Frequently Asked Questions

If you served in a branch of the military and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, you may be eligible for burial in a Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery of a State Veterans Cemetery.

Visit the National Cemetery Administration’s website to locate the nearest VA National Cemetery or State Veterans Cemetery.  For more eligibility information call 1-800-827-1000.  Visit the Arlington National Cemetery’s website for information regarding burial at that location.

Additional Information

• Apply for Pre-Need Eligibility
• Women Veteran Flyer
• FAQ
• Veteran Legacy Program

VA covers a wide range of maternity care services throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Maternity care services available through VA include:

• Full physical exams and lab tests
• Prenatal education and screening
• Obstetrical ultrasounds
• Genetic tests and specialty consults
• Prescription drugs
• Labor and delivery
• Newborn care on the date of birth plus 7 days immediately after birth
• Lactation support
• Support and services in case of miscarriage or stillbirth
• Social work and mental health services
• Maternity Care Coordinators (MCC)

Contact the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM) located at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA or the Library of Congress, Veterans History Project, while you are there, learn how to tell your story.

For more information on VA benefits and services provided to women Veterans, call the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN or 1-855-829-6636.  Confidential chats are also online.  You can also learn about VA benefits you may be eligible for at ChooseVA.

Your State Department of Veterans Affairs can best assist Veterans in this situation.  You can also obtain a list of State-specific benefits and resources via the National Resource Directory.  Also, local Veterans service organizations, churches, and community organizations may be able to assist Veterans in need.

If you are at risk of becoming homeless, there is also a hotline to provide emergency support and resources to Veterans.  The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is 1-877-4AIDVET (1-877-424-3838).

If you are a woman homeless woman Veteran or at risk of becoming homeless, Learn more about programs for homeless women Veterans.

Information regarding Veterans employment in the Federal government can be found at FedsHireVets.gov; many Federal jobs are posted at USAjobs.gov.  The Department of Veterans Affairs website contains specific information regarding Veteran employment.  The Department of Labor has information available specifically for women Veterans.

You can apply for a review of your discharge by contacting the appropriate Service Review Board:

• Air Force:  Air Force Discharge Review Board
• Army  Army Review Board Agency (ARBA)
  Note:  The Army now accepts online applications for changes using the ACTSOnline system.
• Coast Guard  Board for Correction of Military Records of the Coast Guard
• Navy and Marine Corps:
  • The Board for Correction of Naval Records
  • Secretary of the Navy — Council of Review Boards (SECNAVCORB)including Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB)

Contact the local VA homeless coordinator (or point of contact), Social Work Services department, or Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM) at your local VA medical center or regional office.  A listing of Homeless Veteran Coordinator offices, by state, on the VA Homeless Veterans website. There is also a hotline to provide emergency support and resources to homeless Veterans and Veterans facing the possibility of homelessness. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is 1-877-4AIDVET (1-877-424-3838).

Each VA Benefits Office has a Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator (HVOC), a direct point of contact for you to learn more about what benefits you qualify for, assist with applying for those benefits, and refer you to other organizations and resources that will help you get back on your feet.

You may also be eligible for expedite claim processing if you meet the homeless criteria.  To find your local Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator, please visit the nearest VA Benefits Office or call VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AIDVET (1-877-424-3838).

Veterans Service Organizations are available in most communities and can be located through an online search or phone book yellow pages; they may be able to connect you to a local Veteran willing to be interviewed.  Examples of organizations include AMVETS (American Veteran), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), The American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW).

The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project maintains an extensive collection of oral histories that you may access and/or add to.

The Miliary Women’s Memorial (MWM) also has a collection of oral histories.  In addition, they can help arrange for members to either speak at civic or educational events or to be interviewed about the Women’s Memorial, a specific era, or women in the military.  Contact the Public Relations Department at 1-800-222-2294 or 703-533-1155 or visit MWM.

