As the Department of Veterans Affairs heads into the 21st century, it will strive to meet the needs of the nation's veterans and their families today and tomorrow. VA will become an even more veteran-focused organization by continuously benchmarking the quality and delivery of its service, fostering partnerships with veterans and other stakeholders, and cultivating a dedicated VA work force of highly skilled employees.

VA provides a wide array for benefits and services:

  • Medical Care provides primary and specialized care and related medical and social support services.
  • Medical Research contributes to the knowledge about disease and disability.
  • Compensation provides monthly payments to veterans or surviving family members for disability, disease, or injuries incurred while the veteran was on active military duty or his/her death as the result of a service-connected disability.
  • Pension provides monthly payments to needy wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or to surviving family members of wartime veterans.
  • Education assists veterans and eligible dependents in achieving educational or vocational goals.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment assists disabled veterans to achieve functional independence and to become employable.
  • Housing helps veterans and active duty personnel purchase and retain homes.
  • Insurance provides life insurance benefits to veterans and service members that are not available from the commercial insurance industry.
  • Burial honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials to commemorate their service to the nation.