Dental Benefits for Veterans: Do You Qualify?

A question we get from many veterans is “What options do I have for VA dental care.”
Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question. VA dental care benefits are confusing and it can be hard to make heads or tails of what you qualify for.

But here is an overview of VA dental health benefits.

First, it is important to know that not every veteran who is part of the VA health system is eligible for dental care benefits. Perhaps the most confusing part of this is that VA has a classification system for dental benefits and there are a large number of classes. Qualification and the level of dental benefits will depend on whether you fit into one of these classes. In general, most classes relate to some sort of service-related issue or injury.

So who qualifies?

Any veteran who has a service-related dental disability or who has a condition for which they receive compensation will likely qualify. Former prisoners of war are eligible. Dental care is available to people who have service-related disabilities rated at 100 percent and those who have been given a 100 percent disability rating under the criteria for Total Disability Individual Unemployability.

If you served in the Persian Gulf for 90 days or more, you may be eligible for dental care but there are conditions you must meet, so you will want to investigate this further. If you are scheduled for VA inpatient care for a health condition and you have a dental issue that’s making it harder to treat your condition, the VA will provide dental care. Veterans who have been wounded in combat qualify for any dental care needed to ensure they will maintain a functional set of teeth.

When a VA dental care provider determines that a veteran has a service-related condition and dental problems are making their condition worse, that veteran will typically qualify for dental health care. People who are active in a Veteran Readiness and Employment Program can qualify for dental care under certain circumstances. But there are very specific requirements and limitations, so if you are in this classification, you will want to dig deeper into the regulations. Those who are signed up to get care through the Homeless Veterans Dental Program qualify for a one-time course of dental care. And finally, a veteran who is in a nursing home, a hospital, or another inpatient care setting can qualify for dental services necessary to manage a doctor-treated health condition.

As I said these classifications are hard to completely understand, so if you have questions we encourage you to reach out to your local VA office.

And if you are considering filing for VA disability benefits or have been turned down for benefits you believe you have rightfully earned, reach out to us. Contact us at Cuddigan Law for a free evaluation of your situation.