VA Travel Benefits

The VA's Beneficiary Travel (BT) program reimburses eligible veterans and caregivers for travel costs to and from VA health care appointments and VA-authorized medical facilities. The program covers mileage, tolls, parking, public transit, and in some cases special transportation, meals, and lodging.

Beyond direct reimbursement, veterans may also be eligible for Space-A (Space Available) military flights, Fisher House free lodging, VA-operated transportation services, and a range of travel discounts from airlines, hotels, and rental car companies.

The legal authority for beneficiary travel is 38 USC § 111 (Payments or allowances for beneficiary travel) and 38 CFR Part 70, Subpart A (§§ 70.1–70.50).

38 USC § 111; 38 CFR Part 70

Per 38 CFR § 70.10, a veteran is eligible for beneficiary travel if traveling to or from a VA facility or VA-authorized health care facility and meets at least one of the following:

1. Service-connected treatment (any rating) — Traveling for treatment of a service-connected disability, regardless of disability percentage (§ 70.10(a)(1))
2. 30%+ service-connected disability — Rated 30% or higher, traveling for examination, treatment, or care for any condition (§ 70.10(a)(2))
3. C&P examination — Traveling for a scheduled compensation and pension examination (§ 70.10(a)(3))
4. VA pension recipient — Receiving pension under 38 USC § 1521 (§ 70.10(a)(4))
5. Income below pension threshold — Annual income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate (§ 70.10(a)(5))
6. Unable to defray travel expenses — Cannot afford travel per VA financial guidelines (§ 70.10(a)(6))
7. VA-approved transplant care — Traveling for VA-authorized transplant care
8. Service dog — Traveling for acquisition of a service dog

Caregivers & Attendants

The following non-veterans are also eligible for travel reimbursement:

• Family caregiver under the VA National Caregiver Program attending training
• Medically required attendant accompanying an eligible veteran (§ 70.10(a)(8))
• Transplant donor or support person

38 CFR § 70.10; 38 USC § 111

Current Mileage Rate

Deductible

• $3 per one-way trip
• $6 round-trip per appointment
• $18 maximum monthly cap — after 6 one-way deductions in a calendar month, no further deductions that month

Exempt from Deductible

Per 38 CFR § 70.31, the following are exempt from the deductible:

• Travel involving special mode transportation (ambulance, wheelchair van)
• Travel for scheduled C&P examinations
• Travel by non-veterans (attendants, caregivers)

Deductible Waiver (Financial Hardship)

• Receiving VA pension; OR
• Prior year income does not exceed thresholds under 38 USC § 1722(a); OR
• Projected current-year income below those thresholds

Waiver is valid through end of calendar year or until income circumstances change.

38 USC § 111(c); 38 CFR § 70.31

Per 38 CFR § 70.30 and VA.gov, the following travel expenses are reimbursable:

• Mileage — Round-trip to appointments in a personal vehicle
• Tolls — Bridge, road, and tunnel tolls
• Parking fees
• Taxi and rideshare
• Airfare — When approved in advance
• Public transportation — Train, subway, bus, ferry, light rail
• Special mode transportation — Ambulance, wheelchair van (when medically necessary and pre-approved)
• Meals and lodging — In some circumstances, when pre-approved

38 CFR § 70.30; VA.gov

Method 1 — BTSSS (Online, Recommended)

• Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System
• Sign in via Login.gov or ID.me at the AccessVA portal
• Navigate to dashboard → select appointment → Create Claim
• Can attach up to 5 documents (receipts, etc.)
• Mileage-only claims require no receipts

Method 2 — Smartphone Check-In

• Available at VA facilities during appointment check-in
• Mileage-only, calculated from home address on file
• Personal vehicle travel only

Method 3 — VA Form 10-3542 (Mail or In Person)

• Complete the form and submit to the VA facility where care was received
• Required for complex claims (lodging, meals, special transport)

Important Setup

• Must set up direct deposit specifically for travel pay (separate from disability compensation direct deposit)
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) registration required — VA Form 10091 via the CEP portal or via ID.me
• Processing time: 3–5 business days after approval

VA.gov; 38 CFR § 70.30

• Covers ambulance, ambulette, air ambulance, wheelchair van, and other specially equipped vehicles
• Must be medically necessary — a VA clinician must certify the medical condition requires specialized transport
• Must be pre-approved by VA (except in emergencies)
• Exempt from deductible (38 CFR § 70.31)
• VA has adjusted special mode rates (including air ambulance) to align with CMS (Medicare) rates

38 CFR §§ 70.30, 70.31

This applies even if the veteran has no current disability rating, no service-connected conditions yet established, income above the VA pension threshold, or is filing a first-time claim with no prior VA healthcare enrollment.