The Privacy Act obliges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as a Federal agency, to protect the privacy of Veterans’ personal information.  Therefore, VA cannot release personal information about a Veteran in its records system without that person’s permission.  VA can, however, forward a message from you to the Veteran, providing VA has a current address on record.  Write your message to your friend and place it in an unsealed, stamped envelope.  Include a note to VA explaining who it is that you are trying to reach and add as much identifying information as you have.  Put all of this in another envelope and address it to the nearest VA Regional Office.  If the Veteran is in VA records, your message to the Veteran will be sealed and the envelope will be sent to the address on file for the Veteran.  It is then up to the Veteran to contact you.  This process is designed to protect the privacy of Veterans, as required by law.  If you have questions, you may call VA at 1-800-827-1000.

To obtain copies of your military records and/or “Report of Separation from Active Military Service” (DD Form 214 or equivalent), you must submit a “Request Pertaining to Military Records” (SF 180) to the records custodian of your branch of service.  Addresses for each service’s records custodian are found on page 2 of the SF 180.  The SF 180 requires a signature and must be submitted either by mail or fax.  Contact the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100, or fax requests to 314-801-9195.  Visit the National Archives website for more information.

If you or your relative has filed a claim with the VA, the VA claims file which may contain Service Treatment Records (STRs), Military personnel file, and DD Form 214.  You may submit a request in writing to the nearest VA Benefits Office or call 1-800-827-1000 for assistance with obtaining these records.

You may also visit eBenefits to verify, review, and print documents from your official Military Personnel File, including your DD 214.

VA provides statistics and demographic information on various Veteran populations.  Additional statistics are available by state.

You may submit a claim for service-connected compensation or request a reevaluation of your claim at any time.  You may submit your application via the VA website or submit the request to the VA Regional Office by completing the VA Form 21-526ez, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension.

The VA also established a new Intent to File (ITF) for Veterans and Survivors who intend to file a claim for VA compensation, pension, or survivor’s benefits, but need additional time to gather all of the information and evidence needed to support their claim.  The intent to file process allows additional time to collect all of the information needed to support your claim while protecting the earliest possible effective date for any award of benefits or increased benefits resulting from your claim.  The date the VA receives your intent to file will be protected as your effective date as long as the correct application form is completed and submitted within 1 year.

The Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program is an optional initiative that offers Veterans and survivors faster decisions from VA on compensation, pension, and survivor benefit claims.  Veterans and survivors simply submit all relevant records in their possession, and those records which are easily obtainable, such as private medical records, at the time they make their claim and certify that they have no further evidence to submit.  VA can then review and process the claim more quickly.

A Women Veterans Coordinator is available at each VA regional office to assist women Veterans.

every VA has a Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM) who can help you connect with resources and steer you to the services you need.

WVPMs are your advocates within the VA medical system. They help:

• Answer questions about available women’s health services and claims
• Create a welcoming and respectful environment for all women Veterans
• Lead programs and services related to women Veterans’ health care

WVPMs oversee and ensure their VA facility has all the necessary services and resources to care for women Veterans’ health. They advocate on behalf of all women Veterans. 

Learn more and locate your WVPM

About G.I. Bill Benefits

GI Bill benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you’re training for a job. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.

If you applied for and were awarded Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, your GI Bill Statement of Benefits will show you how much of your benefits you’ve used and how much you have left to use.

Check your remaining Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you explore your options, and a VA accredited representative can help you apply for education benefits.

Get help filling out an application

Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)

Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) Benefits may be used while the Servicemember is on active duty or after the Servicemember’s separation from active duty with a fully honorable military discharge.  Eligibility generally expires 10 years after the Servicemember’s discharge.  However, there are exceptions for disability, re-entering active duty, and upgraded discharges.  All participants must have a high school diploma, equivalency certificate, or have completed 12 hours toward a college degree before applying for benefits.

Learn more about MGIB Chapter 30

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance

If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, you may be eligible for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. Keep reading to find out if the DEA program, also called Chapter 35, may be able to help you pay for school or cover expenses while you’re training for a job.

Learn more about DEA

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship allows eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or dependents using the Fry Scholarship to get added benefits. If you’re enrolled in an undergraduate STEM degree program or if you have a STEM degree and are working toward a teaching certification, you may be eligible.

