HEALTHCAREVA program
VA Acupuncture Services
Acupuncture is part of VA's Whole Health approach, covered by the medical benefits package when your care team finds it clinically necessary. VA lists it for pain, headaches, mental health, and chronic health conditions, and VA facilities may provide it on site or in the community.
Available to enrolled veterans when the care team finds it clinically necessary, at a VA facility or in the community
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Acupuncture through VA Whole Health, covered by the medical benefits package when your VA care team finds it clinically necessary. VA says it helps support management of pain, headaches, mental health, and chronic health conditions.
What the care team looks for
- Your VA care team finds it clinically necessaryVA covers acupuncture under the medical benefits package when it is clinically necessary, as determined by your care team. The rule behind the package says care in it is provided only if appropriate health care professionals find it is needed to promote, preserve, or restore your health and it is in accord with generally accepted standards of medical practice.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab)
Where are you starting from?
- Enrolled in VA health care
Acupuncture is one of eight complementary and integrative health approaches in the VA medical benefits package when your care team finds it appropriate. Ask your VA health care provider if acupuncture is right for you.
Source: VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab)
- Not enrolled in VA health care
Care in the medical benefits package, including acupuncture, starts with enrollment. The exceptions include care for a Veteran with a service-connected rating of 50 percent or more, and care for a service-connected disability itself. VA.gov tells Veterans to enroll to get care at VA health facilities or to have VA cover care from an approved community provider.
- Enrollment in VA health careApply with VA Form 10-10EZ. VA health care enrollment is the starting point for care at VA facilities and for VA covered community care.
Source: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(b) (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your VA health record The record your VA care team keeps. At the start, the acupuncture provider asks about your medical history and symptoms. | Your medical history and symptoms, which the acupuncturist asks about before treatment | Your VA care team keeps it. There is nothing for you to send, and BeneVets does not ask for it. | |
| VA health care application VA Form 10-10EZ, the application for VA health care. | Your request to enroll in VA health care | Apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center or clinic. | |
| DD214 or other separation documents Your military discharge papers and service history. | Your service, for VA health care enrollment | Have it ready when you apply for VA health care. | Yes |
Clinical details stay between you and your VA care team. BeneVets does not ask for copies of anything or for details about your health.
Steps, in order
- Free help with VA enrollment
Acupuncture is not a VA claim, but a VSO can help with the VA health care application. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
- Enroll in VA health care
Apply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ, online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you are already enrolled, skip this step.
Source: VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab)
- Ask your VA provider
Ask your VA health care provider if acupuncture is right for you. Your care team decides whether it is clinically necessary.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab)
- Contact a Whole Health Point of Contact
VA keeps a list to help you find a Whole Health Point of Contact at your nearest VA facility, who can tell you about local Whole Health clinics, programs, and services and which options are available. If no one is listed for your area, contact your local VA facility.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health facility contacts (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab)
- Plan on a series of visits
Acupuncture is given in a series of treatments. If you are not getting enough relief, VA says to talk to your VA care team for more help. With community care, keep track of how many visits and how long your referral covers; VA does not cover services your authorization letter leaves out, and you or your community provider can request a new referral.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); VA.gov: community care referrals and appointments (opens in new tab)
Good to know
The VA medical benefits package includes eight complementary and integrative health approaches when your care team finds them appropriate: acupuncture, biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, medical massage therapy, meditation, tai chi and qigong, and yoga.
Source: VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab)
VA facilities may provide these approaches on site, or in the community through volunteers, community partners, or the Community Care Network. Acupuncture needles are placed in person. Before you schedule with a community care provider, you must get a referral, and your VA health care team must approve your care. Ask about the options near you.
Source: VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab); VA.gov: community care referrals and appointments (opens in new tab)
VA provides different types of acupuncture. One type treats the whole body, while ear acupuncture uses points just in the ear. A visit may also include acupressure or massage, cupping, exercises, and diet and lifestyle advice. Acupuncture is given in a series of treatments; VA says it may take several visits to start to see the treatment helping, and to talk to your VA care team if you are not getting enough relief.
VA charges no copay for care related to a VA-rated service-connected disability, and no outpatient copay if your service-connected rating is 10 percent or higher. Otherwise, you may need to pay an outpatient copay for care not related to your military service; some Veterans are exempt because of their income level or other factors. The VA.gov copay page explains them.
Source: VA.gov: current VA health care copay rates (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 16, 2026: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.37(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.37(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Whole Health acupuncture (opens in new tab), VA.gov: complementary and integrative health overview (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Whole Health facility contacts (opens in new tab), VA.gov: community care referrals and appointments (opens in new tab), VA.gov: current VA health care copay rates (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)