Veteran Benefits
Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)
Beneficiary travel pay reimburses eligible veterans for the cost of getting to and from VA health care - mileage, tolls, parking, and sometimes public transportation, meals, and lodging. For veterans on a fixed income making regular trips to the VA, it adds up to real money over a year.
Who this is for
Every mile you drive to the VA can put money back in your pocket. Veterans who are 30% or more service-connected, on a pension, or traveling for a service-connected condition can claim mileage, tolls, and parking - most just never file. Set it up once and claim every trip.
In plain language
What Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement) covers
- Mileage reimbursement for VA-authorized appointments and C&P exams
- Who qualifies - by rating, condition, pension status, or income
- How the deductible works and when it is waived
- Tolls, parking, public transit, and pre-approved meals and lodging
Beneficiary Travel ReimbursementOfficial video - U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs
5 things most veterans aren't aware of
These apply to nearly every VA claim - and they change how much you get and when.
Your filing date sets your back pay
Benefits are generally paid back to the day you file - not the day you are approved. Filing an intent to file today can protect months, even years, of retroactive pay.
One condition can trigger others (secondary claims)
A service-connected condition that causes another - like sleep apnea from PTSD, or a bad knee from a bad hip - can be rated on its own. Each secondary condition adds to your rating.
A medical nexus is what wins the claim
The VA needs a documented link between your condition and your service. A clear nexus opinion is often the difference between an approval and a denial.
Accredited help is free to file an initial claim
By law, an accredited agent cannot charge a fee to prepare and file your original claim. If someone asks for money up front to file, that is a red flag.
A denial is not the end of the road
You have three appeal lanes - Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, and the Board of Veterans Appeals. Many denials are overturned on review.
41.5¢/mi
Mileage reimbursement rate (confirm current rate on va.gov)
$3 / $6
Deductible per one-way / round-trip, capped at $18 a month
30 days
Deadline to file each claim after your appointment
The full picture
Everything you need to know
Nothing hidden behind a click, and nothing you have to go looking for on another website. Here is the whole story in plain language - the facts and the figures first - so you can decide what fits your situation.
Key facts & current figures
- The VA reimburses eligible veterans for mileage to and from VA-authorized health care at 41.5 cents per mile (confirm the current rate on va.gov).
- A small deductible applies first: $3 one-way / $6 round-trip, capped at $18 per month - after you hit $18 in a month, the rest of that month's approved travel is fully covered.
- You are generally eligible if you are 30% or more service-connected, traveling for a service-connected condition, receiving a VA pension, below the pension income limit, or traveling for a scheduled C&P exam.
- The deductible is often waived for pension recipients and for C&P (compensation & pension) exam travel.
- File within 30 days of the appointment, easiest through the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) online or the VA Health and Benefits app; set up direct deposit for the fastest payment.
General figures, current as of December 2025 and reviewed each year. Your exact amount depends on your situation - always confirm on va.gov.
Who is eligible
- Veterans rated 30% or more service-connected, or traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition.
- Veterans receiving a VA pension, or whose income is below the maximum annual pension rate.
- Veterans traveling for a scheduled C&P (compensation & pension) exam, and those in special groups such as spinal-cord-injury, vision-impaired, or transplant care. A medically necessary attendant who must travel with you may also be covered.
The mileage rate and deductible
- Reimbursement is 41.5 cents per mile, figured on the shortest reasonable door-to-door route (confirm the current rate on va.gov).
- A deductible of $3 one-way / $6 round-trip comes out first, but it is capped at $18 a month - after that, approved travel that month is paid in full.
- The deductible is commonly waived for pension recipients and for C&P exam travel, so those trips are reimbursed from the first mile.
What else is covered
- Beyond mileage, the VA may reimburse tolls, parking, and pre-approved public transportation such as bus, train, or air fare.
- Meals and lodging can be reimbursed when medically justified and pre-approved, typically up to a set share of the local government rate.
- Keep receipts for tolls, parking, and transit, and note your appointment dates - it makes filing in BTSSS quick.
How to file and get paid fast
- Submit each claim within 30 days of the appointment through BTSSS on va.gov or the VA app - it walks you through mileage automatically.
- Enroll in direct deposit so reimbursements land in your bank account rather than waiting on a check.
- If you make the same trip often, save it as a recurring claim so future filings take seconds.
Your complete benefit picture
41.5¢ a mile
back in your pocket for every trip to VA-authorized care - plus tolls and parking. Veterans who are 30% or more service-connected, on a pension, or traveling for a service-connected condition qualify; most just never file. Confirm the current rate on va.gov.
