Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, has a collaborative partnership with the Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence to fulfill its mission. The role of the Secretary of VA is defined by the National Defense Authorization Act that established HCE, directing that, “the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the centers collaborate to the maximum extent practicable with the Department of Veterans Affairs … to carry out the responsibilities specified” in the law.

The law formalized a long-standing collaboration between the Department of Defense, and VA audiology programs that dates back many years. The VA, formerly the Veterans Administration, inherited the hearing loss rehabilitation programs developed by the military during World War II. Since 1945, the VA has become a leader in hearing healthcare, diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders, and auditory and vestibular research.

The VA supports HCE’s programs and initiatives that enhance the efforts of the DOD and VA regarding the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss and auditory system injury. 

For several decades before HCE was established under Public Law 110-417, Section 721,  DOD and VA hearing health professionals routinely coordinated initiatives to improve the health of service members, veterans and their families.  Since the legislative mandate, HCE has built on this existing relationship by establishing a formal platform for collaboration between the two departments. The VA continues to remain committed to, and invested in, this collaboration in support of HCE.

Learn more facts about the VA and about the benefits available to Veterans.