VA's Purpose

To administer the laws providing benefits and other services to veterans and their dependents.

VA's Mission

To serve America's veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and be their principal advocate in ensuring that they receive medical care, benefits, social support, and lasting memorials promoting the health, welfare, and dignity of all veterans in recognition of their service to this Nation.

VA's Vision

As the Department of Veterans Affairs heads into the 21st century, we will strive to meet the needs of the Nation's veterans today and tomorrow.

We are a more customer-focused organization, functioning as "One-VA" and delivering seamless service to our customers. We benchmark our service with the best in business. We use innovative means and high technology to deliver "World-Class Customer Service." We foster partnerships with our customers and stakeholders, making them part of the decision-making process

WHO IS VHA?

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the country with more than 1,300 of sites of care, including 173 medical centers, more than 700 ambulatory care and community based clinics, 134 nursing homes, 42 domiciliaries, and 206 readjustment counseling centers. With a budget of more than $20 billion, the VHA provides health care to veterans through approximately 180,000 staff serving an enrolled patient population of 3.9 million veterans. VHA is a system on the cutting edge in the delivery of health care, conduct of research, and the largest single provider of graduate medical education in the United States. It also provides backup to the Department of Defense and the National Disaster Medical System.

During the last five years, VHA expanded access to 500,000 additional veterans for health care, improved quality as assessed by performance measurement and patient satisfaction, and reduced the cost of care per veteran served by more than 20 percent. VA is now seen as a leader in many health care areas including patient safety, computerized patient records, telehealth, surgical quality assessment, rehabilitation, mental health care, and clinical and health services research.

VA medical centers are affiliated with 107 medical schools, 55 dental schools and more than 1,200 other schools across the country. More than half of the physicians practicing in the United States have had part of their professional education in the VA health-care system. Each year, about 91,000 health professionals receive training in VA medical centers.

· Since 1979, VA has operated Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) Vet Centers, which provide psychological counseling for war-related trauma, community outreach, case management and referral activities, and supportive social services to veterans and family members. Currently, there are 206 Vet Centers. Since the program began, about 1.4 million veterans have visited the centers 10 million times, and another 1.2 million visits were made by family members and friends.

· VA conducts a variety of special programs to assist homeless veterans. Both alcohol/drug rehabilitation and post-traumatic stress disorder programs have been expanded in recent years, along with attention to environmental agents.

RESEARCH

While providing high quality health care to the nation's veterans, VA also conducts an array of research activities on some of the most difficult challenges facing medical science today. VA has become a world leader in such research areas as aging, women veterans health concerns, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. VA research has improved medical care not only for veterans, but also for the population in general.

VA researchers played key roles in developing the cardiac pacemaker; the CT scan; magnetic source imaging, which permits safe removal of brain tumors; and in improving artificial limbs. The first kidney transplant in the United States was performed at a VA medical facility, and the first successful drug treatments for high blood pressure and schizophrenia were pioneered by VA researchers. The "Seattle Foot" was created by VA to give amputees the push-off needed to run and jump, as well as walk. VA contributions to medical knowledge have won VA scientists many prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize.

Seventy-five percent of VA researchers are clinicians. Because of their dual roles, VA research can immediately benefit patients. Functional electrical stimulation, a technology using controlled electrical current to activate paralyzed muscles, is being developed at VA clinical facilities and laboratories throughout the country. Through this technology, paraplegic patients have been able to stand and, in some instances, walk short distances and climb stairs. Patients with quadriplegia are able to use their hands to grasp objects.

Special VA centers nationwide conduct research on AIDS, alcoholism, aging, rehabilitation and schizophrenia. Multi-center clinical trials investigate the best therapy for various conditions, such as aspirin therapy for heart patients, surgical treatment to reduce risk of stroke, and treatment options for prostate cancer.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and Agent Orange exposure, research areas resulting from the Vietnam experience, are continuing with new twists added from the Gulf War. Researchers are now examining the early effects of war trauma and gender differences. VA is involved in a number of Gulf War-related research projects and has established three environmental hazards research centers focusing on the possible health effects of environmental exposures of Gulf War veterans. In 1996, VA established a research center in Louisville, KY to investigate potential environmental reproductive hazards of military service.

VA HISTORY

The United State has the most comprehensive system of assistance for veterans of any nation in the world. This benefits system traces its roots back to 1636, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were at war with the Pequot Indians. The Pilgrims passed a law which stated that disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony.

The Continental Congress of 1776 encouraged enlistments during the Revolutionary War by providing pensions for soldiers who were disabled. Direct medical and hospital care given to veterans in the early days of the Republic was provided by the individual States and communities. In 1811, the first domiciliary and medical facility for veterans was authorized by the Federal Government. In the 19th century, the Nation's veterans assistance program was expanded to include benefits and pensions not only for veterans, but also their widows and dependents.

After the Civil War, many State veterans homes were established. Since domiciliary care was available at all State veterans homes, incidental medical and hospital treatment was provided for all injuries and diseases, whether or not of service origin. Indigent and disabled veterans of the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and Mexican Border period as well as discharge regular members of the Armed Forces were cared for at these homes.

Congress established a new system of veterans benefits when the United States entered World War I in 1917. Included were programs for disability compensation, insurance for servicepersons and veterans, and vocational rehabilitation for the disabled. By the 1920s, the various benefits were administered by three different Federal agencies: the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized the President to "consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans." The three component agencies became bureaus within the Veterans Administration. Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who directed the Veterans Bureau for seven years, was named as the first Administrator of Veterans Affairs, a job he held until 1945.

The VA health care system has grown from 54 hospitals in 1930, to include 173 medical centers; more than 700 ambulatory care and community based clinics; 134 nursing home care units; 42 domiciliaries; and 206 readjustment counseling centers. VA health care facilities provide a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care. The responsibilities and benefits programs of the Veterans Administration grew enormously during the following six decades. World War II resulted in not only a vast increase in the veteran population, but also in large number of new benefits enacted by the Congress for veterans of the war. The World War II GI Bill, signed into law on June 22, 1944, is said to have had more impact on the American way of life than any law since the Homestead Act more than a century ago. Further educational assistance acts were passed for the benefit of veterans of the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, Persian Gulf War, and the All-Volunteer Force.

In 1973, the Veterans Administration assumed another major responsibility when the National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred to the Veterans Administration from the Department of the Army. The Agency was charged with the operation of the National Cemetery System, including the marking of graves of all persons in National and State cemeteries (and the graves of veterans in private cemeteries, upon request) as well administering the State Cemetery Grants Program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established as a Cabinet-level position on March 15, 1989. President Bush hailed the creation of the new Department saying, "there is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America."

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Last Updated:August 2002