VA Chiropractic care

Our mission is to serve America’s Veterans by providing the highest quality chiropractic care while maintaining a strong commitment to advance chiropractic education and research.

Services

Chiropractic services are part of the standard Medical Benefits Package available to all eligible Veterans. Similar to other specialties, access to VA chiropractic services is by referral from a VA primary care or specialty provider. VA provides these services on-site at one or more VA facilities in each VISN. VA facilities that do not have on-site chiropractic clinics provide these services via the non-VA (fee-basis) mechanism.

VA doctors of chiropractic (DCs) provide diagnosis and management of non-operative neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. This most commonly includes problems in the low back, neck, and other joints. VA DCs are integrated with primary care, rehabilitation, pain management and other specialty teams.

VA DCs provide diagnosis and management consistent with both VA and external evidence-based guidelines. Chiropractic treatment options include patient education, active rehabilitation, spinal manipulation and other manual therapies. VA DCs may also provide acupuncture or other novel therapies as non-pharmacologic options for Veteran care.

History

In response to Veteran demand, Congress authorized VA to begin providing chiropractic care in 1999. Since 2004 VA provides these services to all eligible Veterans either on-station or through non-VA care at all medical centers.
From fiscal years 2005 through 2013 the number of VA chiropractic clinics increased from 24 to 48, and the number of Veterans receiving care at these clinics increased from over 4, 000 to over 26, 000. The number of Veterans receiving non-VA (fee-basis) chiropractic services during this time increased from over 1, 000 to over 10, 000.