Veterans Affairs Acronyms & Terms
Updated: March 21, 2021
Written by Veteran.com Team
A list of common and frequent VA acronyms, terms and abbreviations that are used when discussing veterans benefits, health, education, retirement and disability. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and involved individuals use many acronyms and abbreviations. Browse through the acronym list letter by letter or use the search box to quickly look up an acronym and its meaning.
Veterans Affairs Acronyms & Terms
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 9 | VA Form 9, Appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals |
| 10-10EC | VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services |
| 10-10EZ | VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits |
| 10-10EZR | VA Form 10-10EZR, Health Benefits Renewal Form |
| 1151 Claim | A claim for benefits as a result of injury caused by VA treatment |
| A&A | Aid and attendance |
| AAO | Assistant adjudication officer |
| ABCMR | Army Board for Correction of Military Records |
| ABD | Annuity Beginning Date |
| ACAP | Annual clothing allowance payment |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| ADHC | Adult day health care |
| ADL | Activities of daily living |
| ADT | Active duty for training |
| AFB | Air Force Base |
| AFBCMR | Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records |
| AFHRA | Air Force Historical Research Agency |
| AFI | Air Force instruction |
| AFIP | Armed Forces Institute of Pathology |
| AGG | Aggravated in service |
| AHRC | Army Human Resources Command |
| AIRS | Appellate Index Retrieval System |
| AL | American Legion |
| ALJ | Administrative Law Judge |
| ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
| AMC | Appeals Management Center |
| AML | Acute myelogenous leukemia |
| AMVETS | American Veterans |
| AO | Agent Orange |
| AO | Adjudication Officer |
| AOCAP | Agent Orange Class Assistance Program |
| AOJ | Agency of original jurisdiction |
| AOR | Agent Orange Registry |
| APA | Administrative Procedures Act |
| AR | Army regulation |
| ARBA | Army Review Boards Agency |
| AVSCM | Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager |
| AWA | All Writs Act |
| AWOL | Absent without official leave |
| BCD | Bad conduct discharge |
| BCMR | Board for Correction of Military Records |
| BCNR | Board for Correction of Naval Records |
| BDD | Benefits Delivery at Discharge |
| BDN | Benefits Delivery Network |
| BHL | Bilateral hearing loss |
| Board | The Board of Veterans' Appeals or "BVA". |
| BVA | The Board of Veterans' Appeals. |
| C&C | Confirmed and Continued (rating decision) |
| C&P | Compensation and Pension |
| C.F.R. | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CAAF | Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces |
| CARES | Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services |
| CAVC | The Unites States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. |
| CAVC | U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims |
| CBD | Chief Benefits Director |
| CBO | Chief business office |
| CBOC | Community Based Outpatient Clinic |
| CCF | Compound comminuted fracture |
| CD | Clemency discharge |
| CDR | Counter designation of record |
| C-file | Claims File |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CG | Coast Guard |
| CGBCMR | Coast Guard Board for Correction of Military Records |
| CHAMPUS | Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services |
| CHAMPVA | Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs |
| CHR | Consolidated health record |
| CIB | Combat Infantryman Badge |
| CLC | VA Community Living Center (formerly VA Nursing Home Care Units) |
| CLL | Chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| CMB | Combat Medical Badge |
| CMD | Chief Medical Director |
| CMO | Chief Medical Officer |
| CNHC | Community nursing home care |
| CO | VA Central Office or commanding officer |
| COD | Character of discharge |
| COE | Certificate of Eligibility |
| COG | Convenience of the government |
| COLA | Cost-of-living adjustment |
| Comp. | Compensation |
| CONUS | The contiguous United States |
| COVA | Court of Veterans Appeals (Renamed Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims) |
| COWC | Committee on Waivers and Compromises |
| CPI | Claims Processing Improvement |
| CRC | Community residential center |
| CRDP | Concurrent retirement and disability pay |
| CRRC | Community Resource and Referral Centers |
| CRSC | Combat-related special compensation |
| CTA | Centralized transcription activities |
| CUE | Clear and unmistakable error |
| CURR | Center for Units Records Research |
| CV | Combat Veteran |
| CWT | VA Compensated Work Therapy Program |
| CWT | Compensation work therapy |
| DAV | Disabled American Veterans |
| DBQ | Disability Benefits Questionnaire |
| DC | Diagnostic code |
| DCHV | Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans |
| DD | Dishonorable discharge |
| DD-214 | Discharge certificate |
| DDD | Degenerative disc disease |
| DEA | Dependent's educational assistance |
| DES | Disability evaluation system |
| DFAS | Defense Finance and Accounting Services |
| DFR | Dropped from the rolls |