C&P Exam Travel Details

• Same mileage rate: $0.415/mile
• No deductible — C&P exams are exempt (38 CFR § 70.31)
• File within 30 days of the exam date
• File via BTSSS, smartphone check-in, or VA Form 10-3542
• Applies to both initial claim exams and increase/re-evaluation exams

38 CFR § 70.10(a)(3); 38 CFR § 70.31

The Space Available (Space-A) program allows eligible veterans to fly on Department of Defense military aircraft when seats are available. Authorized by 10 USC § 2641b, enacted through the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

Who Qualifies (Veterans)

Veterans must have a permanent and total (P&T) service-connected disability rating (100% schedular or TDIU rated as permanent).

Priority & Restrictions

• Veterans with 100% P&T are placed in Category VI (lowest priority) — seats filled only after all higher-priority passengers (Categories I–V)
• No guaranteed seats — completely space-available; expect frequent bumps
• Flights can be cancelled or rerouted without notice
• No meal service or amenities guaranteed on military aircraft
• Program must operate budget-neutral — no additional funds or flight hours allocated for Space-A (10 USC § 2641b)
• Dependents of 100% P&T veterans may accompany the veteran

Geographic Limits

Per 10 USC § 2641b, veterans in Category VI are limited to:

• CONUS (Continental United States) flights
• Flights directly between CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa

Veterans are not eligible for overseas or international flights — those routes are available to retirees and active duty only.

Required Documentation

• DD Form 2765 — Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (TAN card)
• Must show "100% DAV" in the affiliation block
• Must show "INDEF" expiration date (confirming permanent status)
• Obtain from the nearest ID card-issuing facility (RAPIDS site)

How to Sign Up

• Register up to 60 days prior to desired travel date
• Sign up via email to AMC Space-A terminals
• Check terminal social media pages for upcoming flights and seat availability
• AMC maintains passenger terminals at military installations across the US

10 USC § 2641b; FY2019 NDAA

Fisher House Foundation

Fisher House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a network of temporary residential facilities ("comfort homes") near major military and VA medical centers. These provide completely free lodging for families and caregivers of veterans receiving treatment.

• 100+ locations (70+ Fisher Houses plus additional facilities) across the US and internationally
• Private suites with beds, bathrooms, TV, and internet
• Gourmet kitchens, common areas, and laundry facilities
• Most houses within walking distance of the hospital
• Contact the specific Fisher House manager directly or ask through hospital social workers
• Find locations: fisherhouse.org/programs/houses

Hero Miles Program

Fisher House also operates the Hero Miles Program, providing round-trip airfare (from donated frequent flyer miles) for wounded/injured service members traveling home on leave, family members visiting service members in treatment, and eligible caregivers.

Veterans Transportation Program (VTP)

Beyond mileage reimbursement, the VA's Veterans Transportation Program offers:

• Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) — VA-operated transport at select facilities; partners with VSOs, nonprofits, and local/state/federal transportation services
• Highly Rural Transportation Grants (HRTG) — Grants to VSOs and State Veteran Service Agencies for transportation in counties with fewer than 7 people per square mile
• VetRide scheduling — Schedule rides at vetride.va.gov

DAV Transportation Network

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) operates a volunteer-driven van transportation program at many VA facilities, providing free rides to VA medical centers. Contact your local VA facility to check availability.

Military Lodging (On-Base)

• IHG Army Hotels — Available to all branches, veterans, and retirees (base access rules apply)
• Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) — Available to disabled veterans (0–100%), Medal of Honor recipients, former POWs, and Purple Heart recipients. Reservations: 800-628-9466. Note: lodging reservation does not guarantee base access — contact the Pass and ID Office first.

Fisher House Foundation; VA VTP; DoD Lodging

Some states offer additional travel benefits for veterans beyond federal programs, including:

• Free or reduced fare on state-operated transit systems
• State-funded transportation to VA medical facilities
• State veteran service agency van programs
• Free or discounted toll road access
• Free state park admission (which supports recreational travel)

State benefits vary significantly and change with each legislative session. Check your state's Department of Veterans Affairs website for current programs.

Forms for This Topic

The official VA forms relevant to this page, in one place. Select a form to view, download, or add it to your report.

• VA Form 10-3542 — Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel ExpensesUse this travel reimbursement form (VA Form 10-3542) when you want to ask us to pay you back for travel expenses related to your health care.
• VA Form 10091 — VA Form 10091 ↗(opens VA.gov in a new tab)