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VA Online Services

Navigate VA.gov, MyHealtheVet & eBenefits with confidence

Week 1 of 8 • VUB Intermediate Computer Skills

Week 1 of 8

Today's Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

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Navigate VA.gov Find benefits information, check claim status, access your records
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Use MyHealtheVet Message your doctor, refill prescriptions, view lab results
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Access eBenefits Download documents, manage disability ratings, update records
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Stay Safe Online Recognize real VA sites from scams and phishing attempts

Why Learn VA Online Services?

Save time and take control of your benefits

⏰ Save Time

  • Skip phone hold times
  • 24/7 access to information
  • Refill prescriptions in minutes
  • Check claim status instantly

💪 Take Control

  • Direct message your doctor
  • Download official documents
  • Track appointments
  • Manage your own healthcare
Did You Know?
Over 6 million veterans use VA online services every month. You'll join a community of connected veterans!

What is VA.gov?

The main portal for all veteran services

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VA.gov - Your Starting Point

The official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This is the central hub for ALL veteran benefits and services.

www.va.gov

What You Can Do

  • Apply for benefits
  • Check claim status
  • Schedule appointments
  • Access health records

What You'll Find

  • Healthcare information
  • Education benefits (GI Bill)
  • Disability compensation
  • Pension and housing

Creating Your VA.gov Account

Three ways to sign in

1️⃣
Login.gov (Recommended) Government-wide secure login. Works for VA and other federal sites.
2️⃣
ID.me Private company that verifies your identity. Most common option.
3️⃣
DS Logon (Legacy) Older system, still works but being phased out. Already have one? It still works!
💡 Which Should You Use?
If you're starting fresh, Login.gov is recommended. If you already have ID.me or DS Logon, those still work fine!

ID.me Verification Process

Proving you are who you say you are

  1. Create an ID.me account
    Use your email address and create a password
  2. Enter your personal information
    Full name, date of birth, Social Security Number
  3. Upload a photo ID
    Driver's license, state ID, or passport
  4. Take a selfie
    ID.me compares your face to your photo ID
  5. You're verified!
    Now you can access all VA online services
⚠️ Need Help?
Having trouble verifying? You can do a video call with an ID.me agent who will help you complete the process.

Navigating VA.gov

Finding what you need

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Search Bar Type what you're looking for at the top of any page
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Main Menu Categories: Healthcare, Disability, Education, Records, Pension
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My VA Dashboard After signing in, your personalized homepage with your information

🖥️ Live Demo

Let's explore VA.gov together and find the My VA dashboard

What is MyHealtheVet?

Your VA healthcare in the palm of your hand

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MyHealtheVet - Health Management Portal

The official health portal for VA patients. Manage prescriptions, message doctors, view test results, and more.

www.myhealth.va.gov
Requirements
You must be enrolled in VA healthcare to use MyHealtheVet. If you're not enrolled yet, you can apply at VA.gov.
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Refer to your "MyHealtheVet Guide" handout for step-by-step instructions

Secure Messaging

Communicate directly with your healthcare team

✅ Good For

  • Non-urgent questions
  • Medication refill requests
  • Appointment follow-ups
  • Test result questions
  • General health concerns

❌ NOT For

  • Emergencies (call 911)
  • Urgent symptoms
  • Same-day needs
  • Mental health crisis
  • Chest pain, difficulty breathing
Response Time
Expect a response within 3 business days. For urgent issues, call your VA clinic or the VA Health Connect line: 1-800-MyVA411

Prescriptions & Refills

Never run out of your medications

  1. Sign in to MyHealtheVet
    Use Login.gov, ID.me, or DS Logon
  2. Go to "Pharmacy"
    Click "Medications" in the menu
  3. Find your medication
    Look for medications with refills available
  4. Click "Refill"
    Confirm and submit your refill request
💡 Pro Tip
You can track your prescription shipment right from MyHealtheVet. Most VA prescriptions ship via USPS and arrive in 3-5 days.

Viewing Health Records

Your complete VA health history

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Lab Results View blood work, imaging results, and other test results
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Appointments See upcoming and past appointments
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Medication History All medications you've been prescribed through the VA
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Blue Button Report Download your complete health record as a PDF

What is eBenefits?

Managing your VA benefits and documents

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eBenefits - Benefits Portal

Access and manage your disability compensation, download official letters, and update your records.

www.ebenefits.va.gov
eBenefits is Merging with VA.gov
Many eBenefits features are moving to VA.gov. Both sites still work, and your login works on both!

eBenefits Key Features

What you can do on eBenefits

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Download Official Letters Benefit Verification Letter, Civil Service Preference Letter, Commissary Letter
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View Disability Rating See your combined disability rating and individual conditions
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Apply for Benefits VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility, vocational rehab, and more
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Update Dependents Add or remove dependents from your benefits

Avoiding Fake VA Sites

Protect yourself from scams

⚠️ Warning Signs of Fake Sites
  • URL doesn't end in .gov (e.g., va-benefits.com is FAKE)
  • Asks for payment or credit card info
  • Arrived via unsolicited email or text
  • Poor spelling or grammar
  • Promises guaranteed benefits
✅ Official VA Websites
  • va.gov - Main VA website
  • myhealth.va.gov - Health portal
  • ebenefits.va.gov - Benefits portal
Always type these directly into your browser!

Key Takeaways

What to remember from today

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VA.gov is Your Hub Start here for all VA services - healthcare, benefits, education
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MyHealtheVet for Health Message doctors, refill prescriptions, view test results
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eBenefits for Documents Download letters, check disability rating, manage benefits
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Only Use .gov Sites Type URLs directly - never click links in suspicious emails
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Take your handouts home! They have step-by-step instructions for everything we covered.

Pre-Test Assessment

Let's see where you're starting

About the Pre-Test
  • 20 questions covering all 8 weeks of the course
  • No time limit - take your time
  • Not pass/fail - measures your starting point
  • You'll take a similar test in Week 8 to see your improvement!

📝 Purpose of the Pre-Test

Don't worry if you don't know all the answers! The point is to measure where you're starting so we can celebrate your growth at the end.

Start Pre-Test →
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