VA Health Care Resources
VA Mental Health Resources
The VA Office of Mental Health Services mission is to maintain and improve the health and well-being of veterans through excellence in health care, social services, education, and research.
VA Online Health Portal: My HealtheVet
My HealtheVet is the Veterans Administration online portal, the gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access to trusted health information, links to Federal and VA benefits and resources, the Personal Health Journal, and online VA prescription refills.
Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities
Veterans Affairs (VA) provides medical and dental care (PDF) depending on a veteran's disability and service. Public Law 110-181 recently extended the time period for health care benefits to five years for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/ Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans. Veterans Resource and Referral Specialists (VRRSs) should determine what services are available in their workforce areas. For example, a hospital will offer more services than a clinic; however, some clinics may provide specialized services.
If a veteran applies to a VA hospital within 180 days of discharge, he or she will receive a one-time dental appointment. In some cases, such as 100 percent disability or a disability rating that is related to dental care, VA will provide free dental care.
VA Medical Centers are the larger VA centers and will usually have an array of medical services and other services such as mental health care, treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, dental care, physical rehabilitation, and educational counselors and benefit counselors from different government agencies and service organizations.
Outpatient Facilities
Outpatient clinics can offer a wide range of medical and ancillary services, including primary care, audiology, laboratory services, mental health, otolaryngology (ENT), pharmacy, podiatry, social work, telemedicine, and women's health services.
Community-based Outreach Programs and Facilities
Women Veterans Program Managers
Women veterans may experience different problems than their male counterparts. At each VA Medical Center, a Women Veterans Program Manager is assigned to assist women veterans. If a woman veteran prefers to speak with another woman veteran, VRRSs should contact a VA Women Veterans Program Manager closest to the veteran's location. Women Veterans Program Managers are located across the state in certain hospitals and clinics. VRRSs should also find local resources that might be of assistance.
VA Vet Centers
Not all mental health facilities are located in VA hospitals. VA Vet Centers are usually small clinics where veterans can have one-on-one meetings with counselors or attend group sessions. Veterans can be referred to Vet Centers by the local VA hospital or go on their own. However, unless it is an emergency, veterans should be advised to schedule an appointment.
Texas Veterans Commission Claims and Benefits
Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) serves veterans, their dependents, and survivors in all matters pertaining to veterans' benefits and rights. It is the designated agency of the State of Texas to represent the state and its veterans before VA. TVC represents veterans in filing VA disability claims, during VA appeals processes, and in assisting dependents with survivor benefits.
TVC has more than 65 claims counselors that may assist veterans with disability claims and appeals. Counselors also help veterans and their families with questions regarding benefits, survivor and dependent needs, filling out VA paperwork, and medical issues. For more assistance or to have a claims counselor begin representing you, please call or visit the closest TVC office.
TVC claims counselors can be found where the largest concentration of veterans live — near the major cities of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and El Paso and in the Rio Grande Valley. In order to assist these veterans, TVC claims and benefits counselors are located in VA Regional Offices, VA medical facilities, VA clinics, and military installations throughout the state.
