907-353-6370)

Regional Office:

Anchorage 99508-2989 (2925

DeBarr Rd., local, 907-257-5460;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Juneau 99802 (P.O. Box 20069,

907-586-7472)

Vet Centers:

Anchorage 99508 (4201 Tudor

Centre Dr., Suite 115, 907-563-

6966)

Fairbanks 99701 (542 4th Ave.,

Suite 100, 907-456-4238)

Kenai 99669 (Red Diamond Ctr.,

Bldg. F, Suite 4, 43335 Kalifornsky

Beach Rd., 907-260-7640)
78

Wasilla 99654 (851 E. Westpoint

Ave., Suite 111, 907-376-4318)

National Cemeteries:

Fort Richardson 99505-5498

(Building #997, Davis Highway,

907-384-7075)

Sitka 99835 (803 Sawmill Creek

Road, for information, call 907-

384-7075)

ARIZONA

Medical Centers:

*Phoenix 85012 (650 East Indian

School Rd., 602-277-5551,

Enrollment 602-222-2755)

*#Prescott 86313 (500 Highway 89

North, 928-445-4860)

*Tucson 85723 (3601 S. 6th Ave.,

520-792-1450)

Clinics:

Bellemont 86015 (Camp Navajo

Army Depot, P.O. Box 16196, 928-

445-4860 ext. 7820 or 928-226-

1056)

Buckeye 85326 (1209 N. Miller Rd.,

623-386-5785)

Cottonwood 86326 (203 Candy

Lane, Suite 5B, 928-649-1532 or

1-800-949-1005 ext. 7331)

Casa Grande 85222 (Plaza del Sol,

Suites H&I, 900 E. Florence Blvd.,

520-629-4900 or 1-800-470-8262)

Green Valley 85615 (380 W. Vista

Hermosa, Suite 140, 520-629-

4900 or 1-800-470-8262)

Kingman 86401 (1726 Beverly Ave,

928-445-4860 ext. 6830 or 928-

692-0080)

Lake Havasu City 86403 (2035

Mesquite Ave., Suite E., 928-445-

4860 ext. 7300 or 928-680-0090)

Mesa 85212 (6950 E. Williams Field

Rd., 602-222-6568)

Safford 85546 (Bureau of Land

Management, 711 S. 14’th Ave.,

520-629-4900 or 1-800-470-8262)

Show Low 85901(2450A Show Low

Lake Rd., St. 928, 520-532-1069)

Sierra Vista 85613 (Ft. Huachuca,

Bliss Army Health Ctr., Bldg.

45001, 520-629-4900 or 1-800-

470-8262)

Sun City 85351 (10147W Grand

Ave., 602-222-2630)

Yuma 85365 (Bureau of Land Mgnt.,

2555 E. Gila Ridge Road, 520-

629-4900 or 1-800-470-8262)

Regional Office:

Phoenix 85012 (3225 N. Central

Ave.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Phoenix 85012 (77 E. Weldon Ave.,

Suite # 100, 602-640-2981)

Prescott 86303 (161 S. Granite St.,

Suite B, 928-778-3469)

Tucson 85719 (3055 N. 1st Ave.,

520-882-0333)

National Cemeteries:

Phoenix 85024 (National Memorial

Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N.

Cave Creek Rd., 480-513-3600)

Prescott 86301 (500 Highway 89 N.;

for information, call 480-513-3600)

ARKANSAS

Medical Centers:

Fayetteville 72703 (1100 N. College

Ave., 501-443-4301)

Central Arkansas Veterans

Healthcare System

#*North Little Rock 72114 (2200

Fort Roots Dr., 501-257-1000)

 Little Rock 72205 (4300 W. 7th

St., 501-257-1000)

Clinics:

El Dorado 71730 (460 West Oak,

870-862-2489)

Ft. Smith 72901 (Sparks Medical

Plaza, 1500 Dodson Ave., 501

709-6850)

Harrison 72601 (Main Street Clinic,

707 N. Main St., 870 741-3592)

Hot Springs 72214 (1661 Airport

Rd., 501-760-1513)

Jonesboro 72401 (223 East Jackson, 901-523-8990)
79

Mountain Home 72653 (405

Buttercup Dr., 870-425-3030)

Paragould 72450 (1101 West

Morgan, Suite #8, 870-236-9756)

Regional Office:

North Little Rock 72115 (Bldg. 65,

Ft. Roots, P.O. Box 1280; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

North Little Rock 72114 (201 W.

Broadway, Suite A, 501-324-6395)

National Cemeteries:

Fayetteville 72701 (700 Government

Avenue, 501-444-5051)

Fort Smith 72901 (522 Garland Ave.,

501-783-5345)

Little Rock 72206 (2523 Confederate Boulevard, 501-324-6401)

CALIFORNIA

Medical Centers:

*Fresno 93703 (2615 E. Clinton

Ave., 559-225-6100)

Greater Los Angeles HC System:

#*West Los Angeles 90073 (11301

Wilshire Blvd., 310-478-3711)

*Loma Linda 92357 (11201

Benton St., 909-825-7084 or 1-

800-741-8387)

*Long Beach 90822 (5901 E. 7th

St., 562-826-8000)

Northern Calif. HC System:

*Martinez 94553 (150 Muir Rd.,

925-372-2000)

Sacramento 95655 (10535

Hospital Way, 916-366-5366)

Palo Alto HC System:

*Livermore 94550 (4951 Arroyo

Rd., 925-447-2560)

#Menlo Park 94025 (795 Willow

Road, 650-493-5000)

#*Palo Alto 94304 (3801 Miranda

Ave., 650-493-5000)

San Diego HC System:

*San Diego 92161 (3350 La Jolla

Village Dr., 858-552-8585)

*San Francisco 94121 (4150

Clement St., 415-221-4810)

Clinics:

Anaheim 92801 (1801 W. Romneya

Drive, Suite 303, 714-780-5400)

Antelope Valley/Lancaster 93536 (N.

Lancaster Ave., 661-729-8655)

Atwater 95301 (3605 Hospital Road,

Suite D, 209-381-0105)

Auburn 95603 (3123 Professional

Drive, Suite 250, 1-888-227-5404)

Bakersfield 93301 (1801 Westwind

Dr., 661-632-1800)

Brawley/Imperial Valley 92227 (528

G. St., 760-344-1881)

Capitola 95010 (co-located at Santa

Cruz Co. Vet Center, 1350 N. 41st

St., Suite 102, 831-464-5519)

Chico 95926 (280 Cohasset Rd.,

Suite 101, 530-879-5000)

Chula Vista 91910 (835 Third

Avenue, 619-409-1600)

Corona 92879 (800 Magnolia Ave,

Suite 101, 909-817-8820)

Culver City 90230 (3831 Hughes

Avenue, Ste. 100, 310-202-8223)

East Los Angeles 90040 (5400 E.

Olympic Blvd., #150, City of

Commerce, 323-725-7557)

Escondido 92025 (815 East Pennsylvania Ave., 760-745-2000)

Eureka 95501 (727 E. Street, 707-

442-5335)

Fairfield 94535 (103 Bodin Circle,

Travis AFB, 707-437-1800)

Gardena 90247 (1251 Redondo

Beach Blvd., 3rd Fl., 310-851-

4705)

Lompoc 93436 (1111 E. Ocean Ave.,

Suite 8, 805-736-7767)

Long Beach 90806 (2001 River

Avenue, 562-388-8000)

Los Angeles 90012 (351 E. Temple

St., 213-253-5000)

Mare Island 94592 (Bldg. 201,

Walnut Ave., 707-562-8200)

*Martinez 94553 (150 Muir Road,

925-372-2000)

Mission Valley 92108 (8810 Rio San

Diego Drive, 619-400-5000)
80

Modesto 95350 (1524 McHenry,

Suite 315, 209-557-6200)

Monterey 93955 (located at Fort

Ord, 3401 Engineer Lane,

Seaside, 831-883-3800)

Oakland 94612 (2221 Martin Luther

King Jr. Way, 510-267-7820)

Oakland MHC 94607 (Oakland Army

Base, 2505 West 14th St., 510-

587-3400)

Oxnard 93030 (250 W. Citrus Grove

Ave., #150, 805-983-6384)

Palm Desert 92211 (41865 Boardwalk, Suite 103, 760-341-5570 or

800-741-8387)

Pasadena 91107 (1350 N. Altadena

Dr., 626-296-9500)

Redding 96002 (351 Hartnell Ave.,

530-226-7555)

Sacramento 95652-1074 (5342

Dudley Blvd. McClellan Park AFB,

916-561-7411)

San Francisco 94103 (13th &

Mission St., Suite 3280, 415-551-

7300)

San Jose 95119 (80 Great Oaks

Blvd., 408-363-3000)

San Luis Obispo 93401 (1288 Moro

St., #200, 805-543-1233)

Santa Ana 92704 (2740 S. Bristol

Street, Ste. 101, 714-825-3500)

Santa Fe Springs 90670 (10210 Orr

and Day Rd., 562-864-5565)

Santa Barbara 93110 (4440 Calle

Real, 805-683-1491)

Santa Rosa 95403 (3315 Chanate

Rd., 707-570-3800)

Seaside 93955 (3401 Engineer Ln.,

831-883-3800)

*Sepulveda 91343 (16111 Plummer

St., 818-891-7711)

Sonora 95370 (19747 Greenley Rd.,

209-588-2600)

Stockton 95231 (co-located with San

Joaquin General Hospital, 500 W.

Hospital Rd., 209-946-3400)

Sun City 92586 (28125 Bradley

Road, #130, 909-672-1931)

Tulare 93274 (1050 N. Cherry St.,

559-684-8703)

Ukiah 95482 (238B Hospital Dr.,

707-468-1870)

Upland 91786 (1238 E. Arrow Hwy.,

#100, 909-946-5348)

Victorville 92392 (12138 Industrial

Blvd., Suite 120, 760-951-2599 or

800-741-8387)

Vista 92083 (1840 West Drive, 760-

643-2000)

Regional Offices:

Los Angeles 90024 (Fed. Bldg.,

11000 Wilshire Blvd., serving

counties of Inyo, Kern, Los

Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino,

San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara

and Ventura; statewide, 1-800-

827-1000)

San Diego 92108 (8810 Rio San

Diego Dr., serving Imperial,

Riverside and San Diego;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Oakland 94612 (1301 Clay St., Rm.

1300 North; statewide, 1-800-827-

1000)

Counties of Alpine, Lassen, Modoc

and Mono served by Regional

Office in Reno, Nev.

Vet Centers:

Anaheim 92805 (859 S. Harbor

Blvd., 714-776-0161)

Chico 95926 (280 Cohasset Rd.,

530-899-8549)

Concord 94520 (1899 Clayton Rd.,

Suite 140, 925-680-4526)

Corona 92879 (800 Magnolia Ave.,

#140, 909-734-0525)

East Los Angeles 90022 (5400 E.

Olympic Blvd., #140, 323-728-

9966)

Eureka 95501 (2830 G St., Suite A,

707-444-8271)

Fresno 93726 (3636 N. 1st St., Suite

112, 559-487-5660)

Gardena 90247 (1045 W. Redondo

Beach Blvd., #150, Gardena, 310-

851-4705)
81

West Los Angeles 90230 (5730

Uplander Way, Ste. 100, Culver

City, 310-641-0326)

Marina 93933 (455 Reservation Rd.,

Suite E, 408-384-1660)

Oakland 94612 (1504 Franklin St.,

#200, 510-763-3904)

Redwood City 94062 (2946 Broadway St., 650-299-0672)

Rohnert Park 94928 (6225 State

Farm Dr., Suite 101, 707-586-

3295)

Sacramento 95825 (1111 Howe

Ave., Suite 390, 916-566-7430)

San Bernardino 92408 (155 West

Hospitality Lane, Suite #140, 909-

890-0797)

San Diego 92103 (2900 6th Ave.,

619-294-2040)

San Francisco 94103 (205 13th St.,

Suite 3190, 415-431-6021)

San Jose 95112 (278 N. 2nd St.,

408-993-0729)

Santa Barbara 93101 (1300 Santa

Barbara St., 805-564-2345)

Sepulveda 91343 (9737 Haskell

Ave., 818-892-9227)

Upland 91786 (313 N. Mountain

Ave., 909-982-0416)

Vista 92083 (1830 West Dr., Suite

103, 760-643-2070)

National Cemeteries:

Los Angeles 90049 (950 South

Sepulveda Blvd., 310-268-4494)

San Bruno 94066 (Golden Gate,

1300 Sneath Lane, San Francisco

call 415-761-1646; San Mateo call

415-589-7737)

San Diego 92106 (Fort Rosecrans,

P.O. Box 6237 Point Loma, 619-

553-2084)

Riverside 92518 (22495 Van Buren

Blvd., 909-653-8417)

San Francisco 94129 (Presidio of

San Francisco, call 415-761-1646)

Gustine 95322 (San Joaquin Valley,

32053 West McCabe Rd., 209-

854-1040)

COLORADO

Medical Centers:

*Grand Junction 81501 (2121 North

Ave., 970-242-0731)

VA Eastern Colorado HC System

 Denver 80220 (1055 Claremont

St., 303-399-8020)

 Pueblo 81005 (1339 S. Pueblo

Blvd., 719-553-1003)

Clinics:

Alamosa, CO 81101 (1847 2nd St.,

719-589-4488/4494)

Aurora 80045 (13001 East 17th

Place, Bldg. 500, 2nd floor, 303-

724-0190)

Colorado Springs 80905 (25 N.

Spruce St., 719-327-5660)

Durango, CO 81301 (3575 N. Main

Ave., 970-247-2214)

Fort Collins 80524 (1100 Poudre

River Drive, 970-224-1550)

Greeley 80631 (2020 16th Street,

970-313-0027)

LaJunta 81050 (1100 Carson Ave.,

Suite 104, 719-383-5195)

Lakewood 80225 (155 Van Gordon

St., Suite 395, 303-914-2680)

Lamar 81052 (301 Kendall Dr., 719-

336-5972)

Montrose 81401 (4 Hillcrest Plaza

Way, 970-249-7791)

Pueblo, CO 81008 (4112 Outlook

Blvd., 719-553-1000)

Regional Office:

Denver 80225 (Box 25126; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Boulder 80302 (2336 Canyon Blvd.,

Suite 130, 303-440-7306)

Colorado Springs 80903 (416 E.

