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Major VA Changes Veterans Need To Know About in 2026

New VA boosts could help you save money and access valuable resources.

By Paige Cerulli , Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated April 18, 2026

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As a veteran, many programs and opportunities are available to help you get ahead financially. In 2026, those opportunities are increasing even more. From new grants to new programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing new opportunities made possible through funding increases, upgrades, and partnerships, and these opportunities are designed to help meet veterans' needs.

Here's what you should be aware of if you or a loved one is a veteran.

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Electronic Health Record modernization in Michigan

The VA has deployed a new Federal Electronic Health Record system in four Michigan hospitals, which may help create a more connected experience throughout VA hospital facilities. The system may help facilitate seamless transfer of military health records, allow providers to spend more time with patients and less time on outdated technology, reduce duplicate tests because results from prior tests can't be found, improve continuity of care among facilities, and more.

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$7 million in rural transportation grants

On April 10, the VA announced $7 million in grants available to Veteran Service Organizations and State Veterans Service Agencies that help transport rural veterans to VA or VA-authorized health care appointments. There is no charge for veterans to use the program, and the grants may help agencies further break down geographic barriers to care that some veterans face.

$16 million for adaptive sports programs

On April 9, the VA announced $16 million in grants available to support organizations providing adaptive sports programs for veterans and service members with disabilities. The grants are intended to help create access to local adaptive sports programs for veterans, which may help improve independence, well-being, and quality of life. Such programs might include activities like archery, skiing, cycling, wheelchair softball, hunting, and fishing.

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GI Bill guidance updates to prevent the loss of education benefits

Two recent court rulings potentially allow millions of veterans to receive additional education benefits, and the VA is taking action to ensure eligible veterans could access those benefits.

The VA is going to begin automatically assessing veterans' eligibility and plans to focus on high-priority cases of veterans who have less than three months of benefits left to see if they qualify. The VA is also going to update its automated adjudication system to apply the new rules, reviewing all veterans' files to determine additional eligibility for education benefits.

$112 million community-based suicide prevention grant

A $112 million grant announced by the VA in March is designed to help expand community-based suicide prevention services for veterans. Focused on veterans, service members, and their families, the grant is intended to help connect veterans to suicide prevention resources, crisis support, and mental health care resources. In particular, the grant may help reach veterans who aren't already connected to VA services.

VA-DOJ partnership to serve veterans in the justice system

The VA and Department of Justice entered into a partnership in March to help vulnerable veterans receive ongoing care. The partnership is serving veterans, such as those who can't make their own health care decisions or those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. VA attorneys are going to be appointed as special assistant U.S. attorneys, giving them the ability to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings for veterans.

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Faster delivery of disability and survival benefits

In April, the VA announced that it had dramatically reduced processing times for veterans' disability claims, as well as pension and survivor benefits. The VA processes millions of claims a year, and processed 3 million claims in fiscal year 2025. However, since the start of the second Trump administration, the average number of days needed to complete a claim has declined from 141.5 days to 80.7 days. That means that veterans could get the benefits they need faster, and beneficiaries could receive survivor benefits sooner.

Hiring of more than 300 employment counselors

The VA announced in February that it was hiring more than 300 vocational rehabilitation counselors and specialists. Those employees are going to work in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, which provides counseling, employment services, education support, and rehabilitation assistance to veterans with disabilities connected to their service.

Increased spending cap for in-home care for veterans

In February, the VA announced an increase to the spending cap for in-home and community-based services. These services, designed for veterans with complex medical conditions, plan to fully cover care provided at home or within the community for conditions such as spinal cord injuries, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and others. Previously, coverage for these conditions was limited to 65%, but it has now been expanded to 100%.

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$4.8 billion infrastructure investment for VA facility upgrades

The VA announced in January that it would invest $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 to make infrastructure improvements to health care facilities. It is going to fund maintenance projects, including the repair and upgrade of outdated infrastructure systems, the maintenance and modernization of electronic health records, building upgrades like elevators and electrical systems, and the modernization of medical centers.

Bottom line

These major VA boosts might mean that new opportunities are available to you. While many of the changes are going to take time to implement, some, like the faster delivery of benefits, are already in progress.

Be sure to frequently check the va.gov website or contact your local VA office to see which benefits apply to you and could help you access education, save money on health care, and keep more of your hard earned cash.

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