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Are you a Veteran wondering if you're eligible for VA health care benefits? The good news is that VA health care has been expanded to include millions of Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving our country. This includes those who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11. If you meet the basic service and discharge requirements, you may be eligible for VA health care.
"If you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, you may be eligible for VA health care benefits," explains the official VA website. Additionally, if you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless certain exceptions apply.
For example, the minimum duty requirement may not apply if you were discharged for a disability caused or made worse by your active-duty service, for a hardship or "early out," or if you served prior to September 7, 1980.
If you're a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. It's important to note that if you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don't qualify for VA health care.
Check your eligibility for new VA health care benefits
For those who served in certain locations and time periods during the Vietnam War era, you are also eligible for VA health care. The same applies if you meet the basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins or other hazards while serving our country-at home or abroad.
In summary, if you are a Veteran who meets the basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins or other hazards while serving our country, you are eligible for VA health care.
As the official VA website states: "All Veterans who meet basic service and discharge requirements and who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving our country-at home or abroad-are now eligible for VA health care." So, if this applies to you, don't hesitate to apply today.