Starting in 2026, you will be able to get digital versions of the America the Beautiful Passes, as required by Congress (2025 EXPLORE Act). America the Beautiful Passes cover entrance or standard amenity (day-use) fees to thousands of recreation areas managed by six federal agencies: U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are eligible for a Military Annual Pass.
2. Veterans
1) Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement)
2) Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
3) Veteran ID Card
4) Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S.driver’s license or identification card
We Got Your 6 Golf ScrambleThe Oregon Chapter PGA “We Got Your 6 Scramble” benefiting PGA HOPE Pacific Northwest is set for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Claremont Golf Club. 100% of the proceeds go to local PGA HOPE programs via the Pacific Northwest PGA Foundation. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Oregon Chapter PGA is requesting golf course donations of four with carts, lessons, golf equipment—anything that you have that could be a nice donation item to help raise funds for our Veterans! The goal is to raise over $10,000.00 so that our professionals can continue to serve our Veterans and Active Duty Military. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs, PGA HOPE receives direct referrals from VA medical centers, establishing golf as a recognized form of therapy and rehabilitation. If you would like more information about the PNW PGA HOPE program, please visit https://pnwpga.com/military-veterans. You can also find a list of PGA HOPE clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest Section. If you would like to attend one of our TopGolf events or sponsor an event, please reach out to Jeff Bojanowski at jjbojo32@gmail.com.
The 2025 Alaska Folds of Honor Championship marked a milestone year, raising a record-setting $21,700 for Folds of Honor—the highest total in the event’s history. These funds help provide scholarships and educational support for the spouses and children of fallen and disabled military service members, honoring their sacrifice through opportunity. The 2026 Alaska Folds of Honor Championship is scheduled for July 11, 2026 at Moose Run Golf Course, located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in the Anchorage metropolitan area. Moose Run Golf Course is a 36-hole military golf facility open to the public. Moose Run Golf Facility consists of two courses, the Creek Course and the Hill Course. This is the only 36-hole facility in Alaska and one of the premier military golf operations in the world! Moose Run Golf Course has been working in conjunction with the Alaska VA since 2018 to offer programs to our Alaskan veterans in need of their services. We HOPE to introduce golf to our local heroes and help to improve their quality of life through golf. We became a certified chapter of HOPE through the PGA in 2017.
The American Lake Veterans Golf Course, spanning 377 acres, was established in 1956 following World War II. The course was designed as a nine-hole place of respite on the VA hospital near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Its mission is to offer essential rehabilitation and recreational opportunities for Veterans, many of whom suffer from severe disabilities. In 1995, funding for the operation and maintenance of all VA golf courses was discontinued. Nevertheless, this course continued to operate through a volunteer program. After falling into disrepair, the course faced potential abandonment. In 2014, Jack Nicklaus designed the new back nine holes and concurrently redesigned the existing front nine holes. Nicklaus’ work is the centerpiece of the $4.5 million project at American Lake called “A Course in Courage: Healing America’s Veterans through Golf.”
The renovated front nine reopened in 2022, making it an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. With an unparalleled record of producing the most championship golf courses, Nicklaus Design is synonymous with world-class course design. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course offers rehabilitation, therapy, socialization and support to those who have given so much for our country. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course is recognized as the 400th Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Notably, Jack Nicklaus is the first athlete and only the fourth individual ever to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Lincoln Medal.
Trump EO reinstates GI Bill benefits to Veterans discharged for refusing COVID vaccineWASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that potentially thousands of Veterans who were discharged from service by the Biden Administration for refusing the COVID vaccine may regain eligibility for GI Bill education benefits. In January, President Trump issued Executive Order 14184, Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate. Following that, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the military departments to facilitate, among other things, discharge upgrades for individuals involuntarily separated solely for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine and whose service was characterized as less than fully honorable. The Biden Administration separated more than 8,000 service members from the military because they had refused to comply with the Department of Defense (now Department of War) COVID vaccine mandate. More than half of these warriors received a discharge that was characterized as less than fully honorable, which may have made them ineligible for GI Bill education benefits. Following Department of War reviews, 899 of these Veterans are now eligible for GI Bill education benefits, and thousands more could also regain GI Bill eligibility thanks to the executive order.
