VA Health Care
Apply for VA Health Care
The Veteran Affairs office is open by appointment and walk ins are welcome. We'll take you through each step of the process. It should take about 30 minutes.
New Enrollees please attach a copy of your DD214 with your application.
Need a Means Test?
Update your personal, insurance, or financial information after you are enrolled.
Moved from out of state?
Provide the following and we will update VA Health Care for you:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- New Address
Am I eligible to use VA health care?
You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
- If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981:
You must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you.
This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true:- You were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or
- You were discharged by a hardship or "early out", or
- You served prior to September 7, 1980
- If you’re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard:
You must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don’t qualify for VA health care. - If you served in certain locations and time periods during the Vietnam War era:
You're eligible for health care. Keep reading to learn more.
Am I eligible for VA health care under the PACT Act?
You’re eligible to enroll now—without needing to apply for disability benefits first—if you meet the basic service and discharge requirements and any of these descriptions are true for you:
- You served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11, or
- You deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, or
- You were exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service at home or abroad
Specific toxins and hazards include burn pits, sand and dust, particulates, oil well or sulfur fires, chemicals, radiation, warfare agents, depleted uranium, herbicides, and other occupational hazards. Find more military exposure categories on our Public Health website.
Note: Even if these descriptions are not accurate, you may still be eligible for VA health care based on your service. Check the complete healthcare eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veteran eligibility
What burn pit and other toxic exposure conditions are now presumptive?
Based on the PACT Act, the VA has added over 20 burn pits and other toxic exposure presumptive conditions. This change expanded the benefits for the Gulf War era and post-9/11 veterans. These cancers are now presumptive:
- Brain cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Glioblastoma
- Head cancer of any type
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Neck cancer of any type
- Pancreatic cancer
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
These illnesses are now presumptive:
- Asthma that was diagnosed after service
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Granulomatous disease
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
How do I know if I have a presumptive exposure to burn pits?
If you served in any of these locations and periods, the VA has determined that you were exposed to burn pits or other toxins. They call this having a presumption of exposure. On or after September 11, 2001, in any of these locations:
- Afghanistan
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- The airspace above any of these locations
On or after August 2, 1990, in any of these locations:
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The airspace above any of these locations
Vietnam era Veteran eligibility
What new Agent Orange presumptive conditions will the VA add?
Based on the PACT Act, they have added two new Agent Orange presumptive conditions:
- High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
You may also be eligible for disability compensation based on other Agent Orange presumptive conditions. These conditions include certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses. View a list of other Agent Orange presumptive conditions on the VA website. You are encouraged to apply now if you are eligible for VA health care and benefits.
Are there more exposure-related presumptive conditions?
Yes. The PACT Act adds new presumptive conditions. However, we presume many other health conditions are caused by exposure to toxic (or hazardous) materials. You may be eligible for health care or benefits if you have other conditions. You can learn about other presumptive conditions based on exposure to hazardous materials on the VA website.
What new Agent Orange presumptive locations will VA add?
We’ve added these five new locations to the list of presumptive locations:
- Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
- Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969
- Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
- Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980
- Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
If you served on active duty in any of these locations, we’ll automatically assume (or “presume”) that you had exposure to Agent Orange.
Note: This isn’t the full list of presumptive locations for Agent Orange exposure. Review eligibility requirements for more presumptive locations on the VA website.
What new radiation presumptive locations will VA add?
They have added these three new response efforts to the list of presumptive locations:
- Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll, from January 1, 1977, through December 31, 1980
- Cleanup of the Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of Palomares, Spain, from January 17, 1966, through March 31, 1967
- Response to the fire onboard an Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons near Thule Air Force Base in Greenland from January 21, 1968, to September 25, 1968
If you participated in any of these efforts, we’ll automatically assume (or “presume”) that you had radiation exposure. There are also other locations where we presume that you had radiation exposure. You may be eligible for health care or benefits if you served in any of these locations. View a list of other radiation presumptive locations on the VA website.
Am I eligible for VA health care as a Vietnam Veteran?
If you served on active duty in any of these locations during these periods, you’re now eligible to apply for VA health care:
- The Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
- Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base between January 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976
- Laos between December 1, 1965, and September 30, 1969
- Certain provinces in Cambodia between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969
- Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters) between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980
- Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that was called at Johnston Atoll) between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977
Is there anything that will make me more likely to get these benefits?
Yes. You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status if you meet at least one of these requirements. Enhanced eligibility means that we’ll place you in a higher priority group. This makes you more likely to get benefits.
At least one of these must be true:
- You receive financial compensation (payments) from VA for a service-connected disability
- You were discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to you in the line of duty
- You were discharged for a disability that got worse in the line of duty
- You’re a combat Veteran discharged or released on or after September 11, 2001
- More about eligibility for transitioning active-duty service members and returning combat veterans:
va.gov/health-care/eligibility/active-duty/ - You get a VA pension
- You’re a former prisoner of war (POW)
- You have received a Purple Heart
- You have received a Medal of Honor
- You get (or qualify for) Medicaid benefits
- You served in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War between August 2, 1990, and November 11, 1998
- You served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
Or, you must have served in any of these locations during the Vietnam War era:
- Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
- Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969
- Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
- Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980
- Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
- Republic of Vietnam from January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975
Local VA Health Care Facilities
VA Central Iowa Health Care (Mason City)
Mason City, Iowa Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
Main Phone: 641-494-5000
Fax: 641-494-5005
VA Health Connect: 833-983-0492
Mental Health: 515-699-5999
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
VA Central Iowa Health Care (Des Moines)
Des Moines VA Medical Center
Phone: 515-699-5999
VA Health Connect: 833-983-0492
Mental Health: 515-699-5807
Hours: Monday - Friday, 24/7
VA Pharmacy Information
VA Central Iowa Health Care System Pharmacy (Des Moines/Mason City vets)
24/7 Automatic Refill Line: 1-855-560-1717 (Press 1)
Live person: 515-699-5832
Hear upcoming appointments: 1-855-560-1717 (Press 2)
Hearing Aid Battery Refills (Denver, Colorado)
Phone: 303-273-6200
