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.
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