Colorado Ave., 719-471-9992)

Denver 80230 (7465 E. First Ave.,

Ste. B, 303-326-0645)

National Cemeteries:

Denver 80235 (Fort Logan, 3698 S.

Sheridan Blvd., 303-761-0117)

Fort Lyon 81038 (VA Medical Center,

303-761-0117)
82

CONNECTICUT

Medical Centers:

Conn. HC System:

*West Haven Division 06516 (950

Campbell Ave., 203-932-5711)

Newington Division 06111 (555

Willard Ave., 860-666-6951)

Clinics:

Stamford 06924 (90 Morgan St., 1-

888-844-4441)

New London 06320 (15 Mohegan

Ave., 860-437-3611)

Waterbury 06706 (133 Scovill Street;

203-465-5292)

Windham 06226 (96 Mansfield

Street, 860-450-7583)

Winsted 06098 (115 Spencer Street,

860-738-6985)

Regional Office:

Hartford 06103 (450 Main St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Wethersfield 06109 (30 Jordan

Lane, 860-240-3543)

New Haven 06516 (141 Captain

Thomas Blvd., 203-932-9899)

Norwich 06360 (60 Main St., 860-

887-1755)

DELAWARE

Medical Center:

*Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood

Highway, 302-994-2511)

Clinic:

Millsboro 19966 (214 W. DuPont

Highway, 302-633-5212)

Regional Office:

Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood

Hwy., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood

Hwy., Bldg. 3, 302-994-1660)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Medical Center:

*Washington, D.C. 20422 (50 Irving

St., N.W., 202-745-8000)

Clinic:

Southeast 20032 (820 Chesapeake

St., S.E., 202-745-8685)

Regional Office:

Washington, D.C. 20421 (1722 I St.,

N.W., local, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Washington, D.C. 20032 (911 2nd

St., N.E., 202-543-8821)

FLORIDA

Medical Centers:

#*Bay Pines 33744 (10000 Bay

Pines Blvd., N., 727-398-6661)

N. Florida/S. Georgia Veterans HC

System:

*Gainesville 32608 (1601 Southwest Archer Rd., 352-376-1611)

*Lake City 32025 (619 S. Marion

Ave., 386-755-3016)

*Miami 33125 (1201 N.W. 16th St.,

305-324-4455)

*Tampa 33612 (13000 Bruce B.

Downs Blvd., 813-972-2000)

*West Palm Beach 33410 (7305 N.

Military Trail, 561-882-8262)

Clinics:

Avon Park 33825 (Central Florida

Healthcare, Inc., 950 C.R. 17A

West, 863-452-3000)

Boca Raton 33431 (900 Glades Rd.,

561 416-8995)

Brevard 32940 (2900 Veterans Way,

Viera, 321-637-3788)

Brooksville 34613 (14540 Cortez

Blvd., Suite 202, 352-597-8287)

Coral Springs 33065 (9900 W.

Sample Rd., Suite 100, 954-575-

4940)

Daytona Beach 32114 (551 National

Health Care Dr., 386-274-4600)

Deerfield Beach 33442 (2100 SW

10th St., 954-570-5572)

Delray Beach 33445 (4800 Linton

Blvd, 561-495-1973)

Fort Myers 33916 (3033 Winkler

Extension, 239-939-3939)
83

Ft. Pierce 34950 (728 North US 1,

561-595-5150)

Hallandale 33009 (2500 E.

Hallandale Beach Blvd., Penthouse II, 954-454-7788)

Homestead 33030 (950 Krome Ave.,

Suite 401, 305-248-0874)

Inverness 34104 (Citrus Co., 401

Central Ave., 352 637-3500)

Jacksonville 32206 (1833 Blvd.,

904-232-3033)

Key Largo 33037 (105662 Overseas

Highway, 305-451-0164)

Key West 33040 (1300 Douglas Cir.,

305-293-4609)

Kissimmee 34741 (201 Hilda St.,

Kissimmee, 407-518-5004)

Lakeland 33803 (3240 S. Florida

Ave., Lakeland, 863-701-2470)

Leesburg 34788 (9836 S. Hwy. 441,

Leesburg, 352-728-4462)

Manatee 34222 (4333 U.S. Hwy 301

North, 941-721-0649)

Naples (Collier County) 34104 (2685

Horseshoe Drive, S, 941-659-

9188)

N. Pinellas County 33698 (1721

Main St., Dunedin, 727-797-3789)

Oakland Park 33334 (5599 N. Dixie

Highway, 954-771-2101)

Ocala 34470 (1515 E. Silver Springs

Blvd., 352-369-3320)

Okeechobee 34971 (1201 N. Parrott

Ave., 863 824-3232)

Orlando 32803 (5201 Raymond St.,

407-629-1599)

Panama City 32407 (6703 West

Hwy 98, Bldg. 387, 850-235-5101)

Pembroke Pines 33024 (7369

Sherdian St., 954-894-1668)

Pensacola South 32503 (312

Kenmore Rd., 850-476-1100)

Pensacola North 32506 (7895-C

Pensacola Ave., 850-471-7640)

Port Charlotte 33952 (2885 Tamiami

Trail, Suite 301, 941-235-2710)

Port Richey 34652 (9912 Little

Road, 727-869-4100)

Sanford 32771 (209 San Carlos

Ave., 407-323-5999)

Sarasota 34233 (5682 Bee Ridge

Rd., Suite 100, 941-927-8422)

South St. Petersburg 33711 (3420

8th Avenue South, 727-322-1304)

St. Augustine 32806 (1955 US 1

South, 904 829-0814)

Stuart 34994 (3501 SE Willoughby

Blvd., 561-288-0304)

Tallahassee 32308 (1607 St. James

Ct., 850-878-0191)

Vero Beach 32961 (1485 37th St.,

Suite 102, 561-299-4623)

Zephyrhills 33541 (37814 Medical

Arts Ct., Zephyrhills, 813-780-

2550)

Regional Office:

St. Petersburg 33731 (P.O. Box

1437; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Offices:

Fort Lauderdale 33301, Vocational

Rehabilitation & Employment (299

East Broward Blvd., Room 324, 1-

800-827-1000)

Jacksonville 32256, Vocational

Rehabilitation & Employment

(7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite

120-B, 1-800-827-1000)

Orlando 32801, Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (1000

Legion Place, Suite 1500, 1-800-

827-1000)

Orlando 32801, Compensation and

Pension (1000 Legion Place,

Suite 1550, 1-800-827-1000)

Pensacola 32503-7492, Compensation and Pension (312 Kenmore

Rd., Rm. 1G250, 1-800-827-1000)

West Palm Beach 33410, Compensation and Pension (7305 North

Military Trail, Suite 1A-167, 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Ft. Lauderdale 33304 (713 N.E. 3rd

Ave., 954-356-7926)

Jacksonville 32202 (300 East State

St., 904-232-3621)
84

Miami 33129 (2700 S.W. 3rd Ave.,

Suite1A, 305-859-8387)

Orlando 32822 (5575 S. Semoran

Blvd., Suite 36, 407-857-2800)

Palm Beach 33461 (2311 10th Ave.,

North #13, 561-585-0441)

Pensacola 32501 (202 W. Jackson

St., 850-435-8761)

Sarasota 34231 (4801 Swift Rd.,

941-927-8285)

St. Petersburg 33713 (2837 1st

Ave., N., 727-893-3791)

Tallahassee 32303 (249 E. 6th Ave.,

850-942-8810)

Tampa 33604 (8900 N. Armenia

Ave., Ste. 312, 813-228-2621)

National Cemeteries:

Barrancas 32508-1099 (80 Hovey

Rd., Naval Air Station, Pensacola,

850-453-4108 or 850-453-4846)

Bay Pines 33504-0477 (10000 Bay

Pines Blvd., North, 727-398-9426)

Bushnell 33513 (Florida, 6502 SW

102nd Avenue, 352-793-7740 or

352-793-1074)

St. Augustine 32084 (104 Marine

Street, 352-793-7740)

GEORGIA

Medical Centers:

*Augusta 30904 (1 Freedom Way,

706-733-0188)

*Decatur 30033 (1670 Clairmont

Rd., 404-321-6111)

#*Dublin 31021 (1826 Veterans

Blvd., 478-272-1210 or 1-800-

595-5229)

Clinics:

Albany 31701 (417 4th Ave., 229-

446-9000 or 1-877-216-4495)

Atlanta 30309 (77 Peachtree Place,

404-321-6111, ext. 2600)

Columbus 31906 (Medical Arts Bldg,

1310 13th Ave., 706-257-7200,

334-727-0550, ext. 3959/4135)

Lawrenceville 30043 (1970 Riverside Pkwy., 404-417-1750)

Macon 31220 (5398 Thomaston Rd.,

Suite B, 478-476-8868 or 1-800-

522-7483)

Oakwood 30566 (3931 Munday Mill

Road, 404-728-8210)

Savannah 31406 (325 W. Montgomery Crossroad, 912-920-0214)

Valdosta 31601 (3123 North Ashley

St., 229-293-0132)

Smyrna 30082 (562 Concord Rd.,

S.E., 404-417-1760)

Regional Office:

Decatur 30333 (1700 Clairmont Rd.,

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Atlanta 30309 (77 Peachtree Pl.,

N.W., 404-347-7264)

Savannah 31406 (8110A White Bluff

Rd., 912-652-4097)

National Cemetery:

Marietta 30060 (500 Washington

Avenue, for information call 334-

855-4731)

GUAM

Clinic:

Hagatna Heights 96919 (U.S. Naval

Hospital, Bldg-1, E-200, Box

7608, 671-344-9200)

Vet Center:

Agana 96910 (222 Chalan Santo

Papa St., Reflection Center, Suite

102, 671-472-7160 or 7161)

HAWAII

Medical & Regional Office:

Honolulu 96819-1522 (459

Patterson Rd.; Medical & Regional

Office, 808-433-1000; toll-free

from Hawaiian neighbor islands,

1-800-827-1000; toll-free from

Guam, 475-8387; toll-free from

Saipan, Rota, & Tinian, 1-888-

253-2750)

Clinics:

Hilo 96720 (1285 Waianuenue Ave.

Suite 211, 808-935-3781)
85

Kauai; Lihue 96766 (3367 Kuhio

Hwy., Suite 102, 808-246-0497)

Kona; Kailua-Kona 96740 (75-5995

Kuakini Hwy., Suite 413, 808-329-

0774)

Maui; Kahului 96732 (203 Ho’ohana

St. Suite 300, 808-871-2454)

Vet Centers:

Hilo 96720 (120 Keawe St., Suite

201, 808-969-3833)

Honolulu 96814 (1680 Kapiolani

Blvd., Suite F.3, 808-973-8387)

Kailua-Kona 96740 (Pottery Terrace,

Fern Bldg., 75-5995 Kuakini Hwy.,

# 415, 808-329-0574)

Lihue 96766 (3367 Kuhio Hwy.,

Suite 101, 808-246-1163)

Wailuku 96793 (35 Lunalilo, Suite

101, 808-242-8557)

National Cemetery:

Honolulu 96813-1729 (National

Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,

2177 Puowaina Dr., 808-532-

3720)

IDAHO

Medical Center:

*Boise 83702 (500 West Fort St.,

208-422-1000)

Clinics:

Pocatello 83201 (444 Hospital Way,

Suite 801, 208-232-6214)

Twin Falls 83301 (260 2nd Ave, E.,

208-732-0947)

Regional Office:

Boise 83702 (805 W. Franklin St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Boise 83705 (5440 Franklin Rd.,

Suite 100, 208-342-3612)

Pocatello 83201 (1800 Garrett Way,

208-232-0316)

ILLINOIS

Medical Centers:

Chicago HC System

Lakeside Division 60611 (333 E.

Huron St., 312-569-8387)

Westside Division 60612 (900 S.

Damen Ave., 312-569-8387)

* VA Illiana Health Care System

61832 (Danville Med. Ctr., 1900 E.