DAV’s employment program connects transitioning active duty, Guard and Reserve members, veterans and their spouses with employers. Partnering with RecruitMilitary, DAV sponsors job fairs including virtual events, to connect Veterans and spouses with employers nationwide who are committed to hiring them. RecruitMilitary Job Fair are events where job seekers with military experience can meet with recruiters from local and national companies.
• National Virtual Career Fair Online // Tuesday, May 19th
• Western Region Virtual Career Fair Online // Tuesday, July 14th
• Job Fair at Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, CA // Thursday, July 16th
• Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA // Thursday, August 13th
• National Virtual Career Fair Online // Tuesday, August 25th
• San Diego Veterans Job Fair, Escondido, CA // Thursday, October 1st
• Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA // Thursday, October 22nd
• Western Region Virtual Career Fair Online // Tuesday, October 27th
• National Virtual Career Fair Online // Tuesday, November 24th
These events are free for U.S. Veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserve. RecruitMilitary, a leading recruitment firm dedicated to the military community, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious "Patriot Employer" distinction by DAV. Regional and National Virtual Career Fairs for Veterans are held online at https://my.recruitmilitary.com/.
Periodically, VA makes cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to VA compensation and pension benefits to ensure that the purchasing power of VA benefits is not eroded by inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency of the United States Department of Labor (DOL), is the principal fact-finding agency in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. BLS calculates and reports cost of living each month through Consumer Price Index (CPI) reports. CPI is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. Annual COLA is calculated through monthly Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) reports of the current fiscal year (July, August, September) to the average for the same months of the previous fiscal year.
Annual COLA is calculated through monthly Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) reports of the current fiscal year (July, August, September) to the average for the same months of the previous fiscal year. In September, the CPI-W increased 2.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 318.139 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The calculated average CPI-W for the last three months of FY25 is 317.265. The 2026 COLA of 2.8% is derived from subtracting the FY25 calculated average from FY24 and then dividing from the FY24 baseline (317.265-308.729)/308.729 = 2.76%. Veterans, families and dependents eligible for VA benefits see the new amount reflected in their monthly checks effective Jan. 1. 2026. Annual COLA increases affect VA service-connected disability compensation. VA service-connected disability compensation provides payments to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military. The monthly tax-free disability compensation includes Veterans whose service made an existing medical condition worse. Special benefit allowances, including automobile allowance, clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension, are also provided a boost in benefit payments. MOAA publishes monthly updates and inflation figures (COLA Watch) used to set COLA for payments received by military retirees, disabled Veterans, Social Security beneficiaries, and many others receiving federal compensation. COLA affects certain VA benefits, including, but not limited to: disability compensation, clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for spouses and children. COLA allowances are also applied to the payments provided to surviving spouse, child or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness. These VA survivor benefits are tax exempt. This means you won’t have to pay any taxes on your compensation payments. These adjustments help to make sure that the purchasing power of Veterans benefits keeps up with inflation. Learn more about VA disability ratings with the VA compensation calculator online at dav.org/disability-calculator. Please note that this calculator is to be used as an estimated evaluation and for informational purposes only. Many factors are considered with VA calculations, ratings, and monetary amounts. Contact an accredited Service Officer for additional questions or assistance with VA Benefits.
Burger King Donations Fund VFW Service Officers // Customers donated nearly $350,000 in May to fund the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) free VA claims assistance //VFW recently reported that 24 participating franchisees and 880 restaurants provided $348,559 for the VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) through the annual fundraiser. Each year, the fundraising campaign invites guests to donate $1 or more with their purchased meals. Many veterans are unaware they are owed money and benefits. Those who know often struggle with how to get them. The NVS’s professionals help veterans cut through red tape to find and get the money and benefits they earned. Funds help provide free VA claims assistance through NVS for military and veteran families, ensuring they receive the benefits they have earned. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces. Since 2007, Burger King franchisees have raised more than $7.8 million in support of VFW programs. Last year, VFW’s National Veterans Service helped more than 590,500 veterans receive $14.62 billion of VA disability benefits, including back pay. VFW’s network of VA-accredited service officers has been helping veterans receive their earned pay.
