There are additional benefits that you may be eligible for that are based on a favorable decision for a VA benefit and/or based on special circumstances.

These are known as derivatives.

VA Benefit Eligibility Matrix

After the VA has processed your application and you’re enrolled in VA health care, you will be assigned to 1 of 8 different priority groups.

Your priority group may affect how much (if anything) you’ll have to pay toward the cost of your care.

VA Priority Groups

If you think your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. You don’t need to check with the VA first.

But if you go to a non-VA facility—even one that’s in the VA's community care network—you must follow certain rules so that the VA can cover the cost of your care.

Commonly referred to as the "VA 72-Hour reporting S.O.P."

Getting emergency care at non-VA facilities

If you’re an eligible Veteran, you can get urgent care at VA medical centers and in‑network urgent care providers near you in the community.

Use urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses that aren’t life-threatening—like strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections.

Find VA locations nationwide, including in-network urgent care clinics

As a Veteran, you may be eligible to get care outside VA. This means the VA pre-authorizes and pays for the cost of your care from a health care provider within the community care network. Find in-network VA providers here.

It is critical you abide by the pre-authorization process for Community Care, otherwise the VA may deny payment for that unauthorized episode of care.

You can still always choose to get care at a VA health facility.

How to get Community Care referrals and schedule appointments

Find out how to access VA mental health services for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs.

You can use some services even if you’re not enrolled in VA health care.

VA mental health services

Vet Centers are community-based clinics providing free, confidential social and psychological services to eligible Veterans, active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve), and their families.

Staffed largely by fellow Veterans, they specialize in military-to-civilian transitions, grief, war trauma, and military sexual trauma (MST).

Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling)

The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances or occupational hazards.

This law helps the VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve as of March 5, 2024.

The PACT Act and your VA benefits

After you file your compensation benefits claim, the VA may ask you to have a claim exam (also known as a compensation and pension, or C&P exam) by an independent licensed provider in the community.

They are tasked to determine if you have a service-connected condition. It will also help the VA rate the condition if you have one.

VA claim exam (C&P exam)

DBQs help collect necessary medical information to process your compensation claims. You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your private health care providers which helps to support your claim for benefits.

In most instances, you're entitled to a no cost compensation examination by the VA. In some instances, the VA may determine an additional examination is required to complete the claim. Note: You may opt to have private providers supply their own DBQ, but the VA will not reimburse for this service.

If an exam is scheduled for you by the VA as a part of the claim process, you must report for the examination or risk being denied.

Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)

The official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Discover, apply for, and manage the entirety of your VA benefits and health care from any device. It's free to join and use. Just be sure to authenticate your account to access premium settings.

Request an appointment, refill medications for delivery, receive personalized responses from your care team, view benefit letters immediately, find any in-network locations, and so much more.

VA.gov-Complete health care and benefit access