Main St., 217-554-3000 or 800-

320-8387)

*Hines 60141 (Roosevelt Rd. & 5th

Ave., 708-202-8387)

*Marion 62959 (2401 W. Main St.,

618-997-5311)

#*North Chicago 60064 (3001 Green

Bay Rd., 847-688-1900)

Clinics:

Aurora 60506 (1700 N. Landmark

Rd., 630-859-2504)

Belleville 62223 (29 N. 64th St., 618-

398-2100)

Chicago 60643 (2038 W. 95th St.,

773-363-5748)

Decatur 62526 (3035 E. Mound Rd.,

217-875-2670 or 800-320-8387)

Effingham 62401 (Lincolnland Bldg.,

1901 S. 4th St., 217-347-7600)

Elgin 60123 (1231 N. Larkin Blvd.,

847-742-5920)

Evanston 60202 (107 -109 Clyde

St., 847-869-6315)

Galesburg 61401 (695 N. Kellogg

St, 309-343-0311)

Joliet 60435 (2000 Glenwood Ave.,

815-223-9678)

LaSalle 61301 (2970 Chartres St.,

815-223-9678)

Manteno 60950 (One Veterans

Drive, 815-468-1027)

McHenry 60050 (620 S. Route 31,

815-759-2306)

Mt. Vernon 62864, (#1 Doctors Park

Rd, 618-246-2910 or 2911)

Oak Lawn 60453 (4700 W. 95th St.,

Suite 104, 708-499-3675)

Oak Park 60302 (149 S. Oak Park

Ave., 708-386-3008)

Peoria 61605 (411 Martin Luther

King Jr. Dr., 309-497-0790 or 800-

320-8387)

Quincy 62301 (1707 North 12th St.,

217-224-3366)
86

Rockford 61108 (4940 East State

St., 815-227-0081)

Springfield 62702 (700 N. 7th St.,

217-522-9730 or 800-320-8387)

Regional Office:

Chicago 60605 (536 S. Clark St.,

P.O. Box 8136; 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Chicago Heights 60411 (30 E. 15th

St., 708-754-0340)

East St. Louis 62203 (1269 N. 89th

St., Suite 1, 618-397-6602)

Evanston 60202 (565 Howard St.,

847-332-1019)

Moline 61265 (1529 46th Ave., # 6,

309-762-6954)

Oak Park 60302 (155 S. Oak Park

Blvd., 708-383-3225)

Peoria 61603 (3310 N. Prospect

Rd., 309-671-7300)

Springfield 62702 (624 S. 4th St.,

217-492-4955)

National Cemeteries:

Alton 62003 (600 Pearl Street, for

information, call 314-263-8720)

Danville 61832 (1900 East Main

Street, 217-554-4550)

Elwood 60421 (Abraham Lincoln,

27034 South Diagonal Road, 815-

423-9958)

Mound City 62963 (Junction Hwy.,

37 & 51, 314-260-8720)

Quincy 62301 (36th and Maine St.,

309-782-2094)

Rock Island 61299-7090 (Rock

Island Arsenal, Bldg. 118, 309-

782-2094)

Springfield 62707 (Camp Butler,

5063 Camp Butler Rd., 217-492-

4070)

INDlANA

Medical Centers:

Indianapolis 46202 (1481 W. 10th

St., 317-554-0000)

Northern Indiana HC System:

*Fort Wayne 46805 (2121 Lake

Ave., 260-426-5431)

*Marion 46953 (1700 E. 38th St.,

765-674-3321)

Clinics:

Bloomington 47401 (200 E. Winslow

Rd., 812-353-2600)

Crown Point 46307 (9330 S.

Broadway, 219-662-0001)

Evansville 47713 (500 E. Walnut,

812-465-6202)

Lawrenceburg 47025 (710 W. Eads

Pkwy, 812-539-2313)

Muncie/Anderson 47304 (3500 W.

Purdue Ave., 765-284-6822)

New Albany 47150 (811 Northgate

Boulevard, 502-894-6188)

Richmond 47346 (4351 South A St.,

765-973-6915)

South Bend 46635 (53822 Generations Dr., 219-273-0848)

Terre Haute 47804 (1635 North

Third Street, 812-232-2890)

West Lafayette 47906 (3851 N.

River Rd., 765-464-2280)

Regional Office:

Indianapolis 46204 (575 N. Pennsylvania St., statewide 1-800-827-

1000)

Vet Centers:

Evansville 47711 (311 N. Weinbach

Ave., 812-473-5993 or 473-6084)

Fort Wayne 46802 (528 West Berry

St., 219-460-1456)

Highland 46322 (9105A Indianapolis

Blvd., Suite 301, 219-923-2871)

Indianapolis 46208 (3833 N.

Meridian St., Suite 120, 317-927-

6440)

National Cemeteries:

Indianapolis 46208 (Crown Hill, 700

W. 38th St., 765-674-0284)

Marion 46952 (1700 E. 38th St.,

765-674-0284)

New Albany 47150 (1943 Ekin Ave.,

502-893-3852)
87

IOWA

Medical Centers:

Central Iowa HC System:

#Des Moines 50310 (3600 30th

Street, 800-294-8387)

#*Knoxville 50138 (1515 W.

Pleasant St., 800-816-8878)

Iowa City 52246 (601 Hwy 6 West,

319-338-0581)

Clinics:

Bettendorf 52722 (2979 Victoria St.,

319-563-8528)

Dubuque 52001 (200 Mercy Dr.,

Suite 106, 563-589-8899)

Fort Dodge 50501 (804 Kenyon

Road, Suite 160, 515-576-2235)

Mason City 50401 (910 N.

Eisenhower, 641-421-8077 or

800-351-4671)

Sioux City 51104 (1551 Indian Hills

Dr., Suite 206, 712-258-4700)

Waterloo 50703 (2055 Kimball Ave,

Suite 320, 319-272-2424)

Regional Office:

Des Moines 50309 (210 Walnut St.,

Rm. 1063; statewide, 1-800-827-

1000)

Vet Centers:

Cedar Rapids 52402 (1642 42nd St.

N.E., 319-378-0016)

Des Moines 50310 (2600 Martin

Luther King Jr. Pkwy., 515-284-

4929)

Sioux City 51104 (1551 Indian Hills

Dr., 712-255-3808)

National Cemetery:

Keokuk 52632 (1701 J St., 309-782-

2094)

KANSAS

Medical Centers:

Eastern Kansas HC System:

#*Leavenworth 66048 (4101 S.

4th St., Trafficway, 913-682-2000)

*Topeka 66622 (2200 SW Gage

Blvd., 785-350-3111)

*Wichita 67218 (5500 E. Kellogg,

316-685-2221)

Clinics:

Abilene 67410 (510 NE 10th Street,

785-263-2100, ext. 161)

Chanute 66720 (629 S. Plummer,

316-431-4000, ext. 1553)

Dodge City 67801 (300 Custer, 620-

225-7146)

Emporia 66801 (12th and Chestnut,

316-434-6800, ext. 3351)

Fort Scott 66701 (710 W. 8th St.,

316-223-8400)

Garnett 66032 (421 S. Maple, 785-

448-3131, ext. 309)

Hays 67601 (207B E. 7th St., 785-

625-3550)

Holton 66436 (1110 Columbine

Drive, 785-364-2116, ext. 115)

Junction City 66441 (1102 St. Mary’s

Road, 785-238-4131, ext. 4408)

Kansas City 66102 (21 N. 12th St.,

Ste. 200, 800-952-8387 ext. 6990)

Lawrence 66044 (404 Maine Street,

785-842-3635)

Liberal 67901 (2 Rock Island Rd.,

Suite 200, 620-626-5574)

Paola 66071 (501 S Hospital Drive,

Suite 100, 816-922-2160 or 913-

294-4765)

Parsons 67357 (1401 Main, 316-

423-3858)

Russell 67665 (200 South Main St.,

785-483-3131, ext. 378)

Salem 65560 (P.O. Box 774, 573-

729-6626)

Salina 67401 (1410 East Iron, Suite

1, 785-826-1580)

Seneca 66538 (1600 Community

Drive, 785-336-6181, ext. 162)

Regional Office:

Wichita 67218 (5500 E. Kellogg; 1-

800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Wichita 67211 (413 S. Pattie, 316-

265-3260)

National Cemeteries:

Fort Leavenworth 66027 (913-758-

4105)

Fort Scott 66701 (900 East Nat’l,

316-223-2840)
88

Leavenworth 66048 (P.O. Box 1694,

913-758-4105)

KENTUCKY

Medical Centers:

#* Ft. Thomas 41075 (1000 S. Ft.

Thomas Ave., 513-861-3100)

*Lexington 40502-2236 (1101

Veterans Dr., 859-233-4511)

Louisville 40206 (800 Zorn Ave., 1-

800-376-VETS)

Clinics:

Bellevue 41073 (103 Landmark Dr.,

859-392-3840)

Fort Campbell 42223 (Desert Storm

Ave., Bldg. 61639, 270-798-4118)

Fort Knox 40121 (851 Ireland Ave.,

502-624-9396)

Louisville/Dupont 40207 (4010

Dupont Circle, 502-894-6986)

Louisville/Shively 40216 (3934 N.

Dixie Hwy, Suite 210, 502-449-

8557)

Paducah 42001 (1800 Clark St.,

270-444-8465)

Prestonsburg 41653 (5230 KY Rt.

321, Suite 8, 606-886-1970)

Somerset 42501 (104 Hardin Lane,

606-676-0786)

Regional Office:

Louisville 40202 (545 S. Third St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Lexington 40507 (301 E. Vine St.,

Suite C, 859-253-0717)

Louisville 40208 (1347 S. 3rd St.,

502-634-1916)

National Cemeteries:

Danville 40442 (277 N. First St.,

859-885-5727)

Lebanon 40033 (20 Highway 208,

502-893-3852)

Lexington 40508 (833 W. Main St.,

859-885-5727)

Louisville 40204 (Cave Hill, 701

Baxter Ave., 502-893-3852)

Louisville 40207 (4701 Brownsboro

Rd., 502-893-3852)

Nancy 42544 (Mill Springs, 9044

West Highway 80, 859-885-5727)

Nicholasville 40356 (Camp Nelson,

6980 Danville Rd., 859-885-5727)

LOUISIANA

Medical Centers:

*Alexandria 71306 (P.O. Box 69004,

318-473-0010)

*New Orleans 70112 (1601 Perdido

St., 504-568-0811)

Shreveport 71101 (510 E. Stoner

Ave., 318-221-8411)

Clinics:

Baton Rouge 70806 (216 S. Foster

Dr., 225-925-3099)

Jennings 70546 (1907 Johnson St.,

337-824-1000)

Monroe 71203 (250 DeSiard Plaza,

318-343-6100)

Lafayette 70510 (2100 Jefferson St.

337-261-0734

Regional Office:

New Orleans 70113 (701 Loyola

Ave., Rm. 4210, statewide, 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Kenner 70062 (2200 Veterans Blvd.,

504-464-4743)

Shreveport 71104 (2800 Youree Dr.,

Bldg. 1, Suite 105, 318-861-1776)

National Cemeteries:

Baton Rouge 70806 (220 N. 19th

St., 225-654-3767)

Pineville 71360 (Alexandria, 209 E.

Shamrock St., 601-445-4981)

Zachary 70791 (Port Hudson, 20978

Port Hickey Rd., 225-654-3767)

MAINE

Medical Center:

*Togus 04330 (1 VA Center, 207-

623-8411)

Regional Office:

Togus 04330 (1 VA Center; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)
89

Clinics:

Bangor 04401 (304 Hancock St.,

Suite 3B, 207-941-8160)

Calais 04619 (1 Palmer St., 207-

454-7849)

Caribou 04736 (163 Van Buren

Road, Suite 6, 207-498-8785)

Rumford 04276 (209 Lincoln Ave.,

207-364-4098)

Saco 04072 (655 Main St., 207-294-

3100)

Vet Centers:

Bangor 04401 (352 Harlow St., 207-

947-3391)

Caribou 04736 (456 York St., Irving

Complex, 207-496-3900)

Lewiston 04240 (Pkwy Complex, 29

Westminster St., 207-783-0068)

Portland 04103 (475 Stevens Ave.,

207-780-3584)

Springvale 04083 (628 Main St.,

207-490-1513)

National Cemetery:

Togus 04330 (VA Medical and

Regional Office; 508-563-7113)

MARYLAND

Medical Centers:

Maryland HC System:

*Baltimore 21201 (10 N. Green

St., 410-605-7000)

#Perry Point 21902 (Circle Drive,

410-642-2411)

Baltimore 21218 (Rehabilitation and

Extended Care Ctr., 3900 Loch

Raven Blvd., 410-605-7000)

Clinics:

Cambridge 21613 (830 Chesapeake

Dr., 410-228-6243)

Charlotte Hall 20622 (29431

Charlotte Hall Rd., 310-884-7102)

Cumberland 21502 (710 Memorial

Ave., 301-724-0061)

Hagerstown 21742 (1101 Opal

Court, 301-665-1462)

Fort Howard 21052 (9600 North

Point Rd., 410-477-1800)

Glen Burnie 21061 (1406 South

Crain Hwy., 410-590-4140)

Greenbelt 20770 (7525 Greenway

Center Dr., T-4, 301-345-2463)

Hagerstown 21742 (1101 Opal

Court, 301-665-1462)

Loch Raven 21218 (3901 The

Alameda, 410-605-7650)

Pocomoke 21851 (101 Market St.,

410-957-6718)

Regional Office:

Baltimore 21201 (31 Hopkins Plaza

Federal Bldg., l-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Baltimore 21207 (6666 Security

Blvd., Suite 2, 410-277-3600)

Cambridge 21613 (5510 West Shore

Dr., 410-228-6305 ext. 4123)

Elkton 21921 (103 Chesapeake

Blvd. Suite A, 410-392-4485)

Silver Spring 20910 (1015 Spring

St., Suite 101, 301-589-1073)

National Cemeteries:

Annapolis 21401 (800 West St., 410-

644-9696)

Baltimore 21228 (5501 Frederick

Ave., 410-644-9696)

Loudon Park 21228 (Baltimore,

3445 Frederick Ave., /410-644-

9696)

MASSACHUSETTS

Medical Centers:

Bedford 01730 (200 Springs Rd., 1-

800-838-6331 or 781-275-7500)

Boston 02130 (150 S. Huntington

Ave., 617-232-9500)

Brockton 02301 (940 Belmont St.,

508-583-4500)

*Northampton 01053-9764 (421 N.

Main St., 413-584-4040)

West Roxbury 02132 (1400 VFW

Pkwy., 617-323-7700)

Clinics:

Boston 02114 (251 Causeway St.,

617-248-1000)

Dorchester 02124 (895 Blue Hill

Ave., 617-880-7946)
90

Edgartown 02539 (55 Simpson’s

Lane, 508-627-1044)

Fitchburg 01420 (275 Nichols Rd.,

978-342-9781)

Framingham 01702 (61 Lincoln St.,

508-628-0205)

Gloucester 01930 (298 Washington

St., 978-282-0676)

Greenfield 01301 (51 Sanderson St.,

Ste. 9, 413-773-8428)

Haverhill 01830 (108 Merrimack St.,

978-372-5207)

Hyannis 02601 (145 Falmouth Rd.,

508-771-3190)

Lowell 01852 (130 Marshall Rd.,

978-671-9000)

Lynn 01904 (225 Boston Street,

Suite 107, 781-595-9818)

Nantucket 02554 (57 Prospect St.,

508-825-8200)

New Bedford 02740 (175 Elm St.,

508-994-0217)

Pittsfield 01201 (73 Eagle St., 413-

443-4857)

Quincy 02169 (114 Whitwell St., 2nd

Floor, 617-376-2010)

Springfield 01103 (1550 Main St.,

413-785-0301)

Worcester 01605 (605 Lincoln St.,

508-856-0104)

Regional Office:

Boston 02203 (JFK Fed. Bldg., Gov.

