The VA (Veterans Affair) Health Care System is one of the largest and most advanced health care networks in the United States. The VA health care system is the provider for veterans, retirees and their dependents. and manages all of their healthcare. The VA Health Care is actually part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. There is also VA Benefits Administration which concerns compensation and pensions. The other part of the VA is the National Cemetery Administration, which is in charge of cemeteries and provides funeral and memorial services. All of these parts make up the Department of Veterans Affairs. (VA History) In 1636, the “Pilgrims passed a law which stipulated that disabled soldiers would be cared for by the colony.” (VA History) This paved the way for veterans' benefits and health care. It was not until 1811 that the federal government authorized the first medical and residential facilities as well as benefits and pensions for veterans and their families. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Congress created a new system of benefits for veterans, such as disability compensation, insurance, and vocational rehabilitation. These benefits were administered by three different agencies of the federal government: the Veterans Affairs Bureau, the Pensions Bureau of the Department of the Interior, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Ten years later, Congress authorized the president to “consolidate and coordinate governmental activities affecting veterans”; this action united the three component agencies into offices under the Veterans Administration. Over the next six decades, the number of veterans increased significantly and new benefits were passed by Congress for veterans following Wo...... middle of paper...... care sites. To be eligible for VA health care, you must have served in the active military and been discharged or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. As a reservist or member of the National Guard, you will be required to be called to active duty other than training. After 1980, the veteran would have had to serve 24 consecutive months, this may not apply to you in the event of hardship, early departure, or service-connected disability. There are four categories of veterans who are not required to register, but are encouraged to do so so they can better plan their health care resources. These are ; veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or greater, veterans seeking care for a disability that the military has determined to be service-connected not yet evaluated by the VA, veterans seeking care for service-connected disability only and veterans seeking registry exams for things such as agent orange.