How do veterans apply for VA healthcare benefits?

1. How to start: the application routes the VA wants you to use

You can apply for VA health care online at VA.gov, over the telephone where staff can process your application for you, by mailing or submitting VA Form 10-10EZ, or in person at a VA medical facility or local veterans service office; the VA notes that telephone applications eliminate the need for a signed paper form and the online form can be submitted electronically ^{[1] [3] [6]}.

2. The key form: VA Form 10-10EZ

The standard enrollment form is VA Form 10-10EZ (Application for Health Benefits); the VA’s instructions show the form asks about service era, service-connected ratings and other eligibility fields, and states the form takes about 30 minutes to complete on average — previous editions are not to be used ^[1].

3. What the VA checks after you apply

After you apply, the VA will mail you a letter telling you whether your application was approved; you may have requested a first appointment on the application and, if so, the VA will set it and notify you by mail. If you don’t hear from the VA after a week, the guidance says don’t submit a second application; if you disagree with a decision you can request a decision review ^[2].

4. Who is likely to be eligible — service, exposures and discharge matter

Eligibility review considers service history (for example Gulf War service dates are specifically referenced), discharge status, household income and whether you have conditions related to qualifying service exposures (such as certain toxin hazards); the VA’s eligibility pages and the 2025 health benefits overview list these criteria and explain that some service-connected conditions and exposure histories can affect entitlement ^{[4] [5]}.

5. Priority groups, copays and why enrollment details matter

The VA places enrolled veterans into priority groups that affect access and cost-sharing; the VA and federal benefits guide explain that priority group assignment and financial information you submit influence benefits, copays and which services are covered ^{[4] [7]}.

6. Practical help: local offices, apps, and online portals

If you need help applying, local Veterans Services Offices and VA medical centers can assist with the enrollment process and appointment scheduling; after enrollment you can manage care via VA online tools and the VA: Health & Benefits mobile app for prescriptions, appointments and secure messaging, though third‑party app reviews indicate user experience varies ^{[6] [8] [3]}.

7. Follow-up and what to expect after enrollment

Once enrolled, you can use VA services (and must have used VA care within 24 months to maintain some services); the VA recommends checking your portal for status updates and warns against reapplying if you’ve already submitted and not heard back within the stated timeframe ^{[3] [2]}.

8. Where reporting and guidance diverge — things to watch for

Official VA pages focus on the enrollment mechanics and criteria (online/phone/form, wait for a mailed decision, request reviews), while third-party guides and advocacy pieces may emphasize procedural simplifications or benefit expansions (for example, advocacy coverage of 2025 changes). Readers should rely on the VA’s enrollment page and Form 10-10EZ for the required steps and contact the VA directly for clarification ^{[4] [1] [9]}.

Limitations and final note: this summary draws only on the provided VA pages, the 2025 benefits guides and related local-VSO guidance; available sources do not mention specific wait times for approvals beyond the mailing process or detailed step‑by‑step screenshots of the online form ^{[1] [2] [6]}.