Ctr., Rm. 1265; statewide, 1-800-

827-1000)

(Towns of Fall River & New Bedford,

counties of Barnstable, Dukes,

Nantucket, Bristol, part of Plymouth served by Providence, R.I.,

RO)

Vet Centers:

Boston 02215 (665 Beacon St., 617-

424-0665)

Brockton 02401 (1041-L Pearl St.,

508-580-2730)

Lowell 01852 (73 East Merrimack

St., 978-453-1151)

New Bedford 02740 (468 North St.,

508-999-6920)

Springfield 01103 (1985 Main St.,

Northgate Plaza, 413-737-5167)

Worcester 01605 (597 Lincoln St.,

508-856-7428)

National Cemetery:

Bourne 02532 (Connery Ave., 508-

563-7113)

MICHIGAN

Medical Centers:

*Ann Arbor 48105 (2215 Fuller Rd.,

734-769-7100)

*Battle Creek 49015 (5500

Armstrong Rd., 269-966-5600)

*Detroit 48201 (4646 John R. St.,

313-576-1000)

*Iron Mountain 49801 (325 E. H St.,

906-774-3300 or 1-800-215-8262

in Mich. and Wis.)

*Saginaw 48602 (1500 Weiss St.,

989-497-2500)

Clinics:

Benton Harbor 49022 (960 Agard

Ave., 269-925-6881)

Flint 48532 (G-3267 Beecher Road,

810-720-2913)

Gaylord 49735 (806 S. Otsego, 989-

732-6555)

Grand Rapids 49505 (3019 Coit,

N.E., 616-365-9575)

Hancock 49930-1495 (890 Campus

Dr., 906-482-7762)

Ironwood 49938 (N10565

Grandview Lane, 906-932-6161)

Lansing 48910 (2727 S. Pennsylvania, 517-374-4295)

Marquette 49855 (425 Fisher Street,

906-226-4618)

Menominee 49858 (1101 11th Ave.,

Suite 2, 906-863-1286)

Muskegon 49442 (165 E. Apple

Ave., Suite 201, 616-725-4105)

Oscoda 48750 (5671 Skeel Ave.,

Suite 4, 989-747-0026)

Pontiac 48342 (950 University Dr.,

248-409-0585)

Sault Ste. Marie 49783 (16523 S.

Water Tower #1, 906-495-3030)
91

Traverse City 49648 (3271 Racquet

Club Dr., 231-932-9720)

Yale 48097 (7470 Brockway Rd.,

810-387-3211)

Regional Office:

Detroit 48226 (Patrick V. McNamara

Federal Bldg., 477 Michigan Ave.,

Rm. 1400; 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Dearborn 48124-3438 (2881 Monroe

St., Suite 100, 313-277-1428)

Detroit 48201 (4161 Cass Ave., 313-

831-6509)

Grand Rapids 49507 (1940 Eastern

SE, 616-243-0385)

National Cemetery:

Augusta 49012 (Fort Custer, 15501

Dickman Rd., 616-731-4164)

MINNESOTA

Medical Centers:

*Minneapolis 55417 (One Veterans

Drive, 612-725-2000)

#*St. Cloud 56303 (4801 Veterans

Drive, 320-252-1670)

Clinics:

Brainerd 56401 (1777 Hwy 18 East,

218-855-1115)

Fergus Falls 56537 (1821 North

Park Street, 218-739-1400)

Hibbing Area, 4 sites (612-725-

1991)

Mankato Area, 24 sites (612-725-

1991)

Maplewood 55109 (2785 White Bear

Ave., Suite 210, 651-290-3040)

Montevideo 56265 (1025 N. 13th St.,

320-269-2222)

Regional Office:

St. Paul 55111 (Bishop Henry

Whipple Federal Bldg., 1 Federal

Dr., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

(Counties of Becker, Beltrami, Clay,

Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the

Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall,

Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington,

Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wilkin

served by Fargo, N.D., RO)

Vet Centers:

Duluth 55802 (405 E. Superior St.,

218-722-8654)

St. Paul 55114 (2480 University

Ave., 651-644-4022)

National Cemetery:

Minneapolis 55450-1199 (Fort

Snelling, 7601 34th Ave. So., 612-

726-1127)

MISSISSIPPI

Medical Centers:

#*Biloxi 39531 (400 Veterans Ave.,

228-523-5000)

*Jackson 39216 (1500 E. Woodrow

Wilson Dr., 601-362-4471)

Clinics:

Byhalia 38611 (12 East Brunswick

St., for information, call Memphis

Med. Ctr., 901-523-8990)

Greenville 38703 (1502 S. Colorado

St., 662-332-9872)

Hattiesburg 39401 (231 Methodist

Blvd., 601-296-3530)

Koscuisko 39090 (332 Hwy. 12 W.,

662-289-5790, ext. 3039)

Meridian 39301 (2103 13th St., 601-

482-3275)

Natchez 39120 (46 Sgt. Prentiss Dr.,

601-384-8207)

Smithville 38870 3 sites (63420

Highway 25 North, for information,

call Memphis Med. Ctr., 901-523-

8990)

Regional Office:

Jackson 39216 (1600 E. Woodrow

Wilson Ave., statewide 1-800-827-

1000)

Vet Centers:

Biloxi 39531 (313 Abbey Ct., 228-

388-9938 or 228-388-6923)

Jackson 39206 (4436 N. State St.,

Suite A3, 601-965-5727)

National Cemeteries:

Biloxi 39535-4968 (P.O. Box 4968,

228-388-6668)
92

Corinth 38834 (1551 Horton St.; for

information, call 901-386-8311)

Natchez 39120 (41 Cemetery Rd.,

601-445-4981)

MISSOURI

Medical Centers:

*Columbia 65201 (800 Hospital Dr.,

573-814-6000)

Kansas City 64128 (4801 Linwood

Blvd., 816-861-4700)

*Poplar Bluff 63901 (1500 N.

Westwood Blvd., 573-686-4151)

St. Louis 63106 (915 N. Grand

Blvd., 314-652-4100)

*St. Louis 63125 (#1 Jefferson

Barracks Dr., 314-487-0400)

Clinics:

Belton 64012 (17140 Bel-Ray Place,

816-922-2161 or 816-318-0251)

Cape Girardeau 63701 (2420

Veterans Memorial Dr., 573-339-

0909)

Camdenton 65020 (1976 North

State Highway 5, 573-346-5624)

Cameron 64429 (1111 Euclid, 816-

861-4700, ext. 4251)

Farmington 63640 (715 Maple Valley

Dr., 573-760-1365)

Ft. Leonard Wood 65473 (126

Missouri Ave., 573-329-8305)

Kirksville 63501 (1108 East

Patterson, Suite 9, 660-627-8387)

Laurie 65038 (156 Missouri Blvd.,

Suite B, 573-374-5263)

Lake Ozark 65049 (1870 Bagnell

Dam Blvd., 573-365-2318)

Mexico 65265 (One Veterans Drive,

573-581-9630)

Mt. Vernon 65712 (600 N. Main St.,

417-466-4000)

Nevada 64772 (322 Prewitt, 417-

448-8905 or 816-922-2163)

St. Charles 63304 (7 Jason Court,

636-498-1113)

St. James 65559 (620 N. Jefferson,

573-265-0448)

St. Joseph 64506 (1011B E. Saint

Maartens Dr., 1-800-952-8387,

ext. 6925)

St. Louis 63163 (10600 Lewis and

Clark Blvd., 314-388-0470)

Warrensburg 64093 (1300 Veterans

Rd., 660-747-3864)

West Plains 65775 (1438 BB

Highway, 417-257-2454)

Regional Office:

St. Louis 63103 (400 South 18th St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Kansas City 64128 (4801 Linwood

Blvd., 816-922-2660 or 1-800-

525-1483, ext. 2660)

Vet Centers:

Kansas City 64111 (3931 Main St.,

816-753-1866)

St. Louis 63103 (2345 Pine St., 314-

231-1260)

National Cemeteries:

Jefferson City 65101 (1024 E.

McCarty St., 314-260-8720)

Springfield 65804 (1702 E. Seminole

St., 417-881-9499)

St. Louis 63125 (2900 Sheridan Rd.,

314-260-8720)

MONTANA

Medical Centers:

Montana HC System

Fort Harrison 59636 (William St.,

off Hwy. 12 West, 406-442-6410)

*Miles City 59301 (210 S. Winchester, 406-232-3060)

Clinics:

Anaconda 59711 (118 E. 7th Street,

406-563-6090)

Billings 59102 (2345 King Ave. W.,

406-651-5670)

Bozeman 59715 (300 N. Willson,

Suite 2004, 406-522-8923)

Glasgow 59230 (621 3rd Street

South, 406-228-3554)

Great Falls 59405 (1417-9th St.

South, Suite 200, 406-761-0179)
93

Miles City 59301 (210 S. Winchester, 406-232-3060

Missoula 59801 (900 North Orange,

Suite 206, 406-327-0912)

Sidney 59270 (216 14th Avenue SW,

406-488-2307)

Kalispell 59901 (66 Claremont St.,

Lower Level Suite B, 406-751-

5980)

Regional Office:

Fort Harrison 59636 (William St. off

Hwy. 12 West, statewide 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Billings 59102 (1234 Avenue C, 406-

657-6071)

Missoula 59802 (500 N. Higgins

Ave., 406-721-4918)

NEBRASKA

Medical Centers:

VA Nebraska-Western Iowa HC

System:

*Grand Island 68803 (2201 N.

Broadwell Ave., 308-382-3660 or

888-246-8745)

Omaha 68105 (4101 Woolworth

Ave, 402-346-8800)

Clinics:

Alliance 69301 (524 Box Butte Ave.,

(308-762- 8814 or 1-800-764-

5370)

Gering (Scottsbluff) 69341 (2540 N.

10th St., 308-220-3930)

Lincoln 68510 (600 S. 70th St., 402-

489-3802)

Norfolk 68701 (301 N. 27th St., 402-

844-8022)

North Platte 69101 (220 W. Leota

St., 308-532-6906 or 888-246-

8745)

Rushville 69360 (307 Conrad St.,

308-327-2302 or 1-800-764-5370)

Sidney 69162 (645 Osage St., 308-

254-5544)

Regional Office:

Lincoln 68516 (5631 S. 48th St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Lincoln 68508 (920 L St., 402-476-

9736)

Omaha 68131 (2428 Cuming St.,

402-346-6735)

National Cemetery:

Maxwell 69151-1031 (Fort

McPherson, 12004 S. Spur 56A,

308-582-4433)

NEVADA

Medical Centers:

Ely 89301 (6 Steptoe Circle, 775-

289-2788, ext. 105)

Las Vegas 89191 (Mike O’Callaghan

Federal Hospital, 4700 Las Vegas

Dr., 702-653-2215)

*Reno 89502 (1000 Locust St., 1-

888-838-6256)

Clinics:

Carson Valley 89423 (925 Ironwood

St., Suite 2102, 1-888-838-6256,

ext. 4000)

Henderson 89014 (2920 N. Green

Valley Pkwy., Suite 215, 702-456-

3825)

Las Vegas 89106 (1700 Vegas Dr.,

702-636-3000)

Las Vegas 89101 (1581 N. Main St.,

702-386-3140)

Pahrump 89048 (1430 E. Calvada

Blvd., #100, 775-751-2053)

Regional Office:

Reno 89502 (1201 Terminal Way;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Las Vegas 89107 (4800 Alpine Pl.,

Suite 17, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Las Vegas 89503 (1040 E. Sahara

Ave., 702-388-6369)

Reno 89503 (1155 W. 4th St., Suite

101, 775-323-1294)
94

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Medical Center:

*Manchester 03104 (718 Smyth Rd.,

603-624-4366 or 1-800-892-8384)

Clinics:

Portsmouth 03803 (302 Newmarket

St., Building 15, 603-624-4366

ext. 5500, or 1-800-892-8384)

Tilton 03276 (139 Winter St., 603-

624-4366 ext. 5600, or 1-800-892-

8384)

Wolfboro 03894 (183 North Main St.,

603-569-4336)

Conway 03818 (7 Greenwood Ave.,

603-447-2555)

Regional Office:

Manchester 03101 (Norris Cotton

Federal Bldg., 275 Chestnut St.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Manchester 03104 (103 Liberty St.,

603-668-7060/61)

NEW JERSEY

Medical Centers:

New Jersey HC System:

*East Orange 07018 (385 Tremont

Ave., 973-676-1000)

#*Lyons 07939 (151 Knollcroft

Rd., 908-647-0180)

Clinics:

Brick 08724 (970 Rt. 70, 732-206-

8900)

Cape May 08204 (U.S. Coast Guard

Trng. Ctr., 1 Munro Ave., 609-898-

8700)

Elizabeth 07206 (654 East Jersey

St., 908-994-0120)

Ft. Dix 08640 (Marshall Hall, 8th &

Alabama, 609-562-2999)

Hackensack 07601 (385 Prospect

Ave., 201-487-1390)

Jersey City 07302 (115 Christopher

Columbus Dr., 201-435-3055)

Morris Plains 07950 (540 West

Hanover Avenue, 973-539-9794)

Newark 07102 (20 Washington

Place, 973-645-1441)

New Brunswick 08901 (317 George

St., 732-729-9555)

Trenton 08611 (171 Jersey St, Bldg.

36, 609-989-2355)

Turnersville 08096 (160 Fries Mill

Road, 856-262-4140)

Ventnor 08406 (6601 Ventnor Ave.,

Suite 16, 609-823-3122)

Vineland 08360 (520 Northwest

Blvd., 856-692-2881)

Regional Office:

Newark 07102 (20 Washington Pl.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Jersey City 07302 (115 Christopher

Columbus Dr., Suite 200, 973-

645-2038)

Newark 07102 (157 Washington St.,

973-645-5954)

Trenton 08611 (171 Jersey St., Bldg.

