Veteran
Veteran Resources Guide
Comprehensive Veteran Resources: Benefits, Services & Support Guide.
Access a complete guide to veteran resources covering healthcare, education, career support, disability claims, and more. Find essential information and links for U.S. military veterans and their families.
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CAREER/JOB
(Last Update: Friday, 31MAY2024)
- USAJobs – The United States government’s website for listing civil service job opportunities with federal agencies.
- VA (Veterans Affairs) Careers and Employment –
- About Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) tracks – Explore support-and-services program tracks for Veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities. Our tracks can help you learn new skills, find a new job, start a new business, get educational counseling, or return to your former job.
- Eligibility – If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, find out if you’re eligible for vocational rehab.
- How to apply – Get step-by-step instructions on how to apply for vocational rehab benefits.
- Apply online (VA Form 28-1900) – Now apply for vocational rehab benefits.
- Educational and career counseling (Chapter 36) – The Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG) program offers free academic and career counseling, resume support, and help to find a training program or job.
- Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC)
- Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)
- Support for your Veteran-owned small business – Register to do business with VA and get support for your Veteran-owned small business.
- Support for dependent family members – Find out if you’re eligible for educational and career counseling as the dependent spouse or child of a Veteran or service member.
CRISIS
(Last Update: Tuesday, 07JUL2022)
- Veterans Crisis Line – Those needing emergency help with PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other life crises can call 1-800-273-8255 (option 1), text 838255, or chat online through the site.
DISABILITY
(Last Update: Friday, 29JUL2022)
- VA (Veterans Affairs) –
- Check your claim or appeal status
- View your payment history
- Upload evidence to support your claim
- File for a VA disability increase
- File a claim for compensation
- VIDEO: Compensation 101: What is Disability Compensation?
- VIDEO: Compensation 101: What is Service Connection?
- VIDEO: Compensation 101: How did I get this rating?
- VIDEO: VA Math – How is VA Disability Calculated – Service-Connected Compensation
DISCOUNT
(Last Update: Monday, 09JAN2023)
- GovX – One of the world’s largest online shopping destinations for military, law enforcement, and related government personnel. GovX allows qualified members of the U.S. Armed Forces and those in related government agencies to shop for apparel, equipment, and other products as well as on-duty tactical products.
- Military Benefits – Military benefits veteran resources guide, Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard, Military Spouses, and their families. Discover the many benefits.
- Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) – A national, non-profit, 501c(3) organization that gives free event tickets to Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their families.
- Waves of Honor – Military ticket on free park admission and discounts.
- Veteran discounts are available year-round (Source: VA)
- VIDEO: Military & Veteran Discounts | Veterans Benefits | Department of Veterans Affairs (Source: theSITREP)
EDUCATION
(Last Update: Friday, 29JUL2022)
EMERGENT/URGENT CARE OR CARE OUTSIDE THE CONTINENTAL U.S.
(Last Update: Monday, 17JUN2024)
- Veterans can go to any VA Emergency Room anytime without a consultation or referral.
- All non-VA ER visits must be reported to the Centralized Emergency Care Notification Call Center at 844-724-7842 within 72hrs.
- Emergency Medical Care – During a medical emergency, the VA encourages all Veterans to seek immediate medical attention without delay.
- VA offers Urgent Care Services to eligible Veterans at VA medical facilities or in‑network urgent care clinics closer to home. [VA Facility Locator > Facility type: Urgent Care > Service Type: All in-network Urgent Care]
- For eligible Veterans living or traveling abroad, the VA offers medical services through the Foreign Medical Program (FMP). FMP will pay for health care services, medications, and durable medical equipment for service-connected conditions and conditions associated with and held to be aggravating a service-connected condition.
- VIDEO: VA’s Foreign Medical Program, Part 1 | VA Health Care | theSITREP (May 1, 2024)
- VIDEO: VA’s Foreign Medical Program, Part 2 | VA Health Care | theSITREP
FINANCIAL
(Last Update: Sunday, 27AUG2023)
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) – Provides tax-free payments to retired Veterans with combat-related disabilities.
