Welcome to Veterans Affairs

VA can support you and your loved ones in different ways throughout your life. Your VA Welcome Guide provides a broad overview of services VA can offer you.

• YOUR BENEFITS: Understand how VA can meet your needs
• YOUR ELIGIBILITY: Understand more about eligibility and how it affects your VA benefits
• YOUR DISABILITY RATING: Understand how your disability rating affects your eligibility
• YOUR JOURNEY: See how VA can support you throughout your life
• YOUR CHECKLIST: Learn about ways to access the benefits and services you deserve
• YOUR EMERGENCY RESOURCES: Find mental health resources and access immediate care
• YOUR QUICK START GUIDES: Get additional details on accessing key  VA benefits and services

Apply for Veterans Affairs Healthcare

VA health care covers care for your physical and mental health. This includes a range of services from checkups to surgeries to home health care. It also includes prescriptions and medical equipment.

Here’s what you’ll need to apply:

• Social Security numbers for you, your spouse, and your qualified dependents.
• Your military discharge information If you sign in to apply, we may be able to fill in this information for you. If you don’t sign in to apply, we’ll ask you to upload a copy of your DD214 or other separation documents.
• Insurance cards for all health insurance companies that cover you. This includes any coverage that you get through a spouse or significant other. This also includes Medicare, private insurance, or insurance from your employer.

We’ll also ask you for this optional information:

• Last year’s gross household income for you, your spouse, and your dependents. This includes income from a job and any other sources. Gross household income is your income before taxes and any other deductions.
• Your deductible expenses for last year These include certain health care and education costs. These expenses will lower the amount of money we count as your income.

Veterans Homeless Programs

If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, we strongly encourage you to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.

VA Form SF180

Request Pertaining to Military Records

Related to: A non-VA form. For other government agency forms, go to the GSA forms library.

Form last updated: December 2022

When to use this form

Use GSA Form SF180 to request your military service records, like your DD214 or other separation documents, your orders and endorsements, and your military medical records.

VA Benefit Summary Letter

To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter proving their status. Access and download your VA Benefit Summary Letter (sometimes called a VA award letter) and other benefit letters and documents online.

VA Form 26-1880

Request for a Certificate of Eligibility

Related to: Family member benefits, Housing assistance, Service member benefits

Form last updated: March 2023

When to use this form

Use VA Form 26-1880 to apply for a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You’ll need to bring the COE to your lender to prove that you qualify for a VA home loan. 

Roll of Honor / Purple Heart

Nearly two million Americans have been awarded the Purple Heart. Unfortunately, there is no publicly available master database of all those who have been wounded or killed in action while protecting our nation and the freedoms we cherish. To help ensure all our Purple Heart heroes are memorialized for generations to come, the Honor Mission and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor are building the Roll of Honor, the nation’s foremost repository of Purple Heart recipients and their stories.

VA Form 21-22a

Appointment of Individual As Claimant's Representative

Related to: Burials and memorials, Careers and employment, Disability, Education and training, Family member benefits, Health care, Housing assistance, Life insurance, Pension, Service member benefits

Form last updated: February 2024

When to use this form

If you want to have an individual help you with your claim or benefits, have that person complete and submit this form.

VA Form 10-0137

VA Advance Directive: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will

Related to: Health care

Form last updated: March 2022

When to use this form:

Use VA Form 10-0137 to give specific people permission to make health care decisions for you, and to let VA health care providers know your wishes for medical, mental health, long-term, and other types of care.

VA Form 10-5345

Request for and Authorization to Release Health Information

Related to: Health care

Form last updated: October 2023

When to use this form

Use VA Form 10-5345 to authorize us to share your health information with a non-VA (or third-party) individual or organization.

VA Form 10-5345a

A veteran can get a complete copy of their VA medical records directly from their VA health facility. Keep reading on this page to learn how to request records from their health facility’s medical records office. They’ll need to fill out an Individuals’ Request for a Copy of Their Own Health Information (VA Form 10-5345a). Submit the completed form to the veteran's VA health facility’s medical records office by mail, by fax, or in person. This office is also called a Release of Information Office.

VA Form 21-0845

VA Form 21-0845 is known as an Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party. This form should be submitted by someone who wishes to have the Department of Veterans Affairs release their personal information to a third party. This information could be about your beneficiaries or about your claim(s).

VA Form 20-10206

Form name:Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) Request: This form is ONLY used to request military records or a veteran's benefit records. Please complete the attached form to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) request.  It must be signed by the requester, veteran or third-party authorized to act on behalf of the requester.   WHAT IS A FOIA REQUEST? A FOIA request provides the public the right to request access to records from Federal agencies, except those protected by the nine FOIA exemptions.