36, 609-989-2260)

Ventnor 08406 (6601 Ventnor Ave.,

Suite 105, 609-487-8387)

National Cemeteries:

Beverly 08010 (916 Bridgeboro Rd.,

609-877-5460)

Salem 08079 (Finn’s Point, R.F.D. 3,

Fort Mott Rd., Box 542, 609-877-

5460)

NEW MEXICO

Medical Center:

*Albuquerque 87108 (1501 San

Pedro Dr., SE., 505-265-1711 or

1-800-465-8262)

Clinics:

Alamogordo 88310 (1410 Aspen,

505-437-9195)

Artesia 88210 (1700 W. Main St.,

505-746-3531)

Clovis 88101 (100 E. Manana St.,

Suite 1, 505-763-4335)

Durango 81301 (3575 N. Main Ave.,

970-247-2214)

Espanola 87532 (620 Coronado St,

Suite-B, 505-753-7395)

Farmington 87401 (1001C W.

Broadway, Suite C, 505-326-4383)
95

Gallup 87301 (1806 E. 66th Ave.,

505-722-7234)

Hobbs 88240 (1601 N. Turner, 505-

391-0354)

Las Cruces 88011 (1635 Don Roser,

505-522-1241)

Las Vegas 87701 (Hot Springs

Blvd., 505-425-6788)

Raton 87740 (1275 S. 2nd St., 505-

445-2391)

Santa Fe 87507 (465 St. Michael’s

Dr., Ste. 204, 505-954-8740)

Silver City 88061 (1302 32nd St.,

505-538-2921)

Truth or Consequences 87901 (1960

N. Date St., 505-894-7662)

Regional Office:

Albuquerque 87102 (Dennis Chavez

Federal Bldg., 500 Gold Ave.,

S.W.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Albuquerque 87104 (1600 Mountain

Rd. N.W., 505-346-6562)

Farmington 87402 (4251 E. Main,

Suite B, 505-327-9684)

Santa Fe 87505 (2209 Brothers Rd.,

Suite 110, 505-988-6562)

National Cemeteries:

Fort Bayard 88036 (P.O. Box 189;

Fort Bliss, TX, 915-564-0201)

Santa Fe 87501 (501 N. Guadalupe

St., 505-988-6400 or toll-free 877-

353-6295)

NEW YORK

Medical Centers:

*Albany 12208 (113 Holland Ave.,

518-626-5000)

#*Canandaigua 14424 (400 Fort Hill

Ave., 585-394-2000)

#*Bath 14810 (76 Veterans Ave.,

607-664-4000)

*Bronx 10468 (130 W. Kingsbridge

Rd., 718-584-9000)

NY Harbor Healthcare System:

#*Brooklyn 11209 (800 Poly

Place, 718-836-6600)

New York 10010 (423 East 23rd

St. (1st Ave.), 212-686-7500)

St. Albans 11425 (179 Street &

Linden Blvd., 718-526-1000)

Hudson Valley HC System:

*Castle Point 12511 (914-831-

2000)

#*Montrose 10548 (PO Box 100,

914-737-4400)

Northport 11768 (79 Middleville

Rd., 631-261-4400)

*Syracuse 13210 (800 Irving Ave.,

315-425-4400)

Western New York HC System:

*Batavia 14020 (222 Richmond

Ave., 585-343-7500)

*Buffalo 14215 (3495 Bailey Ave.,

716-834-9200)

Clinics:

Auburn 13201 (17 Lansing St., 315-

255-7002)

Bainbridge 13733 (109 N. Main St.,

607-967-8590)

Binghamton 13001 (425 Robinson

Street, 607-772-9100)

Brooklyn 11201 (40th Flatbush Ave.

Ext., 8th Floor, 718-439-4300)

Bronx 10459 (953 Southern Blvd,

718-741-4900)

Brooklyn 11208 (1205 Sutter Ave.,

718-647-2600)

Brooklyn 11216 (1413 Fulton St.,

718-636-4500)

Buffalo 14209 (1298 Main Street,

716-551-3800)

Buffalo 14214 (2963 Main St., 716-

834-881-5855)

Carmel 10512 (65 Gleneida Ave.,

845-228-5292)

Catskill 12414 (159 Jefferson

Heights, Green Medical Arts Bldg.,

Suite A102, 518-943-7515)

Cortland 13405 (1104 Commons

Ave., 607-662-1517)

Clifton Park 12065 (1673 Route 9,

518-383-8506)

Dunkirk 14048 (325 Central Ave.,

716-366-2122)

Elizabethtown 12932 (Community

Hospital, Park St., 518-873-3295)
96

Elmira 14901 (200 Madison Ave.

877-845-3247)

Fonda 12068 (2623 State Hwy. 30A,

518-853-1247)

Glens Falls 12801 (84 Broad Street,

518-798-6066)

Islip 11751 (39 Nassau Ave., 631-

581-5330)

Jamestown 14701 (890 East 2nd

Street, 716-661-1447)

Kingston 12401 (63 Hurley Avenue,

845-331-8322)

Lackawanna 14218 (227 Ridge

Road, 716-822-5944)

Lindenhurst 11757 (560 N. Delaware

Ave., 631-261-4400, ext. 2218)

Lockport 14304 (5875 S. Transit

Road, 716-433-2025)

Lynbrook 11563 (235 Merrick Rd.,

631-261-4400, ext. 2218)

Malone 12953 (133 Park Street,

518-481-2545)

Massena 13662 (1 Hospital Dr., 315-

764-1711)

Middletown 10949 (110 Crystal Run

Road, 845-692-0551)

Mt. Sinai 11766 (Mt. Sinai Community Center, N. Country Road,

631-261-4400, ext. 2218)

Monticello 12701 (275 Broadway,

845-791-4936)

New City 10956 (Citi Bank Building,

Suite 400, 20 Squadron Blvd. 845-

634-8942)

New York 10027 (Harlem Center, 55

W. 125th St., 11th Fl., 212-828-

5265)

New York 10014 (Soho Center, 245

West Houston St., 212-337-2569)

Niagara Falls 14304 (620 10th St.,

Suite 700, 716-285-6664)

Olean 14760 (500 Main Street, 585-

375-7555)

Oswego 13126 (County Route 45A,

315-343-0925)

Patchogue 11772 (269 Baker St.

and S. Ocean Ave., 631-261-

4400, ext. 2218)

Patchogue 11772 (4 Phyllis Drive

631-758-4419)

Plainview 11803 (1425 Old Country

Rd., 516-694-6008)

Plattsburgh 12901 (206 Cornelia St.,

Medical Bldg. Suite 307, 518-566-

8563)

Port Jervis 12771 (150 Pike St. 845-

856-5396)

Poughkeepsie 12603 (Freedom

Executive Park, 488 Freedom

Plains Rd., Suite 120, 845-452-

5151)

Riverhead 11901 (89 Hubbard Ave.,

631-261-4400, ext. 2218)

Rochester 14620 (465 Westfall Rd.,

585-242-0160)

Rome 13441 (125 Brookley Road,

Building 510, 315-334-7100)

Sayville 11782 (400 Lakeland Ave.,

631-261-4400, ext. 2218)

Schenectady 12309 (1475 Balltown

Rd., Niskayuna, 518-346-3334)

Staten Island 10304 (21 Water St.,

718-815-2500)

Sunnyside 11104 (41-03 Queens

Blvd., 718-741-4800)

Troy 12180 (500 Federal St., 518-

274-7707)

Warsaw 14569 (400 N. Main St.,

585-344-3355)

Watertown 13601 (218 Stone St.,

315-788-5050)

Wellsville 14895 (15 Loder St., 585-

596-4111)

Westhampton 11978 (150 Old

Riverhead Rd., 631-261-4400,

ext. 5421)

White Plains 20601 (23 South

Broadway, 914-421-1951)

Yonkers 10701 (124 New Main

Street, 914-375-8055)

Regional Offices:

Buffalo 14202 (Federal Bldg., 111 W.

Huron St.; 1-800-827-1000)

(Serves counties not served by

New York City Regional Office.)
97

New York City 10014 (245 W.

Houston St.; statewide, 1-800-

827-1000)

(Serves counties of Albany, Bronx,

Clinton, Columbia, Delaware,

Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton,

Greene, Hamilton, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York,

Orange, Otsego, Putnam,

Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond,

Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady,

Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan,

Ulster, Warren, Washington,

Westchester.)

Benefits Offices:

Rochester 14620 (465 Westfall Rd.,

1-800-827-1000)

Syracuse 13202 (344 W. Genesee

St., 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Albany 12206 (875 Central Ave.,

518-438-2505)

Babylon 11702 (116 West Main St.,

631-661-3930)

Bronx 10458 (226 E. Fordham Rd.,

Room 220, 718-367-3500)

Brooklyn 11201 (25 Chapel St.,

Suite 604, 718-330-2825)

Buffalo 14202 (564 Franklin Street,

716-882-0505)

New York 10014 (201 Varick St.,

Rm. 707, 212-620-3306)

New York 10027 (55 West 125th St.,

212-426-2200)

Rochester 14604 (205 St. Paul St.,

585-232-5040)

Staten Island 10301 (150 Richmond

Terrace, 718-816-4799)

Syracuse 13210 (716 E. Washington

St., 315-478-7127)

White Plains 10601 (300 Hamilton

Ave., 914-682-6251)

Woodhaven 11421 (75-10B 91st

Ave., 718-296-2871)

National Cemeteries:

Bath 14810 (VA Medical Center, San

Juan Ave., 607-664-4853)

Brooklyn 11208 (Cypress Hills, 625

Jamaica Ave., 631-454-4949)

Calverton 11933-1031 (210

Princeton Blvd., 631-727-5410)

Elmira 14901 (Woodlawn, 1825

Davis St., 607-664-4853)

Farmingdale 11735-1211 (Long

Island, 2040 Wellwood Ave., 631-

454-4949)

Schuylerville 12871-1721 (Saratoga,

200 Duell Road, 518-581-9128)

NORTH CAROLINA

Medical Centers:

*Asheville 28805 (1100 Tunnel Rd.,

828-298-7911)

*Durham 27705 (508 Fulton St.,

919-286-0411)

*Fayetteville 28301 (2300 Ramsey

St., 910-488-2120)

*Salisbury 28144 (1601 Brenner

Ave., 704-638-9000)

Clinics:

Charlotte 28262 (Presbyterian

Medical Plaza, 8401 Medical Ctr.

Dr., Suite 350, 704-547-0020)

Greenville 27858 (800 Moye Blvd.,

252-830-2149)

Jacksonville 28540 (1021 Hargett

St., 910-219-1339)

Raleigh 27610 (23 Sunnybrook Rd.,

Suite 107, 919-212-0129)

Wilmington 28401 (1606 Physicians

Dr., Suite 104, 910-362-8811)

Winston-Salem 27103 (190 Kimel

Park Dr., 336-768-3296, ext. 1209

or ext. 1210)

Regional Office:

Winston-Salem 27155 (Federal

Bldg., 251 N. Main St., statewide,

1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Charlotte 28202 (223 S. Brevard St.,

Suite 103, 704-333-6107)

Fayetteville 28311 (4140 Ramsey

St., Suite 110, 910-488-6252)

Greensboro 27406 (2009 S. ElmEugene St., 336-333-5366)
98

Greenville 27858 (150 Arlington

Blvd., Suite B, 252-355-7920)

Raleigh 27604 (1649 Old Louisburg

Rd., 919-856-4616)

National Cemeteries:

New Bern 28560 (1711 National

Ave., 252-637-2912)

Raleigh 27610-3335 (501 Rock

Quarry Rd.; for information, call

704-636-2661or 636-4621)

Salisbury 28144 (202 Government

Rd., 704-636-2661 or 636-4621)

Wilmington 28403 (2011 Market St.;

for information, call 252-637-2912)

NORTH DAKOTA

Medical Center:

*Fargo 58102 (2101 N. Elm St., 701-

232-3241)

Clinics:

Bismarck 58503 (115 West Century

Ave., 701-255-2252)

Grafton 58237 (West 6th Street,

701-352-4594)

Minot 58705 (10 Missile Avenue,

701-727-9800)

Regional Office:

Fargo 58102 (2101 Elm St., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Bismarck 58501 (1684 Capital Way,

701-224-9751)

Fargo 58103 (3310 Fiechtner Dr.,

Suite 100, 701-237-0942)

Minot 58701 (2041 3rd St. N.W.,

701-852-0177)

OHIO

Medical Centers:

#*Brecksville 44141 (10000

Brecksville Rd., 440-526-3030)

*Chillicothe 45601 (17273 State

Route 104, 740-773-1141)

#*Cincinnati 45220 (3200 Vine St.,

513-861-3100)

Cleveland 44106, (10701 East Blvd.,

216-791-3800)

#*Dayton 45428 (4100 W. 3rd St.,

937-268-6511)

Clinics:

Akron 44311 (676 S. Broadway St.,

Ste. 203, 330-344-4177)

Ashtabula 44004 (4314 Main Ave.,

440-993-1318)

Athens 45701 (510 W. Union St.,

740-593-7314)

Canton 44702 (221 Third St., S.E.,

330-489-4600)

Cleveland/McCafferty 44113 (4242

Lorain Ave., 216-939-0699)

Columbus 43203 (543 Taylor Ave.,

614-257-5200)

Cincinnati 45245 (Eastgate Prof. Off.

Bldg. 4355 Ferguson Dr, Ste. 270,

513-943-3680)

E. Liverpool 43920 (332 W. 6th St.,

330-386-4303)

Grove City 43123 (1955 Ohio Ave.,

614-257-5800)

Lancaster 43130 (Colonnade Med.