Two ways to move forward — both free
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Money left on the table
Set up BTSSS once and claim every single trip
This benefit is small per trip but easy to miss - many veterans simply never file for it.
The deductible is modest and is waived entirely for pension recipients and for C&P exam travel.
Who qualifies
30%+ service-connected, traveling for a service-connected condition, on a VA pension, or below the pension income limit.
Get paid faster
Enroll in direct deposit so reimbursements land in your bank instead of waiting on a check.
A clear path forward
Your step-by-step action plan
No rush and no pressure - but a little order helps. Applying is always free.
FIG. 01 - Gather your paperwork
First
Confirm you qualify
30% or more service-connected, on a VA pension, or traveling for a service-connected condition or C&P exam.
FIG. 02 - Fill out the form
Set up once
Register in BTSSS
Create your Beneficiary Travel Self-Service account on va.gov or the VA Health and Benefits app.
FIG. 03 - File the claim
Within 30 days
File each trip
Submit your mileage claim within 30 days of the appointment - BTSSS figures the distance for you.
FIG. 04 - After you file
Every time
Save recurring trips
Store your regular appointment as a recurring claim so future filings take seconds.
Who to call & where to go
These are free, official VA lines. Have your Social Security number handy when you call.
MyVA411 - Main VA Line
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No phone tag, no hold music. Call our office and a real, VA-accredited person walks you through it - start to finish.
702-992-4883Not sure where to start?
The fastest way is the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) at va.gov or in the VA Health and Benefits app - submit your claim within 30 days of the appointment. You can also file at the travel office in your VA medical center. Set up direct deposit so payments arrive quickly. If you are unsure whether you qualify, ask the travel clerk at your VA facility or call MyVA411 at 800-698-2411.
More benefits for veterans
These often go hand in hand - tap any card to learn more.
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For veterans who’ve decided they want us on their claim — registering is free too, and it does not make you our client or obligate you to anything. Here is exactly how it works:
- You register. This simply starts the conversation — you are not our client yet, and you owe us nothing.
- You sign and return VA Form 21-22a. It appoints us as your accredited representative and gives us access to your VA file.
- Once we have your signed 21-22a and access to your case, we verify everything is in order.
It involves the registration form and signing VA Form 21-22a — by law we can’t accept your claim, work on it, or contact the VA for you until that power of attorney is signed. You decide whether to move forward.
Answers, in plain language
Common questions about Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)
What is Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)?
Beneficiary travel pay reimburses eligible veterans for the cost of getting to and from VA health care - mileage, tolls, parking, and sometimes public transportation, meals, and lodging. For veterans on a fixed income making regular trips to the VA, it adds up to real money over a year.
Who qualifies for Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)?
Veterans rated 30% or more service-connected, or traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition. Veterans receiving a VA pension, or whose income is below the maximum annual pension rate. Veterans traveling for a scheduled C&P (compensation & pension) exam, and those in special groups such as spinal-cord-injury, vision-impaired, or transplant care. A medically necessary attendant who must travel with you may also be covered.
How much does Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement) pay?
Reimbursement is 41.5 cents per mile, figured on the shortest reasonable door-to-door route (confirm the current rate on va.gov). A deductible of $3 one-way / $6 round-trip comes out first, but it is capped at $18 a month - after that, approved travel that month is paid in full. The deductible is commonly waived for pension recipients and for C&P exam travel, so those trips are reimbursed from the first mile.
How do I apply for Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)?
The fastest way is the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) at va.gov or in the VA Health and Benefits app - submit your claim within 30 days of the appointment. You can also file at the travel office in your VA medical center. Set up direct deposit so payments arrive quickly. If you are unsure whether you qualify, ask the travel clerk at your VA facility or call MyVA411 at 800-698-2411.
What does it cost to get help with Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement), and are you VA-accredited?
This benefit is small per trip but easy to leave on the table - many veterans simply never file. If you drive to the VA regularly for a service-connected condition, or you are 30% or more service-connected or on a VA pension, get set up in BTSSS once and claim every trip. The deductible is modest and is waived entirely for pension recipients and C&P exam travel. It is free to talk with us, and no one may charge you to file a first-time VA claim. The Aging Veteran is led by Albert L. Thombs Jr., a VA-accredited claims agent (accreditation #45147) and disabled veteran; any appeal work is handled on a no-fee-unless-you-win basis.