VFW understands the challenges that our active-duty service members (to include activated Guard/Reserve members) and their families can face, and we believe that experiencing financial difficulties should not be one of them. That's the premise behind VFW’s Financial Assistance for Service Members program. The Financial Assistance for Service Members program is here to help America's active-duty service members (to include activated Guard/Reserve members) and their families who have run into unexpected financial difficulties because of deployment or other military-related activity or injury. The program provides financial assistance up to $2,500 to assist with daily necessities in the form of a grant – not a loan – so no repayment is required. To further ease the burden, VFW pays the creditor(s) directly. If you or your family are experiencing financial hardship due to your military service please review the eligibility criteria to see if you qualify for a grant. The goal is to offer the assistance you veterans need it most.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Jason Scott, National Pre-Discharge Claims Representative
Waller Hall – VFW Room 700
2140 Ligget Ave
JB Lewis - McChord, WA 98433
Phone: 253.966.1279
Cell Phone: 253.569.2790
Email: jscott@vfw.org
National Pre-Discharge Claims Representatives
Overseas and stateside locations without a VFW Accredited Representative
Phone: 202.543.2239
Email: bdd@vfw.org
Veterans Day Poster 2025 The winner of the 2025 Veterans Day Poster Contest is Jeremy D. Carpenter, whose creation “Unified by Service” reflects the 2025 Veterans Day theme “Service to Our Nation” by visually uniting all uniformed services under one flag and one purpose. The Veterans Day poster will be displayed in VA facilities, military installations and municipal buildings across America. It will also serve as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11. “Unified by Service” is “formal, structured and patriotic. It pays tribute to all Veterans regardless of when or where they served, and it emphasizes that service to the nation is not confined to one uniform, one battlefield or one generation. The eagle, flag, and seals work together to portray unity, honor and a continued commitment to freedom.” The Veterans Day poster will be displayed in VA facilities, military installations and municipal buildings across America. It will also serve as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11. Veterans Day is always observed officially on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The Veterans Day National Ceremony, like most ceremonies around the nation, is held on Veterans Day itself. However, when Veterans Day falls on a weekday, many communities choose to hold Veterans Day parades or other celebrations on the weekend before or after November 11 so that more people can participate. VA has created an 11” x 17” poster that is compatible with most office printers. Please make sure to load 11” x 17” paper into the target printer. We recommend selecting the “Fit to page” option under the Page Setup menu. This will slightly reduce the poster size to fit the printer without cropping the image. There are also downloads available for local reproduction for Wide Format Printers and Commercial.
November marks National Veteran and Military Families Month, highlighted by Veterans Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans Day National Committee are pleased to provide a Teachers Resource Guide. This resource guide, along with another group of America’s finest — our teachers — will allow your students to learn more about the price our brave Veterans have paid to defend our nation. Veterans Day Regional Ceremonies recognized by VA provide military ceremonial support from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and a certificate from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in the official program. Each year, the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The poster is selected from artwork submitted by artists nationwide distributed to schools, state governments, Veterans Day Regional Sites, the military services, and Veterans Service Organizations. Poster requests are fulfilled until the inventory is exhausted. Download and print your own poster from the Veterans Day Poster Gallery
November is Warrior Care Month. It was established in 2008 “to increase awareness of programs and resources available to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and those who care for them.” The Department of Defense was tasked to “continue to make it easier for our troops and their families to take advantage of all the assistance now available to them.”
Comprehensive Policy on Improvements to Care, Management and Transition of Recovering Service Members
Established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181, Section 1600 “Wounded Warrior Act”) requires the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to jointly develop and implement a comprehensive policy on improvements to the care, management, and transition of recovering service members. Among the areas covered by this policy are the medical and disability evaluations of service members. That same year, the United States began honoring Warrior Care Month each November, to reaffirm VA's commitment that there is no higher priority than caring for the wounded, ill, and injured Service members who have sacrificed so much.