Bldg, 1550 Sheridan Dr., 740-653-

6145)

Lima 45804 (1220 E. Elm St., Suite

210, 419-221-1893)

Lorain 44052 (205 W. 20th St., 440-

244-3833)

Mansfield 44906 (1456 Park Avenue

West, 419-529-4602)

Marietta 45750 (418 Colegate Dr.,

740-568-0412)

Middletown 45042 (675 N. University Blvd., 513-423-8387)

Painesville 44077 (W. 7 Jackson St.,

440-357-6740)

Portsmouth 45662 (621 Broadway

St., 740-353-3236)

St. Clairsville 43950 (107 Plaza Dr.,

Suite 0, 740-695-9321)

Sandusky 44870 (3416 Columbus

Ave., 419-625-7350)

Springfield 45505 (512 S. Burnett

Rd., 937-328-3385)

Toledo 43614 (3333 Glendale Ave.,

419-259-2000)
99

Warren 44485 (Riverside Sq., 1400

Tod Ave. NW, 330-392-0311)

Youngstown 44505 (2031 Belmont

Ave., 330-740-9200)

Zanesville 43701 (840 Bethesda Dr.,

740-453-7725)

Regional Office:

Cleveland 44199 (Anthony J.

Celebrezze Fed. Bldg., 1240 E.

9th St.; statewide, 1-800-827-

1000)

Benefits Offices:

Cincinnati 45202 (36 E. Seventh St.,

Suite 210, 1-800-827-1000)

Columbus 43215 (Federal Bldg.,

Rm. 309, 200 N. High St., 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Cincinnati 45203 (801-B W. 8th St.,

513-763-3500)

Cleveland Heights 44118 (2022 Lee

Rd., 216-932-8471)

Columbus 43215 (30 Spruce St.,

614-257-5550)

Dayton 45402 (111 W 1st St., Suite

101, 937-461-9150)

Parma 44129 (5700 Pearl Rd., Suite

102, 440-845-5023)

National Cemeteries:

Dayton 45428-1008 (VA Med. Ctr.,

4100 W. Third St., 937-262-2115)

Rittman 44270 (Ohio Western

Reserve, P.O. Box 8, 10175

Rawiga Road, 330-335-3069)

OKLAHOMA

Medical Centers:

Muskogee 74401 (1011 Honor

Heights Dr., 918-683-3261)

*Oklahoma City 73104 (921 N.E.

13th St., 405-270-0501)

Clinics:

Ardmore 73401 (1015 S. Commerce, 580-223-2266)

Clinton 73601 (1/4 mile south of I-40

on Highway 183, P.O. Box 1209)

Lawton/Ft. Sill 73503 (Bldg. 4303,

4303 Pittman and Thomas,

580-353-1131)

McAlester 74502 (1401 E. Van

Buren Ave., 918-421-8440)

Ponca City 74602 (306 Fairview,

580-765-2144)

Seminole Co. 74849 (Konawa, 527

W. Third St., 580-925-3286)

Tulsa 74145 (9322 E. 41st St., 918-

764-7243)

Regional Office:

Muskogee 74401 (Federal Bldg.,

125 S. Main St., 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Oklahoma City 73102 (215 Dean A.

McGee Ave., Room 276, 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Oklahoma City 73105 (3033 N.

Walnut, Suite 101W, 405-270-

5184)

Tulsa 74112 (1408 S. Harvard, 918-

748-5105)

National Cemetery:

Fort Gibson 74434 (1423 Cemetery

Rd., 918-478-2334)

Elgin 73538 (Fort Sill, 24665 N-S

Road 260, 580-353-1131, Ext.

4010)

OREGON

Medical Centers:

#*Portland 97239 (3710 S.W. U.S.

Veterans Hospital Rd., 503-220-

8262)

*Roseburg 97470 (913 N.W. Garden

Valley Blvd., 541-440-1000)

Clinics:

Bend 97701 (2115 Wyatt Court,

Suite 201, 503-220-8262, ext.

55300)

Bandon 97411 (1010 1st St. S.E.,

Suite 100, 541-347-4736)

Brookings 97415 (555 5th St., 541-

412-1152)

Eugene 97404 (100 River Ave., 541-

607-0897)

Klamath Falls 97601 (2819 Dahlia

St, 541-273-6206/6129)
100

Salem 97301 (1660 Oak Street, SE,

503-220-8262, ext. 55300)

Warrenton 97146 (Camp Rilea,

91400 Rilea Neocoxie Rd., Bldg.

7315, 503-220-8262, ext. 55300)

Domiciliary:

White City 97503 (8495 Crater Lake

Hwy., 541-826-2111, ext. 3210 or

3239, 1-800-809-8725)

Regional Office:

Portland 97204 (Federal Bldg., 1220

S.W. Third Ave.; 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Eugene 97403 (1255 Pearl St., 541-

465-6918)

Grants Pass 97526 (211 S.E. 10th

St., 541-479-6912)

Portland 97220 (8383 N.E. Sandy

Blvd., Suite 110, 503-273-5370)

Salem 97301 (617 Chemeketa St.,

N.E., 503-362-9911)

National Cemeteries:

Eagle Point 97524 (2763 Riley Rd.,

541-826-2511)

Portland 97266-6937 (Willamette,

11800 S.E. Mt. Scott Blvd., 503-

273-5250)

Roseburg 97470 (913 Garden Valley

Blvd, 541-826-2511)

PENNSYLVANIA

Medical Centers:

*Altoona 16602 (2907 Pleasant

Valley Blvd., 814-943-8164, toll

free 877-626-2500)

#*Butler 16001 (325 New Castle

Rd., 724-287-4781)

#*Coatesville 19320 (1400 Black

Horse Hill Rd., 610-384-7711)

*Erie 16504-1596 (135 E. 38th St.,

814-868-8661)

*Lebanon 17042 (1700 S. Lincoln

Ave., 717-272-6621, toll free 1-

800-409-8771)

*Philadelphia 19104 (University &

Woodland Aves., 215-823-5800,

toll-free 1-800-949-1001)

Pittsburgh HC System:

Pittsburgh 15240 (University Drive

C and H.J. Heinz Progressive

Care Center, 412-688-6000, tollfree 1-800-309-8398)

#Pittsburgh 15206 (7180 Highland

Dr., 412-363-4900 or 1-800-647-

6220)

*Wilkes-Barre 18711 (1111 East End

Blvd., 1-877-928-2621, toll-free)

Clinics:

Aliquippa 15001 (2360 Hospital Dr.,

724-857-0424)

Allentown 18103 (3110 Hamilton

Blvd., 610-776-4304, toll-free 1-

866-249-6472)

Berwick 18603 (301 West 3rd Street,

570-759-0351)

Brookville 15825 (298 Main Street,

724-285-2423, toll free 1-800-362-

8262, ext. 2423)

Camp Hill 17011 (25 N. 32nd St.,

717-730-9782)

DuBois 15801 (90 Beaver Dr., Rice

Complex, Building D, Suite 213,

814-375-6817)

Ellwood City 16117 (304 Evans Dr.,

724-285-2203)

Farrell 16121 (1914 Mercer Ave.,

724-285-2216)

Frackville 17931 (10 East Spruce

St., 570-874-4289)

Greensburg 15601 (Hempfield

Plaza, Rt. 30, 724-837-5200)

Johnstown 15904 (University Park

Plaza, 1425 Scalp Ave., 814-266-

8696)

Kittanning 16201 (1 Nolte Drive,

724-285-2423, toll-free 1-800-362-

8262 ext. 2423)

Knox 16232 (400 Huston Avenue,

724-285-2423, toll-free 1-800-362-

8262 ext. 2423)

Lancaster 17601 (Greenfield

Corporate Center, 1861 Charter

Lane, Ste. 118, 717-290-6900)

Meadville 16335 (18955 Park

Avenue Plaza, 814-337-0170)
101

New Castle 16101 (119 Cascade

Galleria, 724-285-2203)

Pottsville 17901 (Schuykill Co., GSH

Reg. Med. Ctr., 700 E. Norwegian

St., 570-621-4115)

Reading 19601 (145 N. Sixth Street,

3rd fl., St. Jos. Med. Ctr., Community Campus, 610-208-4717)

Sayre 18840 (301 N. Elmira, 570-

888-6803 or 1-877-470-0920)

State College 16801 (3048 Enterprise Dr., Ferguson Square, 814-

867-5415)

Schuylkill Haven 17972 (Orwigsburg

South, 6 S. Greenview Rd., 570-

366-3915)

Smethport 16749 (406 Franklin St,

814-887-5655)

Spring City 19475 (11 Independence

Drive, 610-948-1082)

Springfield 19064 (194 W. Spruce

Rd., Suite 105, Crozier Keystone,

1-800-290-6172)

Tobyhanna 18466 (Bldg. 220, Army

Depot, 570-895-8341)

Washington County 15301 (997 N.

Main Street, 724-250-7790)

Williamsport 17701 (Divine Providence Hospital, 1705 Warren

Ave., 570-322-4791)

Willow Grove/Horsham 19044 (433

Caredean, 215-823-6050)

York 17403 (1796 3rd Avenue, 717-

854-2481)

Regional Offices:

Philadelphia 19101 (RO and

Insurance Center, P.O. Box 8079,

5000 Wissahickon Ave., RO, 1-

800-827-1000; insurance, local,

842-2000, nationwide1-800-669-

8477; Adams, Berks, Bradford,

Bucks, Cameron, Carbon, Centre,

Chester, Clinton, Columbia,

Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware,

Franklin, Juniata, Lackawanna,

Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh,

Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin,

Monroe, Montgomery, Montour,

Northampton, Northumberland,

Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter,

Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan,

Susquehanna, Tioga, Union,

Wayne, Wyoming, York.

Pittsburgh 15222 (1000 Liberty Ave.;

statewide, 1-800-827-1000,

Serves the remaining counties of

Pennsylvania.)

Benefits Office:

Wilkes-Barre 18702 (Jewelcor Bldg.,

2nd Floor, 100 N. Wilkes-Barre

Blvd., 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Erie 16501 (1001 State St., Suite

1&2, 814-453-7955)

Harrisburg 17102 (1500 N. 2nd St.,

Suite 2, 717-782-3954)

McKeesport 15131 (2001 Lincoln

Way., 412-678-7704)

Philadelphia 19107 (801 Arch St.,

Suite 102, 215-627-0238)

Philadelphia 19152 (101 E. Olney

Ave., Box C-7, 215-924-4670)

Pittsburgh 15222 (954 Penn Ave.,

412-765-1193)

Scranton 18505 (1002 Pittston Ave.,

570-344-2676)

Williamsport 17701 (805 Penn St.,

570-327-5281)

National Cemeteries:

Annville 17003-9618 (Indiantown

Gap, R.R. 2, P.O. Box 484, 717-

865-5254)

Philadelphia 19138 (Haines St. &

Limekiln Pike, 609-877-5460)

PHILIPPINES

Regional Office:

Manila 0930 (1131 Roxas Blvd., 011-

632-523-1001, International

Mailing Address: PSC 501, FPO

AP 96515-1100)

Clinic:

Manila (2201 Roxas Blvd., Pasay

City, 1300 Philippines, 011-632-

833-4566)
102

PUERTO RICO

Medical Center:

*San Juan 00921-3201 (10 Casia

St., 787-641-7582 or 1-800-449-

8729)

Clinics:

Arecibo 00616 (Calle Gonzalo Marín

#50, 787-816-1818)

Mayaguez 00680-1507 (Ave. Hostos

345, 787-834-6900)

Ponce 00716-2001 (#10 Paseo del

Veterano, 787-812-3030 or 1-800-

563-5086)

St. Croix 00850-4701 (The Village

Mall, Kingshill, 340-778-5553)

St. Thomas 00802 (Bucaneer Mall

#8, 340-774-6674)

Regional Office:

San Juan 00918 (150 Carlos

Chardon Ave., Hato Rey; For mail:

P.O. Box 364867, San Juan, PR

00936. All Puerto Rico and the

Virgin Islands, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Offices:

Mayaguez 00680-1507 (Ave. Hostos

345, Carretera 2, Frente al Centro

Medico, 1-800-827-1000)

Ponce 00731 (10 Paseo del

Veterano, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Arecibo 00612-4702 (52 Gonzalo

Marin St., 787-879-4510/4581)

Ponce 00731 (35 Mayo St., 787-

841-3260)

San Juan 00921 (Condominio Med.

