Department of Veterans Affairs

We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America.  For their dedicated service defending the United States, veterans receive an array of benefits and services. The President’s Budget simplifies access to these benefits; ensures that we are meeting the needs of the contemporary veteran population; and invests in the continued modernization of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to meet 21st century challenges.

The President's Budget maintains the Administration's commitment to our Nation's veterans with $61.85 billion in discretionary funding, a 10.6 percent increase from the FY 2010 enacted amount to meet increased need. This increase will continue to drive change in the VA - transforming the Department to better serve veterans and their families at a time when more is being asked of our men and women in uniform.

Adapts and Innovates for Changing Needs

• Prioritizes specialized care needed by veterans, providing $6 billion for post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other psychological and cognitive health needs, as well as collaborative programs between the Department of Defense and VA.
• Dramatically expands benefits and medical care for veterans' caregivers, providing $208 million for specialized training, stipends, health care and mental health services. These benefits will enhance the standard of care through the retention of better trained, more qualified caregivers.
  Combats veteran homelessness with a $939 million investment to continue the Administration’s historic commitment to end veteran homelessness and expand services for homeless and at-risk veterans.
• Successfully implements an automated claims processing system for the timely and accurate delivery of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to veterans and their beneficiaries.  In 2012, over 500,000 participants are expected to receive almost $8.5 billion in tuition, fee, housing, and stipend benefits.
• Continues the development of a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for the secure and seamless access, sharing and exchange of health, benefits, and administrative data that will allow improved care and services to servicemembers and veterans.
• Continues to enhance the administration of veterans benefits by implementing high priority technology improvements to address the claims backlog.
• Includes $270 million investment, a 12 percent increase from the 2011 medical care enacted amount, for gender-specific health care for eligible women veterans to addresses their overall health care needs at every point where the veterans access care.

Reduces Costs While Improving Service and Efficiency

• Reduces costs and improves efficiency through implementation of a new, $183 million paperless claims processing system, which will speed processing, enhance the security of personal data, and improve veterans' access to benefits information.
• Reduces spending for construction by 38 percent from the FY 2010 enacted amount to focus resources on providing timely, high-quality care and benefits to veterans.