Course Catalog / BMU 106 / Lesson 1 of 5
BMU 106
Lesson 1: The VA map: six programs and where to check
Warm up
1. Think of one thing you or a Veteran you know needs right now. Is it care, money, school, a job, a home, or insurance?
See the answer
Hold that need in mind. This lesson shows which VA program fits it.
Why this matters
VA has many programs, and the names and forms can feel like a maze. Many Veterans and families do not know what to ask for, so they never ask.
This free course gives you a plain map. You will see six big programs, who they are for, and where to check if you qualify. Other BMU courses go deeper on school benefits (BMU 203) and on disability claims (BMU 301). This course points you there.
Start with what you already do
You already use maps. Before a trip, you look at the whole route, then the next turn.
Common belief: VA benefits are only for people who were hurt in combat.
What is actually true: Many VA programs do not require combat or an injury. Health care, home loans, and the GI Bill depend mostly on your service time and discharge. Each program has its own rules, so you check each one on VA.gov.
In this lesson you will
- Match a need to one of six VA programs
- Name three places to check your eligibility
- Find the papers that prove your service
Key words
- Veteran
- A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service. Each VA program has its own service rules.
- eligibility
- Whether you meet the rules to get a benefit.
- DD214
- Your discharge paper. It shows your service dates and the type of discharge.
The six programs
| Program | What it does | Where in this course |
|---|---|---|
| Health care | Doctor visits, mental health care, and hospital care at VA or in the community. | Lesson 2 |
| Disability compensation | Tax free monthly payments for a condition caused or made worse by service. | Lesson 3 and BMU 301 |
| Education | The GI Bill and other help to pay for school or training. | Lesson 4 and BMU 203 |
| Careers | Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) for Veterans with a service connected disability. | Lesson 4 |
| Home loans | VA backs loans from private lenders, often with no down payment. | Lesson 5 |
| Life insurance | Keep or get coverage after service. | Lesson 5 |
Text version of this figure
Which VA program fits?. Start with the need, not the program name.
- Step 1, Name the need: Care, money for a condition, school, a job, a home, or insurance.
- Step 2, Find the program: Use the table in this lesson.
- Step 3, Check the rules: Read that program's eligibility page on VA.gov.
- Ask for free help: Call 800 698 2411 or meet with an accredited VSO.
Source: VA.gov program pages (Oct 29, 2026).
Where to check
- VA.gov is the official site. Each program has an eligibility page.
- Call 800 698 2411 (TTY: 711). This is VA's main information line.
- An accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO). Their help on VA benefit claims is always free, VA says.
The paper that opens most doors
Most programs ask about your service dates and your discharge. Your DD214 shows both. VA's health care application asks for it. Keep a copy in a safe place. If you cannot find it, VA.gov explains how to request your military records.
If your discharge was other than honorable, you may still be able to get some benefits. VA lists two paths: apply for a discharge upgrade, or ask VA for a Character of Discharge review.
Worked example: Andre makes his short list
Andre served four years in the Army. He has a sore knee from a training fall. He wants to finish a degree and, someday, buy a house.
| Need | Program |
|---|---|
| Care for the knee | Health care |
| Money if the knee is service connected | Disability compensation |
| Finish the degree | Education (GI Bill) |
| Buy a house later | Home loan |
He finds his DD214 and books a free VSO visit. Andre is a made up example.
Practice: Match three needs
Match each made up need to one of the six programs. (1) Lena has hearing loss from years on a flight line and wants a monthly payment for it. (2) Marco left the Marines last month and wants to keep the life insurance he had in service. (3) Dee wants a job she can do with a back injury rated 20% by VA.
Check your practice: feedback
(1) Disability compensation. It pays for a condition linked to service. She will also want health care for the hearing loss.
(2) Life insurance: VGLI. It lets him keep coverage after SGLI ends. Lesson 5 has the deadline.
(3) Careers: VR&E. Her 20% rating is above the 10% minimum. Lesson 4 shows the rules.
Common mistakes
- Starting with forms before knowing the program. Name the need first.
- Paying someone to file a first claim. Accredited VSO help on claims is always free.
- Guessing about eligibility. Read the program's VA.gov page, or ask.
Try it: Start your VA benefits map
Pick your scenario:
- I am a Veteran
- I am still serving
- I am a family member helping a Veteran
- Write your needs, one per line.
- Next to each need, write the program that fits.
- Find your DD214, or write where to request it.
- Write the VA phone number and one VSO near you.
- Do not write your Social Security number on the map.
Do it by: today
Reflect
Which need on your list matters most right now? Why?
Check your understanding
1. Lena wants help paying for a welding program. Which program fits?
- Health care
- Education
- Life insurance
See the answer and feedback
B is correct. Yes. The GI Bill and other education benefits can help pay for training.
A: Health care is for medical needs. Review The six programs.
C: Life insurance is coverage, not school money. Review The six programs.
2. Who gives free help with VA benefit claims?
- An accredited VSO
- A paid claim consultant
- A friend who filed once
See the answer and feedback
A is correct. Yes. VA says accredited VSO help on claims is always free.
B: Consultants who charge for a first claim may not be accredited. A VSO is free. Review Where to check.
C: A friend may mean well but is not accredited. Review Where to check.
3. Which paper shows your service dates and type of discharge?
- A pay stub
- Your lease
- Your DD214
See the answer and feedback
C is correct. Yes. Most programs ask about what it shows.
A: A pay stub shows pay, not discharge. Review The paper that opens most doors.
B: A lease is for housing. Review The paper that opens most doors.
Takeaway: the VA map
- Name the need first, then find the program
- Check that program's eligibility page on VA.gov
- Call 800 698 2411 or see an accredited VSO for free help
- Keep your DD214 safe; it opens most doors
Recap
- VA has six big programs in this course.
- Start with your need, then check that program's rules.
- Check on VA.gov, call 800 698 2411, or use a free accredited VSO.
- Your DD214 opens most doors.
You now have: the start of your VA benefits map: your needs, matching programs, and where to check.
Next up
Next you will look at VA health care. Go to Lesson 2: VA health care.
Sources
- VA.gov: Eligibility for VA health care (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: How to apply for VA health care (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: Eligibility for VA disability benefits (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: GI Bill and other education benefit eligibility (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: Eligibility for Veteran Readiness and Employment (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: Eligibility for VA home loan programs (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: The PACT Act and your VA benefits (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA.gov: VA accredited representative FAQs (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- VA Office of General Counsel: Accreditation Search (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