Find out if you’re eligible for the Rogers STEM Scholarship

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. If you get Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and your school participates in this program, you may be eligible.

Find out if you’re eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program

VET TEC 2.0 (high-tech program)

VET TEC 2.0 is a program that helps eligible Veterans and active-duty service members develop skills to start or advance their career in a high-tech industry. This program is limited to 4,000 paid participants in a fiscal year, but Congress may change the number of participants at any time.

Find out if you’re eligible for VET TEC 2.0

IBM SkillsBuild program

The IBM SkillsBuild program offers more than 1,000 free online courses to help you start or advance your career. These courses are for both beginners and advanced learners, so you don’t need any subject-matter knowledge or experience before you enroll.

Find out how to sign up for SkillsBuild

For more information, call toll-free 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit the VA GI Bill website.

VetSuccess on Campus is designed to provide on-campus benefits assistance and readjustment counseling to assist Veterans in completing their college educations and entering the labor market in viable careers.  Under this program, a full-time, experienced Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and a part-time Vet Center Outreach Coordinator are assigned at each campus to provide VA benefits outreach, support, and assistance to ensure their health, educational, and benefit needs are met.

A full continuum of health care, including comprehensive primary care (care for acute and chronic illness and gender-specific care), specialty care, mental health care, disease prevention and screening, emergency care, and women’s health specialty care (e.g., advanced breast and gynecological care, maternity care, and some infertility treatments).  In addition, VA offers services such as inpatient medical/surgical/mental health care, physical rehabilitation, substance abuse treatment, long-term care, and pharmacy benefits.  For more information on VA services provided to women Veterans, call 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636).

Learn more

Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) to include the children of service members who die in the line of duty after September10, 2001.  The benefit is effective August 1, 2009; the same day the Post-9/11 GI Bill takes effect.  Eligible children attending school may receive up to the highest public, in-state undergraduate tuition and fees, plus a monthly living stipend and book allowance under this program.  For more information, call toll-free 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit the VA GI Bill website.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E), or Chapter 31, provides services to eligible Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities to help them prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment or achieve independence in daily living. For more information or to apply, visit the VR&E website.

VA is committed to a culture where everyone is treated with civility, compassion, and respect. Everyone should feel welcome and safe when doing business with VA.

Learn more about what to do if you feel unsafe

Current and former members of the Selected Reserve who served on active duty may establish Veteran status and may therefore be eligible for VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and the character of discharge or release.  Members of the National Guard activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emergency may be eligible for certain VA benefits, such as VA health care, compensation for injuries or conditions connected to that service and burial benefits.  Activation for other than federal service does not qualify Guard members for all VA benefits.  Title 38, Section 3.7 of the Code of Federal Regulations identifies individuals and groups considered to have performed active military, naval, or air service.

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and New Dawn (OND) Veterans:  VA provides five years of free health care for Veterans who served in certain combat locations during active military service, beginning on the date of separation from active duty.  This benefit covers all illnesses and injuries except those clearly unrelated to active military service.  For more information call 1-877-222-8387.  Every VA medical center has a team standing ready to welcome OEF/OIF/OND Returning Servicemembers and to help coordinate their care.

The VA also encourages Veterans and Servicemembers who believe they may have been exposed to toxins or certain vaccinations with side effects to receive a voluntary medical assessment that will help the VA track data on Veterans’ health. Visit the Military Exposure Registry Examination Program website for more information.

The Center for Women Veterans maintains a research page with links to VA research on women Veterans, opportunities to participate in VA research, relevant research articles and collections, demographic information, and more.

VA has a wide range of apps that help Veterans. Learn more.

You may access legislative information and follow up on Congressional bills at the Congress website.

Report it immediately to one of the facility’s:

• VA Police
• Patient Advocate
• Your Primary Care Provider
• If at a Vet Center, contact the Vet Center Director or law enforcement.
• If you have left a facility and wish to make a report, you can visit the myVA411 page or call 1-800-MY-VA411 (1-800-698-2411) and select Option 9.

Learn more about VHA’s Assault and Harassment Office