United States Department of Veterans Affairs

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**Dept. of Veterans Affairs**
Image:US-DeptOfVeteransAffairs-Seal.png Larger version
Established:	October 25, 1988
Activated:	March 15, 1989
Secretary	James Nicholson
Deputy Secretary:	Gordon H. Mansfield
Budget:	$60.3 billion (2004)
Employees:	218,323 (2004)

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for administering programs of veterans benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors.

It is administered by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

1 History
2 Function
3 Costs for care
4 Related legislation
5 See also
6 External links

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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..."

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Function

Image:Paloaltoveteransaffairshospital.jpg 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. With its many affiliations with major medical schools, reportedly one-fourth of all American physicians have worked in a VA facility at some point in their training.

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Costs for care

Because of the growing conflicts, the VA has also been burdened with the greater need for nursing home beds and mental health care, as well.

VA categorizes veterans into eight priority groups and several additional subgroups, based on factors such as service-connected disabilities, one's income and assets, and the region of the country they live in. Veterans with a 50% service-connected disability (ie: losing one's leg in battle, PTSD, etc) are provided comprehensive care and medicines at no charge. Others with lesser qualifying factors need to make a co-pay as well as pay $8 per 90-day prescription. (Detailed list of eligibility criteria.)

In November 2004, it was widely reported that VA's funding crisis had become so severe that it could no longer provide disability ratings to veterans in a timely fashion. Template:FactThis 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. The VA has worked to cut-down screening times for these returning combat vets, and they receive first priority for patient appointments.

Many veterans may not know that they may qualify for reduced-fee VA services. If a veteran is dealing with a problem that started or was aggravated due to military service, it is still advisable for that person 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 the affected veteran to support their claim with proof of ongoing health care.

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