Veterans qualify for travel benefits if:

• In a receipt of a single or combined service-connected (SC) disability rating of 30 percent or more
• Travel is in connection with care for a SC disability
• In receipt of a VA pension
• Previous calendar year does not exceed maximum VA pension rate
• Projected income for travel year does not exceed maximum VA pension rate
• Travel is for a compensation and pension exam
• Travel is to obtain a service dog
• Travel is related to rehabilitative care as defined in PL 114-223 for Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder, Vision impairment, or Double/Multiple Amputation.

Certain non-Veterans may receive travel at VA expense:

• Allied Beneficiaries if country reimburses VA
• Attendants: When clinically determined by a VA provider that, due to a travel eligible Veteran’s mental or physical condition, an attendant is required when the Veteran is traveling to and from VA or VA authorized care.
• Beneficiaries of Other Federal Agencies if Agency reimburses VA
• Donors/Support person: If part of VA transplant care
• Caregivers who are part of the National Caregiver Support Program

The current mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents with a $3.00 deductible for each one-way trip or $6.00 for each round-trip.

Upon reaching $18.00 in deductibles or six one-way (three round) trips, whichever occurs first, in a calendar month mileage reimbursement payments for the balance of that month will be free of deductible charges. A waiver of deductibles may be afforded to certain Veterans.

To qualify for special mode transportation, a Veteran must meet one of the administrative eligibility criteria; a VA health care provider must determine that a special mode of transport is medically required and be traveling in relation to VA or VA-authorized non-VA care.