What Happened?

Eligibility for veteran's dental benefits jumped 70 percent in five years to roughly 2.3 million veterans by the end of fiscal year 2025. Earlier this year, only about 26 percent of the more than 9 million veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) qualified.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) obligated $3.1 billion for dental care in fiscal year 2025 alone, with costs expected to keep climbing. The findings come from a federal review published Sept. 23.

The review found growth came largely from veterans qualifying because of:

  • a 100 percent service-connected disability rating
  • a 100 percent compensation rate due to inability to work

Those eligible also got younger, with veterans under age 50 rising from 21 percent in fiscal year 2020 to 36 percent by fiscal year 2025.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Congress has weighed giving full dental eligibility to veterans diagnosed with heart disease. Using 2025 data, the review estimated that would raise eligibility 25 percent, from about 2.45 million veterans eligible at some point during 2025 to about 3.07 million.

About 622,000 veterans with heart disease would become newly eligible under that plan. The American Heart Association and others have reported a link between poor oral health and serious conditions including heart disease.

VHA officials and dental providers said expansion may require VA to hire additional dental providers and increase dental clinic space. VA has also reported that growth in dental eligibility keeps outpacing growth in clinic space and provider capacity.

Both Sides, Now

Veterans groups have urged the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to back separate legislation to expand dental benefits to millions more veterans. Veterans groups urged the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to support legislation expanding dental benefits to millions more veterans.

VHA officials and dental providers at selected facilities said a heart-disease expansion would strain the current system without more staff and space. The report itself makes no formal recommendations and is descriptive, giving Congress information about current eligibility and potential effects.

Congress created the next step when it passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which was signed in January 2025. That law required VA to launch a two-year pilot program by January providing dental benefits to certain veterans with heart disease, and it directed the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine VA dental services.

What Happens Next?

The pilot program for certain veterans with heart disease is already underway. The law required VA to start a two-year pilot giving dental benefits to certain veterans with heart disease.

VHA officials and dental providers at selected facilities said expanding eligibility to all veterans with heart disease may require VA to hire additional dental providers and increase dental clinic space. Lawmakers and VA planners can track the proposals as congressional activity continues beyond the pilot.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article