FUNERAL
(Last Update: Sunday, 13FEB2022) (POC LOCATION: N1 ADMIN)
- Funeral Honors Details – This service provided to the local community is one of the NOSC/Navy Reserve Center (NRC)’s top two priority missions (the other being training and mobilization of SELRES).
- Navy Military Funerals – US Navy
- Military Funeral As of January 1, 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the United States Armed Forces shall render honors in a military funeral for any eligible veteran if requested by his or her family. As mandated by federal law, an honor guard detail for an eligible veteran’s burial shall consist of no fewer than two Armed Forces members. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran. The honor guard detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the flag of the United States to the next of kin and the playing of Taps which a lone bugler will play, if available, or by audio recording. Today, so few buglers are available that the United States Armed Forces often cannot provide one. However, federal law allows Reserve and National Guard units to assist with funeral honors duty when necessary. On the day of the burial or interment, the U.S. Flag is lowered to half-mast.
- DD214/Discharge Documents Requests
- VA Headstone, Markers, and Medallions
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Burial at Sea
- National Cemeteries
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Burial Flag Request
- VA Burial Benefits
HEALTHCARE
(Last Update: Tuesday, 07JUL2022)
ID CARD
(Last Update: Friday, 11FEB2022) (POC LOCATION: RAPIDS SITE LOCATOR)
- DEERS – A computerized database for U.S. Service members, retirees, dependents, DoD active Contractors, and others worldwide who are entitled to Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Tricare eligibility. DEERS is used in the Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS). RAPIDS is the U.S. DoD system to issue the definitive credential for obtaining Common Access Card (CAC) tokens in the DoD PKI. These two systems are referred to as DEERS/RAPIDS stations and are available in 700 locations around the world. (Source: Military.com – Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS))
LAW
(Last Update: Tuesday, 07JUL2022)
- National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA) – A not-for-profit educational membership organization that has worked since 1993. NOVA is a national organization of attorneys and other qualified members who act as advocates for disabled veterans.
- National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) – A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has worked since 1981 to ensure that the government delivers to our nation’s 22 million veterans and active duty personnel the benefits to which they are entitled.
MUSEUM
(Last Update: Sunday, 13FEB2022)
- National Museum of the United States Navy
- Hampton Roads Naval Museum – Norfolk, VA
- National Museum of the American Sailor (formerly Great Lakes Naval Museum) – Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
- National Naval Aviation Museum – Pensacola, FL
- National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum – Fort Pierce, FL
- Naval Museum of Armament & Technology – Ridgecrest, CA
- Naval Undersea Museum – Keyport, WA
- Naval War College Museum – Newport, RI
- Navy Art Collection – Washington Navy Yard – Washington, D.C.
- Patuxent River Naval Air Museum – Lexington Park, MD
- Puget Sound Navy Museum – Bremerton, WA
- Submarine Force Museum & Historic Ship Nautilus – Groton, CT
- USS Constitution Museum (“Old Ironsides”) – Boston, Massachusetts
- U.S. Naval Academy Museum – Annapolis, MD
- U.S. Navy Memorial Museum – Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Navy Seabee Museum – Port Hueneme, CA
- Blue Star Museums – A partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve.
RECORDS
(Last Update: Tuesday, 07JUL2022)
- Request Your Military Service Records DD-214 Online (Source: Archives)
- DD 214/Separation Documents: eVetRecs (online) | Mail or Fax
- Official Military Personnel File (OMPF): eVetRecs (online) | Mail or Fax
- Replacement Medals: eVetRecs (online) | Mail or Fax
- Medical Records: eVetRecs (online) | Mail or Fax
- Burial and Emergency Requests
- More resources to find veteran records (Source: Naval History and Heritage Command)
VETERAN BUSINESS
(Last Update: Tuesday, 02AUG2022)
- Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) – Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999. The purpose is to expand existing small business programs and establish new assistance programs for veterans who own and operate small business firms.
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) – The United States Government sets aside contract benefits for companies considered to be SDVOSB.
