Department of Veterans Affairs

Mission

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal agency that provides benefits to veterans of military service and their dependents.

Social media

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs/ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/VeteransAffairs/ Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DeptVetAffairs/posts Instagram: http://instagram.com/deptvetaffairs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DeptVetAffairs Vantage Point (Blog): http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/

Programs

VA compensates veterans for disabilities related to military service and their families for death related to military service. VA administers programs that include educational assistance; vocational rehabilitation; home loan guarantees; insurance; and comprehensive dental and medical care in outpatient clinics, medical centers, and nursing homes for eligible veterans. VA trains some 100,000 health professionals yearly in VA medical centers through affiliations with the nation’s medical schools. VA maintains a national clinic research program based in 172 VA medical centers. VA sponsors a network of diabetes educators who coordinate patient education programs. VA manages programs of special benefits, health care, and informational outreach to meet the needs of particular groups of veterans such as former prisoners of war, Vietnam veterans, Gulf War veterans, women veterans, and homeless veterans. VA operates the National Cemetery System, which provides internment for veterans and their spouses.

Publications

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents: This document describes the eligibility requirements and application procedures for current federal benefits programs for veterans, and lists all VA facilities.

Representative

Glenn Cockerham, M.D., National Director for Ophthalmology
Email: glenn.cockerham@va.gov