Ctr. Plaza, Suite LC8A11, La

Riviera, 787-749-4409)

National Cemetery:

Bayamon 00960 (Avenue

Cementerio Nacional #50, Barrio

Hato Tejas, 787-798-7620)

RHODE ISLAND

Medical Center:

Providence 02908 (830 Chalkstone

Ave., 401-273-7100)

Clinics:

Middletown 02842 (One Corporate

Pl., West Main Rd., 401-847-

6239)

Nantucket Cottage Hospital 02554

(57 Prospect St., 508-228-1200)

Regional Office:

Providence 02903 (380 Westminster

St.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Warwick 02889 (2038 Warwick Ave.,

401-739-0167)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Medical Centers:

*Charleston 29401 (109 Bee St.,

843-577-5011)

*Columbia 29209-1639 (6439

Garners Ferry Rd., 803-776-4000)

Clinics:

Anderson 29621 (1702 East

Greenville St., 864-224-5450)

Beaufort 29902 (1 Pinckney Blvd.,

843-770-0444)

Florence 29501 (514H Dargan St.,

843-292-8383)

Greenville 29605 (3510 Augusta

Rd., 864-299-1600)

Myrtle Beach 29577 (3381 Phillis

Blvd., 843-477-0177)

Rock Hill 29732 (124 Glenwood

Drive, 803-328-3622)

Sumter 29150 (407 N. Salem St.,

803-938-9901)

Orangeburg 29118 (1767

Villagepark Dr., 803-533-1335)

Regional Office:

Columbia 29201 (1801 Assembly

St.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Columbia 29201 (1513 Pickens St.,

803-765-9944)

Greenville 29601 (14 Lavinia Ave.,

864-271-2711)

North Charleston 29406 (5603A

Rivers Ave., 843-747-8387)

National Cemeteries:

Beaufort 29902-3947 (1601 Boundary St., 843-524-3925)
103

Florence 29501 (803 E. National

Cemetery Rd., 843-669-8783)

SOUTH DAKOTA

Medical Centers:

Black Hills HC System:

*Fort Meade 57741 (113

Comanche Rd., 605-347-2511 or

1-800-743-1070)

#Hot Springs 57747 (500 N. 5th

Street, 605-745-2000 or 1-800-

764-5370)

*Sioux Falls 57105 (601 S. Cliff Ave.,

Suite C, 605-330-4552)

Clinics:

Aberdeen 57401 (1440 15th Ave NW,

605-622-2640)

Eagle Butte 57625 (15 Main St.,

605-964-8000 or 1-800-764-5370)

Pierre 57501 (1601 N. Harrison,

Suite 1A, 605-945-1710)

Rapid City 57701 (3625 5th St., 605-

718-1095 or 1-800-743-1070)

Rosebud 57570 (Mission Medical

Clinic, 605-856-5594 or 1-800-

764-5370)

Winner 57580 (915 E. 8th St., 605-

842-2243 or 1-800-764-5370)

McLauglin 57642 (Silver Barn Rd.,

605-823-4574 or 1-800-743-1070)

Regional Office:

Sioux Falls 57117 (P.O. Box 5046,

2501 W. 22nd St.; statewide, 1-

800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Martin 57551 (East Hwy 18, 605-

685-1300)

Rapid City 57701 (610 Kansas City

St., 605-348-0077)

Sioux Falls 57104 (601 S. Cliff Ave.,

Suite C, 605-332-0856)

National Cemeteries:

Hot Springs 57747 (VA Medical Ctr.,

605-347-3830 or 347-7299)

Sturgis 57785 (Black Hills, I-90, Exit

34, 605-347-3830 or 347-7299)

Sturgis 57785 (Fort Meade, Old

Stone Rd., 605-347-3830)

TENNESSEE

Medical Centers:

*Memphis 38104 (1030 Jefferson

Ave., 901-523-8990)

#*Mountain Home 37684 (P.O. Box

4000, 423-926-1171)

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare

System:

Nashville Campus 37212 (1310

24th Ave., South, 615-327-4751)

Alvin C. York Campus,

Murfreesboro 37129 (3400

Lebanon Pike, 615-867-6000)

Clinics:

Chattanooga 37411 (150 Debra Rd.,

Suite 5200, Bldg 6200 East Gate

Center, 423-893-6500)

Clarksville 37042 (Gateway Med.

Ctr., Suite 110, 1731 Madison St.,

931-221-2172)

Cookeville 38501 (Primary Care,

1101 Neal St., 931-525-1652)

Cookeville 38502 (Mental Health,

1200 S. Willow, 931-432-4123)

Dover 37058-0497 (1201 Spring

Street, 931-232-5329)

Savannah 38372 (150 East End Dr.,

901-523-8990)

Knoxville 37923 (9031 Cross Park

Dr., 865-545-4592)

Mountain City 37683 (1901 S.

Shady St., 423-727-5900)

Rogersville 37857 (851 Locust St.,

423-272-5202)

Tullahoma 37389 (225 First St.,

Arnold AFB, 931-454-6134)

Regional Office:

Nashville 37203 (110 9th Ave.

South; statewide, 1-800-827-

1000)

Vet Centers:

Chattanooga 37411 (951 Eastgate

Loop Rd., Bldg. 5700, Suite 300,

423-855-6570)

Johnson City 37604 (1615A W.

Market St., 423-928-8387)

Knoxville 37914 (2817 E. Magnolia

Ave., 423-545-4680)
104

Memphis 38104 (1835 Union, Suite

100, 901-544-0173)

National Cemeteries:

Chattanooga 37404 (1200 Bailey

Ave., 423-855-6590)

Knoxville 37917 (939 Tyson St.,

N.W., 423-855-6590)

Madison 37115-4619 (Nashville,

1420 Gallatin Rd. So., 615-736-

2839)

Memphis 38122 (3568 Townes Ave.,

901-386-8311)

Mountain Home 37684 (VA Medical

Center, Bldg. 117, 423-979-3535)

TEXAS

Medical Centers:

*Amarillo 79106 (6010 Amarillo

Blvd., West, 806-355-9703)

*Houston 77030 (2002 Holcombe

Blvd., 713-791-1414)

West Texas HC System

*Big Spring 79720 (300 Veterans

Blvd., 800-472-1365)

Central Texas HC System:

*Marlin 76661 (1016 Ward St.,

254-883-3511 or 1-800-423-2111)

#*Temple 76504 (1901 Veterans

Memorial Dr., 800-423-2111 or

commercial 254-778-4811)

Waco 76711 (4800 Memorial Dr.,

254-752-6581 or 1-800-423-2111)

North Texas HC System:

#*Bonham 75418 (1201 East

Ninth St., 800-924-8387)

#*Dallas 75216 (4500 S.

Lancaster Rd., 800-849-3597)

South Texas HC System:

*San Antonio 78284 (7400 Merton

Minter Blvd., 210-617-5657)

*Kerrville 78028 (3600 Memorial

Blvd., 830-792-2020)

Clinics:

Abilene 78606 (4225 Woods Place,

915-695-3252)

Austin 78741 (2901 Montopolis Dr.,

512-389-1010)

Beaumont 77707 (3420 Veteran

Circle, 409-981-8550)

Beeville 78102 (302 South Hillside

Dr., 888-686-6350)

Bishop 78343 (301 W. Main, 888-

686-6350)

Bonham (Grayson, Delta, and

Lamar Counties, 800-924-8387,

ext. 36676 or 903-583-6676)

Brownsville 78520 (394 Military Rd.,

888-686-6350)

Brownwood 76801 (125 S. Park Dr.,

Suite A, 915-641-0568)

Childress 79201 (Highway 83 North,

940-937-3636)

Cleburne (Johnson and Ellis

Counties, 800-849-3597 ext.

71465 or 214-857-1465)

College Station 77845 (1605 Rock

Prairie Rd., Suite 212, 409-680-

0361)

Corpus Christi 78405 (5283 Old

Brownsville Rd., 361-806-5600)

Decatur (Wise, Jack, Clay, Archer,

Baylor, Young, Throckmorton and

Montague Counties, 800-849-

3597 ext. 36342 or 214-857-1465)

Denton (Denton, Cooke and Collin

Counties, 800-924-8387, ext.

36676 or 903-583-6676)

Eastland (Eastland, Parker, Palo

Pinto, Hood, Callahan and

Stephens Counties, 800-849-3597

ext. 71465 or 214-857-1465)

El Paso 79930 (5001 N. Piedras St.,

915-564-6100)

Fort Stockton 79735 (Sanderson

Hwy., 915-336-8365)

Fort Worth 76104 (300 W. Rosedale

St., 800-443-9672)

Greenville (Kaufman, Hopkins, Hunt,

Rockwall, Titus and Franklin

Counties, 800-849-3597 ext.

71465 or 214-857-1465)

Laredo 78043 (2359 E. Saunders

Ave., 956-725-7060)

Longview 75601 (1205 E. Marshall

Ave., 903-247-8262)
105

Lubbock 79412 (6104 Avenue Q

South Drive, 806-796-7900)

Lufkin 75904 (1301 W. Frank Ave.,

936-633-2700)

McAllen 78503 (2101 S. Colonel

Rowe Blvd., 956-618-7103)

Northeast Bexar Co. 78229 (12702

Toepperwein, 102, 210-617-4020)

Northeast Bexar Co. 78217 (13909

Nacogdoches, Suite 124)

Northwest Bexar Co. 78229 (4600

NW Loop 410, Suite 110, 210-

617-4020)

Northwest Bexar Co. 78238 (6218

NW Loop 410, 210-617-4020)

Odessa 79761 (419 W. Fourth St.,

915-580-4560)

Palestine 75801 (3215 W. Oak

Blvd., Suite 200, 903-723-9006)

Red River Co. 75462 (800-924-8387

ext. 36342 or 903-583-6342)

San Angelo 76905 (2018 Pulliam,

915-658-6138)

San Antonio 78240 (5788 Eckert

Rd., 210-699-2100)

San Diego 78384 (102 E. King,

Suite 200, 888-686-6350)

South Bexar County 78223 (1055

Ada, San Antonio, 210-358-5701)

Southeast Bexar Co. 78222 (4243

E. Southcross, Suite 205, 210-

617-4020)

Stamford 79553 (1303 Mabee Dr.,

915-773-5733)

Stratford 79084 (1220 Purnell St.,

806-396-2852)

Tarrant Co. 76107 (call 800-924-

8387 ext. 36676 or 903-583-6676)

Texarkana 75503 (2717 Summerhill

Rd., 903-793-3371)

Tyler 75217 (Smith, Camp,

Henderson, Van Zandt, Rains and

Wood Counties, call 800-849-

3597 ext. 71465 or 214-857-1465)

Uvalde 78801 (1025 Garner Field

Rd., 888-686-6350)

Victoria 77901 (1502 E. Airline, Suite

40, 361-582-7700)

Wichita Falls 76301 (1410 Eighth

St., 940-723-2373)

Regional Offices:

Houston 77030(6900 Almeda Rd.,

statewide, 1-800-827-1000.

Serves Angelina, Aransas,

Atacosa, Austin, Bandera, Bee,

Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brewster,

Brooks, Caldwell, Calhoun,

Cameron, Chambers, Colorado,

Comal, Crockett, DeWitt, Dimitt,

Duval, Edwards, Fort Bend, Frio,

Galveston, Gillespie, Goliad,

Gonzales, Grimes, Guadeloupe,

Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo,

Houston, Jackson, Jasper,

Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells,

Karnes, Kendall, Kenedy, Kerr,

Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, LaSalle,

Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak,

McCulloch, McMullen, Mason,

Matagorda, Maverlck, Medina,

Menard, Montgomery,

Nacogdoches, Newton, Nueces,

Orange, Pecos, Polk, Real,

Refugio, Sabine, San Augustine,

San Jacinto, San Patricio,

Schleicher, Shelby, Starr, Sutton,

Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Uvalde, Val

Verde, Victoria, Walker, Waller,

Washington, Webb, Wharton,

Willacy, Wilson, Zapata, Zavala)

Waco 76799 (One Veterans Plaza,

701 Clay; statewide, 1-800-827-

1000; serves the rest of the state.

In Bowie County, the City of

Texarkana is served by Little

Rock, AR, RO, 1-800-827-1000.)

Benefits Offices:

Corpus Christi 78405 (5283 Old

Brownsville Rd., 1-800-827-1000)

Dallas 75216 (4500 S. Lancaster

Rd., 1-800-827-1000)

El Paso 79930 (5001 Piedras Dr., 1-

800-827-1000)

Lubbock 79410 (4902 34th St., Suite

10, Rm. 134, 1-800-827-1000)
106

McAllen 78503 (2102 S. Colonial

Rowe Blvd., 1-800-827-1000)

San Antonio 78240 (5788 Eckert

Rd., 1-800-827-1000)

Tyler 75701 (1700 SSE Loop 323,

Suite 310, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Amarillo 79109 (3414 Olsen Blvd.,

Suite E., 806-354-9779)

Austin 78745 (1110 W. Wm. Cannon

Dr., Suite 301, 512-416-1314)

Corpus Christi 78411 (4646 Corona,

Suite 110, 361-854-9961)

Dallas 75244 (5232 Forest Lane,

Suite 111, 214-361-5896)

El Paso 79925 (Sky Park II, 6500

Boeing, L-112, 915-772-5368)

Fort Worth 76104 (1305 W. Magnolia, Suite B, 817-921-9095)

Houston 77006 (503 Westheimer,

713-523-0884)

Houston 77024 (701 N. Post Oak

Rd., Suite 102, 713-682-2288)

Laredo 78041 (6020 McPherson

Rd., #1A, 956-723-4680)

Lubbock 79410 (3208 34th St., 806-

792-9782)

McAllen 78504 (801 Nolana Loop,

Suite 115, 956-631-2147)

Midland 79703 (3404 W. Illinois,

Suite 1, 915-697-8222)

San Antonio 78212 (231 W. Cypress

St., 210-472-4025)

National Cemeteries:

Dallas-Fort Worth 75211 (2000

Mountain Creek Parkway, 214-

467-3374)

Fort Bliss 79906 (5200 Fred Wilson

Rd., Box 6342, 915-564-0201)

Houston 77038 (10410 Veterans

Memorial Dr., 281-447-8686 or

447-0580)

Kerrville 78028 (VA Medical Center,

3600 Memorial Blvd., 210-820-

3891 or 820-3894)

San Antonio 78209 (Fort Sam

Houston, 1520 Harry Wurzbach

Rd., 210-820-3891 or 820-3894)

San Antonio 78202 (517 Paso

Hondo St., 210-820-3891/3894)

UTAH

Medical Center:

VA Salt Lake City HC System

Salt Lake City 84148 (500 Foothill

Drive, 801-582-1565)

Clinics:

Fountain Green 84632 (300 W.

300 S., 435-623-3129)

Milford 84751 (451 N. Main, 435-

623-3129)

Nephi 84648 (South Central Clinic,

48 W. 1500 N., 435-623-3129)

Ogden 84405 (982 Chambers St.,

801-479-4105)

Orem 84057 (Timpanogos Med. Off.

Bldg., 740 W. 800 North, Suite

440, 4th Floor, 801- 235-0953)

Roosevelt 84066 (210 West 300

North (75-3), 435-722-3971)

St. George 84770 (1100 E. Tabernacle, 435-634-7608)

Regional Office:

Salt Lake City 84158 (P.O. Box

581900, 550 Foothill Dr., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Provo 84601 (750 North 200 West,

Suite 105, 801-377-1117)

Salt Lake City 84106 (1354 East

3300 South, 801-584-1294)

VERMONT

Medical Center:

White River Junction 05009 (215 N.