Mission: To support wounded, ill, and injured Service members in their recovery and reintegration or transition to civilian life.
Vision: To ensure the nation’s wounded, ill, and injured Service members, their families, and caregivers are not forgotten.
Guiding Principle: There is no higher priority than taking care of Service members who have become wounded, ill or injured while in service to our nation.
Wounded Warrior Programs: Each military service has a Wounded Warrior Program to specifically address the needs of wounded, ill, and injured service members, as well their families and caregivers.
VA Puget Sound Health Care System is proud to announce the official opening of its new VA Puget Sound Clinic in Oak Harbor, developed in collaboration with Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor. VA services include comprehensive primary care, social work, behavioral health, nutrition and clinical pharmacy specialists. While provider requested laboratory work or radiology procedures such as x-rays can be done at any VA Puget Sound health care facility with those services (such as our Everett or Mount Vernon clinics) or through the Community Care Network, the hope is to eventually offer those services in-house. The VA also hopes to make the Oak Harbor Clinic a tele hub which will expand Veterans’ access to specialty care services from tele retinal to tele dermatology. Veterans hoping to get their care at VA Puget Sound Clinic in Oak Harbor (3475 N Saratoga St., Building 993 Oak Harbor, WA 98278-8800) should discuss with their current primary care team. For those who are not enrolled, please contact VA Puget Sound’s Enrollment and Eligibility Office at 1-800-329-8387 ext 76542.
The Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Program Office is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) for all DOD/VA health care related policies, programs, and activities. DVPO is responsible for enhancing medical resource sharing across the Military Health System which includes military hospitals and clinics around the world that support more than 9.5 million service members, retirees and their families. Collaborating with VA, DVPO is committed to identifying opportunities and creating partnerships to address them. This partnership, a first-of-its-kind for the VA and DoD in Washington State, marks a significant milestone in enhancing health care access for Veterans in one of western Washington’s most geographically challenging island communities. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue Marine (forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard), explored, charted, and protected the area during the mid-nineteenth century. Ships and cutters worked to keep the peace between natives and settlers, and helped negotiate boundary disputes over the San Juan Islands. When the U.S. purchased Alaska in 1867, the sea services began patrols to regulate fishing and sealing, assist mariners in distress, and establish forward presence in the Last Frontier. Bases and a shipyard were operating in Puget Sound by the 1890s. Situated in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, the area offers a unique setting with a variety of activities and opportunities for service members and their families. Navy Region Northwest is the third largest fleet concentration area in the continental United States. Navy Region Northwest's mission is to support the fleet, fighter and family in order to provide ready Naval forces able to execute our nation's defense. If you have concerns or questions about the Pacific Northwest, contact the Fleet and Family Support Program at 1-866-854-0638 for additional information and all your referral needs.
The Federal EHR is VA’s new EHR system that is being rolled out to all VA medical facilities as soon as 2031. In 2026, go-live dates are planning launch in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Alaska. Federal EHR at VA began with Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20 at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington with launch on October 24, 2020. In addition to the launch at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC and its four community-based outpatient clinics located in Wenatchee, Washington; Libby, Montana; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Sandpoint, Idaho. VA also began using the new system at the West Consolidated Patient Account Center, the VA business operations facility in Las Vegas that supports billing for the Pacific Northwest.
Access to non-VA care no longer requires secondary approvalIn Part 1 of VA's Glad You Asked series focusing on VA's Community Care, Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D., answers two key questions: What is VA Community Care, and who qualifies for it? VA's Glad You Asked started in May and is available online at https://www.youtube.com/@DeptVetAffairs. Since May, topics covered include:
• Tips to Get Your VA Claim Processed Faster
• What You Need to Know About Your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
• Understanding VA Home Loan Benefits
• What’s in the VA Welcome Kit?