VBA-21-0966 - Intent to File

An intent to file sets a potential start date (or effective date) for your benefits. If you notify us of your intent to file, you may be able to get retroactive payments (payments for the time between when you submitted your intent to file and when we approved your claim).

You can notify us of your intent to file if you plan to file a claim or a Supplemental Claim for these types of benefits:

• Disability compensation
• Pension benefits
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

You can submit an intent to file form or call us at 800-827-1000 to notify us of your intent to file. We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. If you want to notify us by submitting the form, download and fill out an Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC (VA Form 21-0966).

Request for Change of Address / Cancellation of Direct Deposit

To notify the Department of Veterans Affairs of a change in address, cancellation of direct deposit, or both, complete this form and mail it to the VA office having your records.

VA Form 21P-4706c

Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account

Related to: Family member benefits, Pension

Form last updated: May 2022

VA Form 27-8832

Personalized Career Planning and Guidance/Chapter 36

Related to: VBA

Form last updated: June 2023

When to use this form

Use this form to apply for personalized career counseling and support to help you find a training program or job.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits.

VA Form 22-1990

Application for VA Education Benefits

Related to: Education and training

Form last updated: March 2023

When to use this form

Use VA Form 22-1990 if you want to apply for education benefits under any of the following programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) 
• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
• Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VA Form 22-0989

Education Benefit Entitlement Restoration Request Due to School Closure, Program Suspension or Withdrawal

Related to: Education and training

Form last updated: October 2023

VA Form 21-22a

Appointment of Individual As Claimant's Representative

Related to: Burials and memorials, Careers and employment, Disability, Education and training, Family member benefits, Health care, Housing assistance, Life insurance, Pension, Service member benefits

Form last updated: February 2024

When to use this form

If you want to have an individual help you with your claim or benefits, have that person complete and submit this form.

VBA-20-0995 Supplimental Claim

Use this form to request a SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM of the decision you received that you disagree with. A SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM is a new review of an issue(s) previously decided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on submission of new and relevant evidence. For additional information on the SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM process or other decision review options such as a higher-level review and appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, visit https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/.

You may contact your accredited representative (attorney, claims agent, and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) representative) to assist you in completing this request form. If you have not already selected a representative, or if you want to change your representative, a searchable database of VArecognized VSOs, VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives is available at  https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp. 

VBA-20-0996-Higher Level Review

Use this form to request a Higher - Level review of a Decision You Received. A Higher-Level Review is a new review of an issue(s) previously decided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on the evidence of record at the time VA issued notice of the prior decision.  The Higher-Level Reviewer will not consider any evidence received after the notification date of the prior decision.  A Higher-Level Review may not be requested for the review of a Higher-Level Review decision or a Board of Veterans' Appeals decision.  This form must be submitted to VA WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE DATE VA PROVIDED NOTICE OF OUR DECISION.  For additional information on the Higher-Level Review process or a list of review options that allow VA to consider new evidence and how to file, visit  www.va.gov/decision-reviews/. 

10-0137 - Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care & Living Will

10-5345 - Authorization to Release Health Information

10-5345a - Personal Health Record Request (My Health eVet)

20-572 - Cancellation-Change of Direct Deposit

20-0995 - Decision Review Request-Supplemental

20-0996 - Decision Review Request-Higher Level

20-0998 - Review of Decision

21-22a - Appointment of Representative

21-686c - Declaration of Dependant Status

21-0781a - Claim for (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault

21-0845 - Disclosure of Information for a Third Party

21-0966 - Intent to File for Benefits

21P-4706c - Court Appointed Fiduciary Account

22-0989 - Restoration of Education Benefit

22-1990 - Application for Education Benefits

26-1880 - Certificate of Eligibility

26-8937 - Verification of VA Benefits

27-0501 - Veterans Benefits Timetable

28-1902w - Rehabilitation Needs Inventory

28-8832 - Request for Educational-Voc. Counseling

29-0151 - Service-Disabled Insurance

29-0975 - Personal Info to a 3rd Party (insurance)

3288 - Release of Information

10182 - Reveiw of Decision

Apply for a Discharge Upgrade

Office of Survivors Assistance

SF 180 - Military Records Request

VA Dental Insurance Program

VA form 9 - Appeal to Board of Veterans Appeals

VA VocRehab Process (31)

VA’s Fiduciary Program (Am. Legion)

Apply for a Discharge Upgrade