Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The United States federal department responsible for the interests of military veterans: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a cabinet-level executive department of the U.S. federal government. Its primary mission is to provide benefits, healthcare, and other services to veterans of the U.S. armed forces and, in some cases, their families. It was established as a cabinet-level department in 1989.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • He receives his healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs manages national cemeteries for eligible veterans and their families.
  • You can apply for educational benefits online via the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Advanced Usage

• "VA": The standard and widely used initialism for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The VA hospital provides specialized care for service-related injuries.
• "Veterans Affairs": Often used alone, especially in news and general discourse, to refer to the department or its domain of responsibility.
  • The senator sits on the committee for Veterans Affairs.

Variants and Related Words

• VA: The official abbreviation.
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs: The title of the head of the department, a member of the President's cabinet.
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): A major component of the VA responsible for benefit programs.
• Veterans Health Administration (VHA): The component of the VA responsible for providing healthcare.

Synonyms

• Veterans Administration: This was the name of the independent agency that preceded the cabinet department; the term is still sometimes used informally.
• The VA: The most common synonym in everyday language.

Related Phrases

• "VA benefits": Refers to the range of services and financial assistance provided by the department.
  • He is researching his eligibility for VA benefits.
• "VA loan": A mortgage loan program guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible veterans, service members, and survivors.
  • They used a VA loan to purchase their first home.

Noun

1. the United States federal department responsible for the interests of military veterans; created in 1989