• Helping Homeless Veterans Starts With One Simple Step
• Can I be buried in a VA cemetery?
• How to Get Started with Your Benefits
Deputy Secretary Lawrence was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 27, 2025, and sworn in the following day by Secretary Doug Collins. Since 2009, the official YouTube channel for VA has broadcast over 65 million views to over 436,000 subscribers. The VA Community Care Network (CCN) is VA’s direct link with community providers to ensure Veterans receive timely, high-quality care. CCN uses industry-standard approaches and guidelines to administer services, pay for services promptly, and manage the network to its full potential.
• Fact Sheet: How to Become a VA Community Provider
• Fact Sheet: How to become a VA CCN Dental Community Provider
• Fact Sheet: Community Care Network
• Fact Sheet: Community Care Network–Regions 1-5
• Fact Sheet: Billing and Payments
Since 2019, the MISSION Act has enabled VA-enrolled Veterans to access health care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense when it is in their best medical interest. These decisions have been made jointly by Veterans and their referring clinicians but were not considered final until they were reviewed by a second VA doctor.
The Honor Foundation (THF)Founded in 2015 from the Navy SEAL Foundation, THF serves Special Operations service members who hold themselves to a high standard of core values, guiding principles, and work ethic. THF recruits on a rolling basis those military professionals who are, ideally, 12-15 months out from their separation or retirement. There are no formal educational prerequisites, however, the educational experience is approximately 3 months/120 hours of intense executive style education, professional development, one-on-one career coaching, and has a strict attendance policy. THF currently provides transition courses at nine campuses across the country:
• Camp Lejeune – nCino, The Offices at Mayfaire IV, Wilmington, NC
• Eglin – The Place on Beal, Fort Walton Beach, FL
• Fort Bragg | Pinehurst – Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC
• Fort Bragg | Fayetteville – Fayetteville Technical Community College
• JBLM - Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood, WA
• San Diego – THF Headquarters, 11055 Roselle St., Suite 120
• Tampa – Baldwin Risk Partners, Corporate Center II, Tampa, FL
• TN/Campbell - Clarksville Regional Airport, Clarksville, TN
• Virginia Beach – Neptune Shield, Virginia Beach, VA
THF also provides Veterans access to Transition Assistance through Vector Accelator. Vector is redefining the military-to-civilian experience by introducing an important first step in the transition process: intentional introspection. The virtual, on-demand program guides participants through modules designed to help them gain clarity on their identity, motivations, strengths, and priorities so that they can pursue their next mission in life with confidence and conviction. After completing successful alpha and beta testing, Vector Accelerator launched a pilot program in 2024, inviting all active-duty or separated members of the military to participate.
Recently featured on the Military Money (MILMO) Show, THF's Kelly McGraw shared, Why Identity Work Is the Missing Step in Military Transition. In addition, Kelly shares how to navigate the emotional and mental side of transition with tools that go beyond resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Discussion on the MILMO Podcast further illuminates how the Honor Foundation is assisting service members through both its elite program and the new Vector Accelerator, enabling veterans to reclaim their sense of identity, purpose, and community as they transition into civilian life. The VA portion of TAP is a one-day, in-person course called VA Benefits and Services. Led by VA Benefits Advisors, the course helps transitioning service members understand how to navigate VA and the benefits and services earned through military service. The course offers interactive exercises, real examples, and covers topics important to you like family support, disability compensation, education, and health care benefits.
The discussion provides details, as well as the reasoning behind why Home Depot continues to offer items Tax Free, and in some cases with a 10% discount. Thanks to the Home Depot Foundation for the unwavering support for our military and veteran communities. To qualify for participation in the Veterans online shopping benefit, you must be a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces with a discharge status of "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions." Examples of acceptable paperwork include (but are not limited to): DD214 (Member Copies 2-8), DD215 (with corrected discharge status), NGB-22 or DD256/257. Paperwork cannot be redacted in any way, including but not limited to: crossing sections out, covering them with liquid eraser or filling them with dark ink; overlapping and/or folding copies where the full page is not visible or readable; and/or removing sections, whether by cutting them out or otherwise removing them from the document. If you meet these requirements, please go to your favorite online exchange (AAFES, NEXCOM, MCX, CGX) and try to register for an account. You will be redirected to VetVerify if more information needed.
