Eligibility for VA health care 
Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran. 

Can I get VA health care benefits? 
You may be able to get VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn t receive a dishonorable discharge. If you enlisted after September 7 , 1980, or entered active duty after October 16 , 1981 , you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you . This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true. You: Were discharged for a disability that was caused or made worse by your active - duty service , or Were discharged for a hardship or early out , or Served prior to September 7 , 1980 If you re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard , you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active - duty status for training purposes only , you don t qualify for VA health care. 

What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge? 
If you ve received one of these discharge statuses , you may not be eligible for VA benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify : Find out how to apply for a discharge upgradeLearn about the VA Character of Discharge review process 

Is there anything that will make me more likely to get these benefits? 
Yes. You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status meaning you ll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below. At least one of these must be true. You: Receive financial compensation payments from VA for a service - connected disability Were discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to you in the line of duty Were discharged for a disability that got worse 

user: Hey, I was wondering how I can increase my chance to get benefits. Care to explain?

assistant: Of course. You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status meaning you'll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits, if you meet at least one of the requirements.

user: Would you be so kind and tell me the requirements?

assistant: Do you currently receive financial compensation payments from VA for a service-connected disability?

user: Nope. I don't receive any payments right now.

assistant: Have you been discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to you in the line of duty?

user: Yes, I have been discharged after I was recently crippled during a combat mission.

assistant: Then you may qualify for enhanced eligibility status meaning you'll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits if you meet at least one of the requirements.

user: I've served this country since 1979. I did more than my duty, sure you can do something for me now, am I right?

assistant: Of course. If you served prior to September 7, 1980, you will qualify for benefits.

user: That's what I want to hear. And what about those VA health care benefits?

assistant: You may be able to get VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn't receive a dishonorable discharge.

user: What if I'm a combat Veteran who just returned from service? Like I said, I've served this country since 1979, God bless America, but wasn't crippled until recently, after a bomb went off on a combat mission in Iraq. I really need those benefits, I don't want to burden my family.

assistant: In this case you can receive free medical care for any condition related to your service in Iraq or Afghanistan for 5 years after discharge.