- Veteran Resources Guide for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Appeals http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch05.doc
Board of Veteran’s Appeals http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/
CARES Commission http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/
CARES Draft National Plan http://www1.va.gov/cares/page.cfm?pg=105
Center for Minority Veterans http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/
Center for Veterans Enterprise http://www.vetbiz.gov/default2.htm
Center for Women Veterans http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/
Clarification on the changes in VA healthcare for Gulf War Veterans http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000016.html
Classified Records – American Gulf War Veterans Assoc http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000011.html
Compensation for Disabilities Associated with the Gulf War Service http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/part6%20/ch07.doc
Compensation Rate Tables, 12-1-03 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm
Department of Veterans Affairs Home Page http://www.va.gov/
Directory of Veterans Service Organizations http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view
Disability Examination Worksheets Index, Comp http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm
Due Process http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch02.doc
Duty to Assist http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch01.doc
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/
Emergency, Non-emergency, and Fee Basis Care http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf
Environmental Agents http://www1.va.gov/environagents/
Environmental Agents M10 http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1002
Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=315
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR GULF WAR AND IRAQI FREEDOM VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHandbook1303122304.DOC and http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1158
See also, Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DepletedUraniumFAQSheet.doc
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR NON-GULF WAR VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHANDBOOKNONGW130340304.DOC
Fee Basis, PRIORITY FOR OUTPATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL CARE http://www1.va..gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=206
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependants 2005 http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf OR, http://www1.va..gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.htm
Forms and Records Request http://www.va.gov/vaforms/
General Compensation Provisions http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter11_subchaptervi_.html
Geriatrics and Extended Care http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/
Guideline for Chronic Pain and Fatigue MUS-CPG http://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/cpgn/mus/mus_base.htm
Guide to Gulf War Veteran’s Health http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/VHIgulfwar.pdf
Gulf War Subject Index http://www1.va.gov/GulfWar/page.cfm?pg=7&template=main&letter=A
Gulf War Veteran’s Illnesses Q&As http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/GWIllnessesQandAsIB1041.pdf
Hearings
http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch04.doc
Homeless Veterans http://www1.va.gov/homeless/
HSR&D Home http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/
Index to Disability Examination Worksheets C&P exams http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/exams/index.htm
Ionizing Radiation http://www1.va.gov/irad/
Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom Veterans VBA http://www.vba.va.gov/EFIF/
M 10 for spouses and children < http://www1..va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1007
M10 Part III Change 1 http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1008
M21-1 Table of Contents http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/M21_1.html
Mental Disorders, Schedule of Ratings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKC/PART4/S4_130.DOC
Mental Health Program Guidelines http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1094
Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers http://www.mirecc.med.va.gov/
MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Centers of Excellence http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp
My Health e Vet http://www.myhealth.va.gov/
NASDVA.COM http://nasdva.com/
National Association of State Directors http://www.nasdva.com/
National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov/postdeploymentlinks.asp
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders, Schedule of Ratings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38cfr/bookc/part4/s4%5F124a.doc
OMI (Office of Medical Inspector) http://www.omi.cio.med.va.gov/
Online VA Form 10-10EZ https://www.1010ez..med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/
Parkinson’s Disease and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/solicitations/docs/parkinsons.pdf
and, http://www1.va.gov/padrecc/
Peacetime Disability Compensation http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1131
Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteri_.html and, http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapterii_.html
and, http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteriii_.html
Persian Gulf Registry http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1003
This program is now referred to as Gulf War Registry Program (to include Operation Iraqi Freedom) as of March 7, 2005: http://www1..va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1232