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced changes that will make it easier for VA-enrolled Veterans to access health care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense. Effective immediately, VA will implement language in the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that removes this extra review step. The change will give eligible Veterans faster access to community care. The new, streamlined process for determining best medical interest will be backed by training for Veterans Health Administration employees to ensure compliance with the Elizabeth Dole Act.
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the availability of $42 million in grants to eligible organizations to assist homeless Veterans and those at risk of homelessness with various legal services. The funds are being made available through VA’s Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program and are designed to help Veterans in several ways. Grant applications are due by 4 p.m. ET, July 7. Organizations can apply for grants worth up to $500,000, which will fund operations for a two-year period beginning Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2027. Many legal service providers offer free legal clinics in VA facilities. The VA Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist at the closest VA Medical Center may be another source of information about available legal clinics and other community legal assistance resources. Several organizations are currently funded in VISN 20 to provide these services. If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that its Health and Benefits mobile app has achieved more than 3 million downloads since its launch in 2021. The VA app, which has 1.4 million active users, provides Veterans access to a variety of VA health care and benefits information directly from their mobile phones. Major categories of the VA App store include:
• Care at VA
• Physical Wellness and Self Care
• Mental Wellness and Self Care
VA offers sixty (60) apps for Veterans from the VA App Store. Several apps are managed by 3rd parties. Apps are also available to Families, Caregivers, and VA staff. Visit digital.va.gov to read about the mission of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) regarding collaboration with VA business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans. With the official VA: Health & Benefits app, you can manage your VA health care, benefits, and payments from your mobile phone or tablet.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) celebrates the milestone passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act by the U.S. Congress. For almost 2 years, EDF worked with a coalition of organizations advancing this bi-partisan package of legislation that will have life-changing outcomes for those who served and their families, survivors, and caregivers. The EDF Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework is a tool created to identify and validate the unique elements of military and veteran caregivers’ mental health and wellness and provide pathways to support.
Veterans Affairs expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) — the nation’s largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members — to allow Veterans to tell their own story before they pass away. The new “Your Story, Your Legacy” feature will allow Veterans who have been approved for VA’s pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery to log in to a secure website where they can privately submit images, autobiographies, military and life milestones, and historical documents.
Veterans Housing and Physical Damage Loans from SBASection 604 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, Public Law 110-387, authorized VA to develop the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. Supportive services grants have been awarded to selected private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will assist very low-income Veteran families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. Grantees will provide a range of supportive services to eligible Veteran families that are designed to promote housing stability. Recently VA announced a combination of steps to provide outreach to Veterans experiencing homelessness. If you live in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your home or personal property, you may be eligible for financial assistance from United States Small Business Administration (SBA) — even if you do not own a business.
VA Puget Sound, Washington - https://www.va.gov/puget-sound-health-care/news-releases/
VA Walla Walla, Washington - Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA - https://www.va.gov/walla-walla-health-care/stories/
VA Spokane, Washington - Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center - https://www.va.gov/spokane-health-care/news-releases/
VA Portland, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/portland-health-care/news-releases/
VA White City, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/southern-oregon-health-care/news-releases/
VA Roseburg, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/roseburg-health-care/news-releases/
VA Anchorage, Alaska - https://www.va.gov/alaska-health-care/stories/
VA Boise, Idaho - https://www.va.gov/boise-health-care/news-releases/
VA News - https://news.va.gov/
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with Veterans with education, home loans, life insurance and much more. Service members, Veterans, their families, and Survivors are invited to request information on VA Benefits including disability compensation, pension, fiduciary, education, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Home Loans, and Insurance. In addition to information on VA Benefits Veterans may initiate an intent to file and request assistance with filing compensation and pension claims. Visit regional office websites to learn about the services the regional office provides, directions to the facility, hours of operation, and the leadership team that serves the regional office.
