Vet Center Eligibility

RCS Home Page

Vet Center Directory

Eligibility

Forms

VA General Information

VC Logo

Readjustment Counseling Service

Vet Center Eligibility

Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President changes eligibility for Vet Center services (Public Law 104-262), and extends definition of the Vietnam era for war zone veterans (P.L. 104-275). Vet Centers serve the following veterans:

WAR ZONE VETERANS - all eras, including-

VIETNAM WAR - 28 Feb. 1961 to
7 May 1975

KOREAN WAR - 27 June 1950 to
27 July 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service Medal)

WORLD WAR II - Three eligible categories
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 8 Nov. 1945), Asiatic
-Pacific Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to
2 Mar. 1946), or
American Campaign Medal
(7 Dec. 1941 to 2 Mar. 1946)

American Merchant Marines - In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, 7 Dec. 1941 to 15 Aug. 1945

VIETNAM ERA VETERANS NOT IN THE WAR ZONE - 5 Aug. 1964 to 7 May 1975 (eligible until January 1, 2004, however, veterans who were Vet Center clients prior to January 1, 2004, remain eligible)

LEBANON - 25 Aug. 1982 to 26 Feb. 1984

GRENADA - 23 Oct. 1983 to 21 Nov. 1983

PANAMA - 20 Dec. 1989 to 31 Jan. 1990

PERSIAN GULF - 2 Aug. 1990 to -

SOMALIA - 17 Sept. 1992 to -

Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard, & Operation Joint Forge - Vet Center eligibility has been extended to veterans who participated in one or more of the three successive operations in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces above those areas).

SEXUAL TRAUMA AND HARASSMENT COUNSELING - veterans of both sexes, all eras Vet Center services include individual readjustment counseling, referral for benefits assistance, group readjustment counseling, liaison with community agencies, marital and family counseling, substance abuse information and referral, job counseling and placement, sexual trauma counseling, and community education.

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM - Veterans who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after September 11, 2001 and before a terminal date yet to be established.

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING - Bereavement counseling is assistance and support to people with emotional and psychological stress after the death of a loved one. Bereavement counseling includes a board range of transition services, including outreach, counseling, and referral services to family members (read more)

See VHA DIRECTIVE 97-002, Jan. 9, 1997, for eligibility details

VA Home Page / Disclaimer / Privacy & Security Statement
Freedom of Information Act / Contact the VA / Contact RCS

Reviewed/Updated: April 07, 2004