Main St., 802-295-9363)

Clinics:

Bennington 05201 (325 North St.,

802-447-6913)

Colchester 05446 (74 Hegeman

Ave., 802-655-1356)

Littleton 03561 (600 St. Johnsbury

Rd., 603-444-9328)

Rutland 05702 (215 Stratton Road,

802-773-3386)
107

Regional Office:

White River Junction 05009 (215 N.

Main St., 802-296-5177, or 1-800-

827-1000 from within Vermont)

Vet Centers:

South Burlington 05403 (359 Dorset

St., 802-862-1806)

White River Junction 05001 (Gilman

Off. Ctr., Bldg. #2, Holiday Inn Dr.,

802-295-2908 or 1-800-649-6603)

VIRGINIA

Medical Centers:

#*Hampton 23667 (100 Emancipation Dr., 757-722-9961)

*Richmond 23249 (1201 Broad Rock

Blvd., 804-675-5000)

*Salem 24153 (1970 Roanoke Blvd.,

540-982-2463)

Clinics:

Alexandria 22309 (8796 D Sacramento Drive, 703-719-6797)

Danville 24541 (800 Memorial Dr.,

Suite C, 804-799-1200)

Fredericksburg 22401 (1965 Jeff.

Davis Hwy., 540-370-4468)

Harrisonburg 22802 (101 North Main

Street, Suite 220 Harrison Plaza,

540-442-1773)

Norton 24273 (Third St. N.E., 540-

679-9107)

Stephens City 22655 (106 Hyde

Court, 540-869-0600)

Tazewell 24651 (123 Ben Holt Ave.

540-988-2526)

Regional Offices:

Roanoke 24011 (210 Franklin Rd.,

S.W.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Northern Virginia counties of

Arlington & Fairfax, cities of

Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church

served by Washington, D.C., RO,

1-800-827-1000).

Vet Centers:

Alexandria 22309 (8796 Sacramento

Dr., Suite D&E, 703-360-8633)

Norfolk 23517 (2200 Colonial Ave.,

Suite 3, 757-623-7584)

Richmond 23230 (4202 Fitzhugh

Ave., 804-353-8958)

Roanoke 24016 (350 Albemarle

Ave., SW, 540-342-9726)

National Cemeteries:

Alexandria 22314 (1450 Wilkes St.;

for information, call 703-690-2217;

or toll-free from Wash., DC, metro

area 703-221-2183)

Culpeper 22701 (305 U.S. Ave.,

540-825-0027)

Danville 24541 (721 Lee St.; for

information, call 704-636-2661)

Hampton 23667 (Cemetery Rd. at

Marshall Ave., 757-723-7104)

Hopewell 23860 (City Point, 10th

Ave. & Davis St.; 804-795-2031)

Leesburg 22075 (Balls Bluff, Rte. 7;

for information, call 540-825-0027)

Mechanicsville 23111 (Cold Harbor,

Rt. 156 North, 804-795-2031)

Richmond 23231 (Fort Harrison,

8620 Varina Rd., 804-795-2031)

Richmond 23231 (Glendale, 8301

Willis Church Rd., 804-795-2031)

Richmond 23231 (1701

Williamsburg Rd., 804-795-2031)

Sandston 23150 (Seven Pines, 400

E. Williamsburg Rd.; for information, call 804-795-2031)

Staunton 24401 (901 Richmond

Ave., 540-825-0027)

Triangle 22172 (Quantico, P.O. Box

10, 18424 Joplin Rd. (Rte. 619),

703-690-2217; or toll-free from

Wash., DC, metro area 703-221-

2183)

Winchester 22601 (401 National

Ave., 540-825-0027)

VIRGIN ISLANDS

For information on VA benefits, call

1-800-827-1000.

Vet Centers:

St. Croix 00850 (Box 12, R.R. 02,

Village Mall, #113, 340-778-5553)

St. Thomas 00802 (9800 Buccaneer

Mall, Suite 8, 340-774-6674)
108

WASHINGTON

Medical Centers:

Puget Sound HC System:

*Seattle 98108 (1660 S.

Columbian Way, 206-762-1010)

#*Tacoma 98493 (9600 Veterans

Dr., S.W., American Lake, 253-

582-8440)

*Spokane 99205 (4815 N. Assembly

St., 509-434-7000)

*Walla Walla 99362 (77 Wainwright

Dr., 509-525-5200)

Clinics:

Bremerton 98310 (925 Adele

Avenue, 360-782-0129)

Tri-Cities 99352 (Richland, 948

Stevens Dr., Suite C, 509-946-

1020)

Yakima 98908 (102 N. 56th Ave.,

Suite A, 509-966-0199)

Regional Office:

Seattle 98174 (Fed. Bldg., 915 2nd

Ave.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Fort Lewis 98433 (Waller Hall Rm.

700, P.O. Box 331153, 253-967-

7106)

Vet Centers:

Bellingham 98226 (3800 Byron Ave.,

Suite 124, 360-733-9226)

Seattle 98121 (2030 9th Ave., Suite

210, 206-553-2706)

Spokane 99206 (100 N. Mullan

Road, Suite 102, 509-444-8387)

Tacoma 98409 (4916 Center St.,

Suite E, 253-565-7038)

Yakima 98901 (310 N. 5th Ave., 509-

457-2736)

National Cemetery:

Kent 98042-4868 (Tahoma, 18600

S.E. 240th St., 425-413-9614)

WEST VIRGINIA

Medical Center:

*Beckley 25801 (200 Veterans Ave.,

304-255-2121)

Clarksburg 26301 (1 Medical Center

Dr., 304-623-3461)

Huntington 25704 (1540 Spring

Valley Dr., 304-429-6741)

#*Martinsburg 25401 (Route 9, 304-

263-0811 or 1-800-817-3807)

Clinics:

Charleston 25304 (104 Alex Lane,

304-926-6001)

Franklin 26807 (Pendleton Community Care, 314 Pine St., PO Box

100, 304-358-2355)

Gassaway 26624 (617 River St.,

304-364-5654)

Parkersburg 26101 (912 Market

Street, 304-422-5114)

Parsons 26287 (206 Spruce Street,

304-478-2219)

Petersburg 26847 (c/o Grant

Memorial Hospital, Route 55

West, 304-257-1026, ext. 120)

Regional Office:

Huntington 25701 (640 Fourth Ave.,

statewide, 1-800-827-1000;

counties of Brooke, Hancock,

Marshall, Ohio, served by

Pittsburgh, Pa., RO)

Vet Centers:

Beckley 25801 (101 Ellison Ave.,

304-252-8220)

Charleston 25302 (521 Central

Avenue, 304-343-3825)

Huntington 25701 (1005 6th Ave.,

304-523-8387)

#Martinsburg 25401 (900 Winchester Ave., 304-263-6776)

Morgantown 26508 (1083 Greenbag

Road, 304-291-4303)

Princeton 24740 (905 Mercer St.,

304-425-5653)

Wheeling 26003 (1206 Chapline St.,

304-232-0587)

National Cemeteries:

Grafton 26354 (431 Walnut St.; for

information, call 304-265-2044)

Grafton 26354 (West Virginia, Rt. 2,

Box 127, 304-265-2044)
109

WISCONSIN

Medical Centers:

Madison 53705 (2500 Overlook

Terrace, 608-256-1901)

#*Milwaukee 53295 (5000 W.

National Ave., 414-384-2000)

*Tomah 54660 (500 E. Veterans St.,

608-372-3971)

Clinics:

Appleton 54914 (10 Tri-Park Way,

920-831-0070)

Baraboo 53913 (626 14th St., 608-

280-7038)

Beaver Dam 53916 (208 LaCrosse

St., 608-280-7038)

Chippewa Falls 54729 (Eau Claire,

2503 County Rd. I, 715-720-3780)

Cleveland 53015 (1205 North Ave.,

920-693-3750)

Janesville 53545 (111 N. Main St.

608-280-7038)

Kenosha 53140 (800 55th St., 262-

653-9268)

LaCrosse 54601-3200 (2600 State

Rd., 608-784-3886)

Loyal 54446 (141 North Main St.,

715-255-9799)

Rhinelander 54501 (5 W. Frederick,

715-362-4080)

Superior 54880 (3520 Tower Ave.,

715-392-9711)

Union Grove 53182 (21425 Spring

St., 262-878-7820)

Wausau 54401 (515 S. 32nd Ave.,

715-675-3391)

Wisconsin Rapids 54494 (420

Dewey St., 715-842-2834)

Regional Office:

Milwaukee 53295 (5000 W. National

Ave., Bldg. 6; statewide, 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Madison 53703 (147 S. Butler St.,

608-264-5342)

Milwaukee 53218 (5401 N. 76th St.,

414-536-1301)

National Cemetery:

Milwaukee 53295-4000 (Wood, 5000

W. National Ave., Bldg. 1301, 414-

382-5300)

WYOMING

Medical Centers

*Cheyenne 82001 (2360 E. Pershing

Blvd., 307-778-7550)

*Sheridan 82801 (1898 Fort Rd.,

307-672-3473)

Clinics:

Casper 82601 (111 South Jefferson

Street, Suite 105, 307-235-4143)

Gillette 82718 (1701 Phillips Circle,

Suite A, 307-685-0676)

Green River 82935 (1400 Uinta

Drive, 307-875-6010, ext. 257)

Powell 82435 (777 Avenue H, 307-

754-7257)

Riverton 82501 (2300 Rose Lane,

307-857-1211)

Benefits Office:

Cheyenne 82001 (2360 E. Pershing

Blvd.; statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Casper 82601 (111 S. Jefferson,

Suite 100, 307-261-5355)

Cheyenne 82001 (2424 Pioneer

Ave., Suite 103, 307-778-7370)
110
111

Agent Orange 4, 11, 12, 19

Aid and Attendance 6, 14, 20, 50

Alcohol-Dependence Treatment 13

Allied Veterans 17

Appeals 68

 - Board of Veterans’ Appeals 69

 - U.S. Court of Appeals for

 Veterans Claims 69

Armed Forces Retirement

 Homes 67

Automobile Assistance 21

Beneficiary Travel 12

Benefit Payments 18

Benefit Programs 18

Birth Defects 38, 39

Blind Veterans 14

Burial

 - Benefits 44

 - Expenses 48

 - Flags 47

 - in National Cemeteries 44

Businesses

 - Small and Disadvantaged 55

 - Small Business Administration 62

CHAMPVA 15

Clothing Allowance 22

Commissary Privileges 68

Compensated Work Therapy 13, 53

Copayments 6-11

Correction of Military Records 66

Death Gratuity 68

Death Pension 50

Dependency and Indemnity

 Compensation (DIC) 49

 - Special Allowances 50

 - Restored Entitlement 50

Dependent & Survivor Medical

 Care 15

Dependents Allowances 20

Dependents’ Education 51

Disability Compensation 18

Discharge Reviews 65

Domiciliary Care 10

Drug-Dependence Treatment 13

Education and Training 23

Educational Loans 52

Eligibility, General 1

Emergency Medical Care 17

Exchange Privileges 68

Federal Contractors 59

Federal Jobs for Veterans 60

Filipino Veterans 4, 44

Financial Assessment 7

Gulf War Veterans 2, 4, 6, 10-12,

15, 19, 20, 34

Headstones and Markers 45, 46

Health Care Benefits 6

Health Care Enrollment 4, 6

Home Improvements 14

Housebound 6, 14, 20, 23, 50

Homeless Veterans 11, 53, 54, 58,

61

Improved Pension 22, 23, 50

Incarcerated Veterans 20, 23, 48,

Insurance

 - Accelerated Death Benefits 41

 - Billing Insurance Companies 9

 - Insurance Dividends 42

 - Life Insurance 40

 - Service-Disabled Veterans 41

 - Servicemembers’ Group Life 40

 - Veterans’ Group Life 41

 - Veterans’ Mortgage Life 41

Ionizing Radiation 11, 12, 19

Job-Finding Assistance 56-61

Index
112

Loans

 - Education 52

 - Farms and Homes 61

 - Home Loan

 - Eligibility 32

 - Closing Costs 36

 - Financing, Rates, Terms 36

 - Guaranties 32, 51

 - Guaranty Amount 34

 - Loan Assumption 36

 - Native American Veterans 37

 - Release of Liability 36

 - Restored Entitlement 37

 - Required Occupancy 35

 - Safeguards 38

Medal of Honor Pension 23

Medals 64

Merchant Marine Seamen 16

Military Funeral Honors 47

Montgomery GI Bill

 - Active Duty 23

 - Death Benefit 53

 - Selected Reserve 27

Naturalization Preference 62

Nursing-Home Care 4, 9, 10, 22, 54

Outpatient Dental Treatment 11

Outpatient Pharmacy Services 11

Overseas Benefits 16, 54

Pension 22

Phone, Toll-free Numbers 75

Presidential Memorial

 Certificates 46, 48

Prisoners of War 11 14, 18, 51

Prosthetics and Sensory Aids 14

Radiation Exposure 4, 19

Re-employment Rights 58

Readjustment Counseling 4, 15, 58

Replacing Military Records 66

Repossessed Homes 37

Restored Survivors’

 Entitlement 50

Service-connected Priority Access 7

Social Security 7, 8, 22, 50, 51, 54,

63

Spanish Translation Information 5,

76

Special Groups 2-4

Specially Adapted Homes 14, 21

Spina Bifida Allowance 38, 39

Supplemental Security Income 64

Survivor Benefits 49

Tables 70

Transition Assistance Program 56

TRICARE 15, 16

Unemployable Veterans 31

Unemployment Compensation 56

VA Facility Addresses & Phones 77

Veterans’ Educational Assistance

 Program (VEAP) 29

Vocational and Educational

 - Counseling 27, 28, 30

 - Rehabilitation & Employment 31

 - Training for Children with Spina

 Bifida or Certain Birth Defects 39

Wartime Service 2

Women Veterans 1, 53

Workforce Investment Program 57

World Wide Web Links 76
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