Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the United States

Introduction to Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Veterans Affairs, executive department of the United States government, created by Congress in 1988 and officially established in March 1989. The department is administered by a secretary who is appointed by the president, with the approval of the Senate, and who is a member of the cabinet.

The new department has taken over all the functions of the former Veterans Administration, which was an independent government agency established in 1930 to administer national benefits for veterans. The federal laws under which it operated were adjusted following each military conflict that took place after 1930.” (1)

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates programs to benefit veterans and members of their families. Benefits include compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service; pensions; education and rehabilitation; home loan guaranty; burial; and a medical care program incorporating nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers.

The Department of Veterans Affairs was established as an executivedepartment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Act (38 U.S.C. 201 note).

Department of Veterans Affairs Purpose

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for administering benefit programs for veterans, their families, and their survivors. These benefits include pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits. Veterans Affairs became a cabinet-level department in 1989.

Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation’s population — approximately 70 million people — are potentially eligible for V.A. benefits and services because they are veterans, family members, or survivors of veterans.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees a budget of approximately $90 billion and a staff of approximately 235,000 employees.

Organization and Activities

It is comprised of three organizations that administer veterans programs: the
Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and
the National Cemetery Administration. Each organization has held facilities
and a central office component. Staff offices support the overall function of the
Department and its Administrations.

Advisory Committee Management Office

The Advisory Committee Management Office serves as the coordinating
office for the Department’s 25 Federal advisory committees. It is responsible
for establishing clear and uniform goals, standards, and procedures for advisory
committee activities. It is also responsible for ensuring that VA advisory committee
operations are in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act.

Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction

The Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) is a multifunctional organization responsible for directing the acquisition, logistics, construction, and leasing functions within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Executive Director, OALC, is also the Chief Acquisition Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cemeteries

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is responsible for the management and oversight of more than 128 national cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as 33 soldiers’ lots, Confederate cemeteries and other monument sites. Burial in a national cemetery is available to eligible veterans and their spouses and dependent children. At no cost to the family, a national cemetery burial includes the gravesite, graveliner, opening and closing of the grave, headstone or marker, and perpetual care as part of a national shrine. If a veteran is buried in a private cemetery, anywhere in the world, NCA will provide a headstone or marker. NCA’s State Cemetery Grants Program provides funds to State and tribal governments to establish, expand, or improve State-operated veterans’ cemeteries. NCA issues Presidential Memorial Certificates to recognize the service of honorably discharged servicemembers or veterans.

Center for Minority Veterans

The Center for Minority Veterans (CMV), established by Public Law 103–446(108 Stat. 4645), promotes the use of VA benefits, programs, and services by minority veterans. The CMV focuses on the unique and special needs of AfricanAmericans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, Paci?c Islanders, and Native Americans, which include American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives.

Center for Women Veterans

The Center for Women Veterans (CWV), established by Public Law 103–446 (108
Stat. 4645), reports to the Secretary’s Office and oversees the Department’s
programs for women veterans. The CWV Director serves as the primary advisor
to the Secretary on all matters related to policies, legislation, programs, issues,
and initiatives affecting women veterans. The CWV ensures that women veterans
receive benefits and services on par with male veterans; VA programs are
responsive to gender-specific needs of women veterans; outreach is performed
to improve women veterans’ awareness of services, bene?ts, and eligibility
criteria; and women veterans are treated with dignity and respect.

Health Services

The Veterans Health Administration provides hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care,
and outpatient medical and dental care to eligible veterans of military service
in the Armed Forces. It conducts both individual medical and health-care
delivery research projects and multihospital research programs, and it
assists in the education of physicians and dentists and with training of many
other health care professionals through af?liations with educational institutions
and organizations.

Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Benefits Administration provides information, advice, and assistance to
veterans, their dependents, beneficiaries, epresentatives, and others applying for Veteran Affairs benefits. It also cooperates with the Department of Labor and other Federal, State, and local agencies in developing employment opportunities for veterans and referral for assistance in resolving socioeconomic, housing, and other related problems.

Department of Veterans Affairs

In Legislation

Department of Veterans Affairs in the U.S. Code: Title 38, Part I, Chapter 3

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating department of veterans affairs are compiled in the United States Code under Title 38, Part I, Chapter 3. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Veterans (including department of veterans affairs) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, Benefits of the US Code, including department of veterans affairs) by chapter and subchapter.

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Department of Veterans Affairs in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Department of Veterans Affairs

In this Section

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy (including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.