Unlike most VA health care benefits, dental benefits is limited to only certain veterans.  Following discharge for active duty, VA dental benefits is available to any eligible veteran who applies for dental care within 180 days of discharge or release from a period of active duty of 90 days or more during the Persian Gulf War era.  However, your DD214, certificate of discharge, must not state that a complete dental examination and all appropriate dental treatment was rendered prior to your discharge.

After 180 days, VA is only authorized to provide dental benefits if you:

  • Have a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition
  • Have a service-connected disabilities rated 100% disabling, or are unemployable and paid at the 100% rate due to service connected conditions
  • Have a service-connected noncompensable dental condition or disability resulting from combat wounds or service trauma
  • Have a dental condition clinically determined by VA to be associated with and aggravating a service-connected medical condition
  • Are actively engaged in a 38 USC Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation program
  • Are receiving VA care or are scheduled for inpatient care and require dental care for a condition complicating a medical condition currently under treatment or
  • Are an enrolled Veteran who may be homeless and receiving care under VHA Directive 2007-039.

Additional information on VA’s Dental program can be located athttp://www.va.gov/dental/patients.asp.