Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§2062 Dental Care

Title 38 › Part II— GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter 20— BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS › Subchapter VII— OTHER PROVISIONS › § 2062

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Outpatient dental care counts as medically necessary for certain veterans if it helps them get or keep a job, relieves pain, or treats moderate, severe, or severe and complicated gum and periodontal disease. This applies to veterans enrolled for VA care who have been getting care for 60 consecutive days in places like a VA domiciliary, a therapeutic residence, VA-coordinated community residential care, or a VA grant-and-per-diem program. VA may ignore breaks in care the veteran did not cause. The dental benefit is a single course of treatment given the same way as for newly discharged veterans.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §2062

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of section 1712(a)(1)(H) of this title, outpatient dental services and treatment of a dental condition or disability of a veteran described in subsection (b) shall be considered to be medically necessary, subject to subsection (c), if—

(1)the dental services and treatment are necessary for the veteran to successfully gain or regain employment;

(2)the dental services and treatment are necessary to alleviate pain; or

(3)the dental services and treatment are necessary for treatment of moderate, severe, or severe and complicated gingival and periodontal pathology.

(b)Subsection (a) applies to a veteran—

(1)who is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this title; and

(2)who, for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving care (directly or by contract) in any of the following settings:

(A)A domiciliary under section 1710 of this title.

(B)A therapeutic residence under section 2032 of this title.

(C)Community residential care coordinated by the Secretary under section 1730 of this title.

(D)A setting for which the Secretary provides funds for a grant and per diem provider.

(3)For purposes of paragraph (2), in determining whether a veteran has received treatment for a period of 60 consecutive days, the Secretary may disregard breaks in the continuity of treatment for which the veteran is not responsible.

(c)Dental benefits provided by reason of this section shall be a one-time course of dental care provided in the same manner as the dental benefits provided to a newly discharged veteran.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 2062

Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60