Persian Gulf Registry Referral Centers http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1006
Persian Gulf Veterans’ Illnesses Research 1999, Annual Report To Congress http://www1.va.gov/resdev/1999_Gulf_War_Veterans’_Illnesses_Appendices.doc
Persian Persian Gulf Veterans’ Illnesses Research 2002, Annual Report To Congress http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/gulf_war_2002/GulfWarRpt02.pdf
Phase I PGR http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1004
Phase II PGR http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1005
Policy Manual Index http://www.va.gov/publ/direc/eds/edsmps.htm
Power of Attorney http://www.warms.vba..va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch03.doc
Project 112 (Including Project SHAD) http://www1.va.gov/shad/
Prosthetics Eligibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=337
Public Health and Environmental Hazards Home Page http://www.vethealth.cio.med.va.gov/
Public Health/SARS http://www..publichealth.va.gov/SARS/
Publications Manuals http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/publications.cfm?Pub=4
Publications and Reports http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/pubs_individual.cfm?webpage=gulf_war.htm
Records Center and Vault Homepage http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/default.html
Records Center and Vault Site Map http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/sitemap.html
REQUEST FOR AND CONSENT TO RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM CLAIMANT’S RECORDS http://www.forms.va.gov/va/Internet/VARF/getformharness.asp?formName=3288-form.xft
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses April 11, 2002 http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/Minutes_April112002.doc
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses
http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/ReportandRecommendations_2004.pdf
Research and Development http://www.appc1.va.gov/resdev/programs/all_programs.cfm
Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partiii_chapter35_.html
Title 38 Index Parts 0-17
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv1_02.tpl
Part 18
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv2_02.tpl
Title 38 Part 3 Adjudication Subpart A “Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl
Title 38 Pensions, Bonuses & Veterans Relief (also § 3.317 Compensation for certain disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses found here) http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl
Title 38 PART 4–SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES Subpart B–DISABILITY RATINGS
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=ab7641afd195c84a49a2067dbbcf95c0&rgn=div6&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2&idno=38
Title 38§ 4.16 Total disability ratings for compensation based on unemployability of the individual. PART A “SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES Subpart à “General Policy in Rating http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&rgn=div8&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.1..96.11&idno=38
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims http://www.vetapp.gov/
VA Best Practice Manual for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) http://www.avapl.org/pub/PTSD%20Manual%20final%206.pdf
VA Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/gwfs.html
VA Health Care Eligibility http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/home/hecmain.asp
VA INSTITUTING GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTION (GAF) http://www.avapl.org/gaf/gaf.html
VA Life Insurance Handbook ¬” Chapter 3 http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/GLIhandbook/glibookletch3.htm#310
VA Loan Lending Limits and Jumbo Loans http://valoans.com/va_facts_limits.cfm
VA MS Research http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp
VA National Hepatitis C Program http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/
VA Office of Research and Development http://www1.va.gov/resdev/
VA Trainee Pocket Card on Gulf War http://www.va.gov/OAA/pocketcard/gulfwar.asp
VA WMD EMSHG http://www1.va.gov/emshg/
VA WRIISC-DC http://www.va.gov/WRIISC-DC/
VAOIG Hotline Telephone Number and Address http://www.va.gov/oig/hotline/hotline3.htm
Vet Center Eligibility – Readjustment Counseling Service http://www.va.gov/rcs/Eligibility.htm
Veterans Benefits Administration Main Web Page http://www.vba.va.gov/
Veterans Legal and Benefits Information http://valaw.org/
VHA Forms, Publications, Manuals http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/
VHA Programs – Clinical Programs & Initiatives http://www1.va.gov/health_benefits/page.cfm?pg=13
http://webmaila.juno.com/webmail/new/UrlBlockedError.aspx>
VHA Public Health Strategic Health Care Group Home Page http: // www.publichealth.va.gov/
VHI Guide to Gulf War Veterans ¬(tm) Health http://www1.va.gov/vhi_ind_study/gulfwar/istudy/index.asp
Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/
Vocational Rehabilitation Subsistence http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/InterSubsistencefy04.doc
VONAPP online http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
WARMS – 38 CFR Book C http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html
Wartime Disability Compensation http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1110
War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center – New Jersey http://www.wri.med.va.gov/
Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site http://www.gibill.va.gov/
What VA Social Workers Do http://www1.va.gov/socialwork/page.cfm?pg=3
WRIISC Patient Eligibility http://www.illegion.org/va1.html
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