| DIC | Dependency and indemnity compensation |
| DM | Diabetes mellitus |
| DMZ | Demilitarized zone |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DRB | Discharge Review Board |
| DRC | Decision Ready Claims |
| DRE | Discharge Review Board |
| DRO | Decision Review Officer |
| DSM | American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders |
| DSMIV | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) |
| DSO | Department service officer |
| DTR | Deep tendon reflexes |
| DVA | The Department of Veterans Affairs. |
| DVA | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| EAD | Entry on active duty |
| EAJA | Equal Access to Justice Act |
| ECA | Expedited Claims Adjudication Initiative |
| ED | Erectile dysfunction |
| EGC | Electrocardiogram |
| EKG | Electrocardiogram |
| EOB | Explanation of benefits |
| EOD | Entry on Duty |
| EOD | Explosive Ordinance Disposal |
| EPC | End product control |
| ESG | Environmental Support Group (see USASCRUR) |
| ETS | Expiration of term of service |
| EVR | Eligibility verification report |
| FDC | Fully Developed Claim |
| FHA | Federal Housing Authority |
| FOIA | Freedom of Information Act |
| Form 9 | The VA form that must be submitted after receipt of a Statement of the Case to perfect an appeal. |
| FR index | Federal Register Index |
| FSGLI | Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance |
| FTCA | Federal Tort Claims Act |
| GAO | Government Accounting Office |
| GC | General counsel |
| GD | General discharge |
| GIB | GI Bill |
| GPD | Grant and Per Diem |
| GSW | Gun shot wound |
| GWS | Gulf war syndrome |
| H&CBC | Home and Community Based Care |
| HB | Housebound |
| HBHC | Hospital Based Home Care |
| HBPC | Home Based Primary Care |
| HCHV | Health Care for Homeless Veterans |
| HCRV | Health Care for Reentry Veterans |
| HD | Honorable discharge |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
| HISA | Home improvement and structural alterations |
| HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| HO | Hearing officer |
| H-PACTs | Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams |
| HPV | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| HUD-VASH | Housing and Urban Development - Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing |
| HVCES | Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services |
| IED | Improvised explosive device |
| IG | Inspector general |
| IME | Independent medical expert or independent medical evaluation |
| INC | Incurred in service |
| IOM | Institute of Medicine |
| IOP | Internal operating procedures |
| IRIS | Inquiry Routing and Information System |
| IRRRL | Native American Direct Loan |
| IT | Incentive therapy |
| IU | Individual unemployability |
| IVAP | Income for VA purposes |
| JAG | Judge Advocate General |
| JMR | Joint motion for remand |
| JSRRC | Joint Services Records Research Center |
| LOD | Line of duty |
| LOM | Limitation of motion |
| LSA | List of Sections Affected (C.F.R.) |
| LSW | Licensed social worker |
| M-1 | VA Healthcare Adjudication Manual |
| M-21 | VA Claims Adjudication Manual |
| M21-1MR | Adjudication Procedures Manual Rewrite |
| MACR | Missing air crew reports |
| MAPR | Maximum annual pension rate |
| MGIB | Montgomery GI Bill |
| MHS | Mental Health System |
| MIB | Marine index bureau |
| MOS | Military occupational specialty |
| MPR | Military personnel records |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| MST | Military Sexual Trauma |
| MTF | Military Treatment Facility (DoD) |
| NADL | Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan |
| NAP | Income for VA purposes |
| NARA | National Archives and Record Administration |
| NAUS | National Association for Uniformed Services |
| NHL | Non-hodgkins lymphoma |
| NMCB | U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion |
| NOA | Notice of Appeal |
| NOD | Notice of Death or Notice of Disagreement |
| NOS | Not otherwise specified |
| NPC | Naval Personnel Command |
| NPRC | National Personnel Records Center |
| NRPC | Naval Reserve Personnel Command |
| NSC | Non-service-connected |
| NSLI | National Service Life Insurance |
| NSO | National service officer |
| NVLSP | National Veterans Legal Services Program |
| OEF | Operation Enduring Freedom |
| OGC | Office of the General Counsel |
| OIF | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| OIG | Office of Inspector General |
| OMPF | Official military personnel file |
| Op. G.C. | Opinion of the General Counsel |
| OPC | Outpatient clinic |
| OPT | Outpatient treatment |
| OQP | Office of Quality and Performance |
| OSGLI | Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance |
| OTH | Other than honorable |
| PCP | Primary Care Provider |
| PDBR | Physical Disability Board of Review |
| PDR | Physicians Desk Reference |
| PEB | Physical Evaluation Board |
| PEBLO | Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer |
| PERMS | Permanent Electronic Records Management System |
| PG | Persian Gulf |
| PGW | Persian Gulf War |
| PIES | Personnel Information Exchange System |
| PIF | Pending issue file |
| PII | Personally Identifiable Identification |
| PLEP.L. | Public Law |
| PMC | Pension Maintenance Center |
| PMHP | Primary Mental Health Provider |
