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United States Department of Veterans Affairs

History

It was formerly called the Veterans Administration, also called the VA, which was established July 21, 1930 to consolidate and coordinate government activities affecting war veterans. The VA incorporated the functions of the former U.S. Veterans' Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.


On October 25, 1988, President Reagan signed legislation creating a new federal Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs to replace the Veterans Administration effective March 15, 1989.

In both its old and new forms, the VA drew its mission statement from President Abraham Lincoln's eloquent Second Inaugural Address. The specific phrase quoted by VA is: "...to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan..."

Function

It is the federal government's second largest department, after the Department of Defense. With a budget of more than $60 billion, VA employs approximately 219,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices, and national cemeteries throughout the country. It is one of the largest employers of healthcare personnel in the U.S. VA claims that one-fourth of all American physicians worked in a VA facility at some point in their training.

Costs for Care

Because of chronic under funding, VA has had to become more conservative in the provision of benefits in recent years.

Currently, VA categorizes veterans into eight priority groups, and several additional subgroups. Veterans falling into Priority Groups 1 through 6 are generally provided comprehensive care at no charge, although many veterans in these groups are required to make a $7 per prescription co-payment for prescription medications, depending on their annual household income. Veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 are provided care only if they agree to make co-payments for any medical services received. Veterans in Subpriority groups 8e and 8g are currently not eligibile for any services. (Detailed list of Priority Group criteria.)

In November 2004, it was widely reported that VA's funding crisis has become so severe that it can no longer provide disability ratings to veterans in a timely fashion. This is a problem because until veterans are fully transitioned from the Department of Defense to VA, they are on their own with regard to many healthcare costs.

If you are dealing with a problem that started or was aggravated due to military service, it is still very advisable, whether a new veteran or old, to go to a VA Regional Office and apply, for a service connected disability. Service organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans, as well as state-operated Veterans Affairs offices can also assist in this process. It will be beneficial for you to support your claim with a proof of ongoing health care.

Operating functions