Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Center Eligibility

June 24, 2003

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Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, changes eligibility for Vet Center services (Public Law 104-262), and extends definition of the Vietnam era for war zone veterans (P.L. 104-275).

Vet Centers serve the following veterans:

WAR ZONE VETERANS - all eras, including:

  • VIETNAM WAR - 28 Feb. 1961 to - 7 May 1975
  • KOREAN WAR - 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service
  • Medal)

WORLD WAR II - Three eligible categories:

  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 8 Nov. 1945),
  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 2 Mar. 1946), or
  • American Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 2 Mar. 1946)
  • American Merchant Marines - In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, 7 Dec. 1941 to 15 Aug. 1945

VIETNAM ERA VETERANS NOT IN THE WAR ZONE - 5 Aug. 1964 to 7 May 1975 (eligible until January 1, 2004, however, veterans who were Vet Center clients prior to January 1, 2004, remain eligible)

  • LEBANON - 25 Aug. 1982 to 26 Feb. 84
  • GRENADA - 23 Oct. 1983 to 21 Nov. 83
  • PANAMA - 20 Dec. 1989 to 31 Jan. 90
  • PERSIAN GULF - 2 Aug. 1990 to - SOMALIA - 17 Sept. 1992 to - Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard, & Operation Joint Forge

Vet Center eligibility has been extended to veterans who participated in one or more of the 3 successive operations in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces above those areas).

SEXUAL TRAUMA AND HARASSMENT COUNSELING - veterans of both sexes, all eras

Vet Center services include individual readjustment counseling, referral for benefits assistance, readjustment counseling, group liaison with community agencies, marital and family counseling, substance abuse information and referral, job counseling and placement, sexual trauma counseling, and community education.

See VHA DIRECTIVE 97-002, Jan. 9, 1997, for eligibility details.