| POA | Power of attorney |
| POC | Point of Contact |
| POW | Prisoner-of-war |
| PRC | Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center |
| PT | Physical therapy or permanent total disability |
| PTE | Peace time era |
| PTSD | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| R.C. | Regional counsel (chief legal authority in a VARO) |
| RAD | Release from active duty |
| RCS | Readjustment Counseling Service |
| RE code | Reenlistment code |
| REAP | Reserve Educational Assistance Program |
| REPS | Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors |
| RESCUE | Resources and Education for Stroke Caregivers' Understanding and Empowerment |
| RH | Insurance policy designation for veterans with service-connected disabilities |
| RI | Individual unemployability |
| RI | Rating increase |
| RLC | Regional Loan Center |
| RMC | Records Management Center |
| RMO | Records Management Officer |
| RN | Registered nurse |
| RO | Regional Office |
| ROI | Release of Information |
| ROTC | Reserve Officers' Training Corps |
| RPC | (VA) Records Processing Center (St. Louis) |
| RSFPP | Retired Services Family Protection Plan |
| RVN | Republic of Vietnam |
| RVSR | Rating Veterans Service Representative |
| SAH | Specially Adapted Housing |
| SAP | Substance Abuse Program |
| SBP | Survivor Benefit Plan |
| SBP-MIW | Survivor Benefit Plan-Minimum Income Widow |
| SC | Service-connected |
| SDN | Separation Designator Number |
| SDRP | Special Discharge Review Program |
| SDRP | Special Discharge Review Program |
| S-DVI | Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance |
| SF | Special forces |
| SF | Standard Form |
| SFW | Shell fragment wound |
| SGLI | Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance |
| SGLI-DE | Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance-Disability Extension |
| SHA | Special Housing Adaptation |
| SIRS | Special Issue Rating System |
| SM | Service Members |
| SMC | Special Monthly Compensation |
| SMifi | Supplementary medical insurance benefit |
| SMP | Special monthly pension |
| SMP | Special Monthly Pension |
| SMR | Service medical record |
| SMR | Service medical record |
| SN | Service number |
| SOC | Statement of the Case |
| SPCM | Special court-martial |
| SPD | Separation program designator |
| SPN | Separation program number |
| SRD | Schedule for Rating Disabilities |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSB | Special separation benefits |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Income |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| SSN | Social Security Number |
| SSOC | Supplemental Statement of the Case |
| SSVF | Supportive Services for Veteran Families |
| STR | Service treatment records |
| STS | Soft tissue sarcoma |
| TAD | Temporary active duty |
| TAP | Transition Assistance Program |
| TBI | Traumatic brain injury |
| TDIU | Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability |
| TDRL | Temporary Disability Retired List (uniformed service) |
| TDY | Temporary duty |
| TIN | Transaction Identification Number |
| TPQ | Third-party query |
| TRDL | Temporary disabled retirement list |
| TSGLI | Traumatic Injury Protection Group Life Insurance |
| U.S.C. | United States Code |
| U.S.C.A. | United States Code Annotated |
| U.S.C.S. | United States Code Service |
| UCMJ | Uniform Code of Military Justice |
| UD | Undesirable discharge |
| UOTHC | (Discharge) under other than honorable conditions |
| USGLI | United States Government Life Insurance |
| USJSRRC | United States Joint Service Records Research Center |
| VA | Veteran Affairs |
| VACO | VA Central Office |
| VACOLS | Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System |
| VADEX | VA Index |
| VAF | VA form |
| VAGC | VA General Counsel |
| VAHAC | VA Health Administration Center |
| VAHCS | Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System |
| VAi2 | VA Innovation Initiative |
| VAMC | VA Medical Center |
| VAOGC | VA Office of the General Counsel |
| VAOIG | VA Office of the Inspector General |
| VAOPC | VA outpatient clinic |
| VAR | VA regulation |
| VARO | VA Regional Office |
| VBA | Veterans Benefits Administration |
| VBC | Veterans benefits counselor |
| VCAA | Veterans Claims Assistance Act |
| VD | Venereal disease |
| VEAP | Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program |
| VETS | Veterans Employment and Training Service |
| VFW | Veterans of Foreign Wars |
| VGLI | Veterans' Group Life Insurance |
| VHA | Veterans Health Administration |
| VIC | VA Innovation Center |
| VISN | Veterans Integrated Service Network |
| VJO | Veterans Justice Outreach |
| VJRA | Veterans Judicial Review Act |
| VLJ | Veterans Law Judge |
| VMLI | Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance |
| VONAPP | Veterans Online Application |
| VR&E | Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment |
| VRAP | Veterans Retraining Assistance Program |
| VRC | Vocational rehabilitation counseling |
| VSCM | Veterans Service Center Manager |
| VSM | Vietnam Service Medal |
| VSO | Veterans service organization |
| VSR | Veterans Service Representative |
| WRIISC | War Related Illness and Injury Center |
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