The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established in 1988 to support and defend the needs of veterans and their families. The department provides burial, healthcare, education and compensation services for those who have served or are currently serving in the military. The VA is dedicated to ensuring that all veterans receive the best possible care and services based on the unique needs of each individual.

The VA is divided into three distinct administrations - Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA).

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest of the VA’s three administrations. It provides comprehensive healthcare services to millions of veterans across the nation at VA hospitals, regional clinics and mobile clinics. It is the largest healthcare system in the United States, serving more than nine million veterans annually. The healthcare services that it provides include preventative care, specialized mental and physical care, general medical and surgical care, pharmacy services, nursing care and rehabilitation. VHA also provides home-based primary care, hospice and long-term care.

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) helps veterans and their families by providing them with financial and medical benefits. Programs that VBA provides include disability compensation, pension, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, home loan guaranty benefits and assistance with burial and memorial expenses. With the increased demand for veterans’ services, VBA has improved its services by adding features such as an automated claims system and a 24-hour hotline for veterans and their families.

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is in charge of administering and managing the national cemeteries and Soldiers’ Homes. It provides burial benefits to veterans and their families by managing national cemeteries, conducting burials, issuing interment flags and burial markers, and providing Presidential Memorial Certificates. It also provides assistance with gravesite maintenance and preservation.

The VA’s mission is to care for those who have served and continue to serve in the military and their families, they deliver high-quality healthcare, benefits and services that are designed with their needs in mind. By providing valuable services to those who have defended our nation, the VA is fulfilling its commitment to those who have served.