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Jul 30, 2024

Veterans Need Chiropractic Care: Benefits, How to Get VA Coverage, and More

Key Points

  • Veterans can benefit from chiropractic care more than just about any other population, in both physical and mental health.
  • Veterans can receive free chiropractic care under their Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare benefits as long as they get a referral from the VA.
  • At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, we are familiar with treating veteran patients and both of our clinics are in network with Optum, which is the health insurance company contracted with the VA. 

Do you need chiropractic care as a veteran? You’re in the right place. A chiropractor can absolutely help veterans with a number of physical and structural health issues, including rehabilitation from old injuries, acute injuries, pain, stiffness, and increasing mobility. And the best news is — chiropractic care is covered under VA benefits! You just have to follow a specific process to get VA approval to get started with your chiropractic journey. Let’s dive into the benefits of chiropractic care for veterans, VA rules for chiropractic care, and the process at our clinics for new veteran patients. 

Table of Contents

Veteran Benefits from Chiropractic Care

At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center (SSCC), we are firm believers that chiropractic care can benefit veterans more than almost any other population. Why? Veterans are exposed to unique physical and mental health challenges that chiropractic care can help address. Chiropractic care is also non-invasive, non-pharmacological, and fully covered by VA healthcare benefits (which we’ll discuss more below). If you’re a veteran, there’s every reason to get started with chiropractic care!  

Physically, chiropractic care can help veterans reduce pain from injuries acquired during service, realign the spine and joints for better mobility, and decrease the likelihood of invasive surgeries or more aggressive medical treatment in the future. 

Mentally, chiropractic care has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, and support better nervous system regulation. These can be huge benefits for veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or other mental health diagnoses post-service. 

Overall, chiropractic care can be a key part of a comprehensive healthcare plan for veterans. 

VA Rules for Chiropractic Care

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of chiropractic adjustment for veterans, let’s talk about how you can get chiropractic care as a veteran through your VA benefits. 

Will the VA pay for a Chiropractor?

  • Yes! All you have to do is get a referral from your VA primary care provider. From there you can either see a chiropractor on-staff at a VA facility, or you can see a local chiropractor in your area through the Care in the Community program. 

IMPORTANT: To receive coverage for your chiropractic appointments, you CANNOT go to a chiropractic clinic and then ask them to bill the VA. You must get a VA referral first, and ask your primary care provider to send that referral to a chiropractic clinic in your area.

How Many Chiropractic Appointments Does the VA Allow in a Year?

  • In our experience, a referral from your VA primary care provider will initially grant you three chiropractic evaluations and 12 chiropractic appointments within a three month period. After that, if you need additional treatment, your treating chiropractor can typically apply for and receive 6-12 additional appointments per year. 

What Is the Process at SSCC for New Veteran Patients?

If you’re a veteran who would like to see us for chiropractic care at Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, here is the process you’ll follow. 

  1. Call or visit your VA primary care provider and request a referral to see a chiropractor. Specify that you would like to see us at Simply Southern Chiropractic Center through the “Care in the Community” program. 
  2. Your VA provider will fax us an approved referral for chiropractic care listing how many visits you qualify for (typically three evaluations and 12 appointments to start).
  3. We will reach out to you directly to schedule your initial evaluation. 

If you use up your allotted visits from the VA, we can apply for coverage for additional appointments as needed. Typically, you’ll qualify for 6-12 additional visits in a given year. 

VA centers near our SSCC clinics include:

Both of our chiropractic centers in Greenville, SC and Greer, SC are in network with Optum, which is the health insurance company contracted with the VA, and we have successfully served many veteran patients. We would love to help you get started with chiropractic care as a veteran. Reach out to your VA primary care provider to get the process started today!

A Chiropractor on Your Team Can Change the Game for Veterans

Help us help you! Veterans can receive chiropractic care at no extra charge under their VA healthcare benefits. You served our country, now it’s our honor to serve you and help you live as pain-free and mobile as possible. Have questions about chiropractic care at Simply Southern Chiropractic Center? Reach out to us anytime.

References

Hughes F. REDUCTION OF CORTISOL LEVELS AND PERCEIVED ANXIETY IN A PATIENT UNDERGOING CHIROPRACTIC MANAGEMENT FOR NECK PAIN AND HEADACHE: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. JCC. 2020;3(1):14-20.

Kiani, A. K., Maltese, P. E., Dautaj, A., Paolacci, S., Kurti, D., Picotti, P. M., & Bertelli, M. (2020). Neurobiological basis of chiropractic manipulative treatment of the spine in the care of major depression. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis, 91(13-S), e2020006. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i13-S.10536

Whelan, T. L., Dishman, J. D., Burke, J., Levine, S., & Sciotti, V. (2002). The effect of chiropractic manipulation on salivary cortisol levels. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 25(3), 149–153. https://doi.org/10.1067/mmt.2002.122328

Yates RG, Lamping DL, Abram NL, Wright C. Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1988 Dec;11(6):484-8. PMID: 3075649.