The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:
Find out how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member. For other mental health services, contact a VA medical center for information on eligibility and treatment options.
The MISSION Act became law in 2018, bringing the VA’s previous Veterans Choice Program to an end and establishing the Community Care Program. VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA. Community care is also available to Veterans based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements, and in consideration of a Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances. VA offers urgent care services to eligible Veterans at in-network urgent care clinics to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections. Community care must be first authorized by VA before a Veteran can receive care from a community provider. Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran presenting to a community emergency room to VA within 72 hours of the start of emergent care. Out-of-network providers are encouraged to notify VA as soon as possible. PHONE: 844-724-7842 (844-72HRVHA) IMPORTANT: Failure to notify VA of care rendered through an in-network community facility in a timely manner prevents VA from authorizing the emergency care, and prevents claims and payments from being made through one of VA’s third-party administrators.
Vet Centers in VISN 20 are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. 1-877-927-8387 is an around the clock confidential call center where combat Veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Veterans. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.
Alaska
| Anchorage Vet Center (Anchorage, AK) | Fairbanks Vet Center (Fairbanks, AK) |
| Kenai Vet Center Outstation (Soldotna, AK) | Wasilla Vet Center (Wasilla, AK) |
Idaho
| Boise Vet Center (Boise, ID) | East Idaho Vet Center (Idaho Falls, ID) |
Oregon
| Central Oregon Vet Center (Bend, OR) | Eugene Vet Center (Eugene, OR) |
| Grants Pass Vet Center (Grants Pass, OR) | Portland, OR Vet Center (Portland, OR) |
| Salem Vet Center (Salem, OR) |
Washington
In 1946, Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was established by law to provide comfort and well-being to America’s Veterans. With our many retail stores, cafés and coffee shops across the country, we serve those who have served our country. VCS is proud to offer Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families and VA employees exclusive shopping benefits online through Patriot Store Direct. Product categories range from Military Caps and apparel, Outdoors, Electronics, Automotive tires (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, and Fuzion), Tickets and Travel, Vision (Glasses and Contact Lenses), Home and Kitchen, Floral, Toys, Gifts, Watches, and more. We are honored to give back to the VA community through many programs established for the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes. Revenues generated from VCS are used to support a variety of programs, such as VA’s Rehabilitation Games, Fisher Houses, Poly-Trauma Centers for OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, disaster relief efforts, Substance Abuse Cessation, VA’s Homelessness initiatives, Women Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention and other activities.
VCS operates over 200 Patriot Stores in Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers nationwide. Many of our stores have been recently updated and expanded to provide our customers with a modern, clean and comfortable shopping experience. Our stores welcome our customers with wider aisles, wood-like floors, enhanced lighting and directional signage. PatriotStores have expanded hours of operation to provide service for customers on weekends at most locations.
The Patriot Cafe is the best place in the VA Medical Center to enjoy delicious, freshly prepared breakfast or lunch served hot or cold each weekday. Providing Veterans, their families, VA employees, volunteers and visitors a place to relax and enjoy a meal or take-out for their convenience. With a wide variety of food from traditional comfort food, specialized menu selections and a large assortment of healthy choices; there is something for everyone's taste buds.
To find out whether there is a van near you, use the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides coordinated by more than 133 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country. Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a Vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. Learn more about the DAV transportation network through the VISN 20 NewsFlash Resources section.
Today's VHA - the largest of the three administrations that comprise the VA - continues to meet Veterans' changing medical, surgical, and quality-of-life needs. There are 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in VHA operating as regional systems of care to better meet local health care needs and provides greater access to care. In the Pacific Northwest, VISN 20 serves Veterans in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, most of Idaho, and one county each in California and Montana. Spanning 23% of the US land mass, operating across three time zones over 817,417 square miles, VISN 20 is the largest geographic region of VA. As of the end of FY2024, 39% of VISN 20 enrollees resided in rural or highly rural areas.
Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care
Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
