VA travel pay for service-connected appointments

Beneficiary travel pays you back for getting to VA care. Veterans rated 30% or more qualify for any VA appointment. Veterans rated under 30%, which includes 0%, qualify when the appointment is for treatment of the service-connected condition.

What is paid

• Mileage. VA currently pays 41.5 cents a mile for approved health-related travel; the figure is on VA's travel page and changes from time to time.
• Tolls, parking and some other expenses, with receipts.
• In some circumstances, common carrier fares or special mode transport, which need prior approval.

The deductible

VA takes a deductible off each claim: currently $3 one way or $6 round trip per appointment, up to $18 in a month. Once the month's $18 is reached, the rest of that month's trips are paid in full. Some groups are exempt from the deductible, such as veterans travelling for a compensation and pension exam; a 0% rating on its own is not one of them.

Filing

Claims are filed through VA's online Beneficiary Travel Self Service System, at the facility, or by mail, and should be filed within 30 days of the appointment. Keep the receipts for anything beyond mileage.

Related

• What counts as treatment of the service-connected condition: Free care for the condition.
• Back to A 0% VA rating still counts.