Across VA health care, more Veterans are seeing a new feature online: the option to schedule some appointments on VA.gov or MyHealtheVet. Although not yet universal, this growing tool is making access to care easier for many.

Online scheduling is now live at many VA facilities. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) confirms that Veterans can schedule, cancel, and manage some appointments online at participating sites.

Access to healthcare starts with securing an appointment, not just receiving treatment.

What VA Actually Offers Online Today

According to the VA’s Office of Connected Care and the official VA.gov scheduling portal, Veterans can now use online tools to:

• Schedule, request, or cancel some VA health care appointments.

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• Manage VA facility appointments that their local clinic has enabled for online booking.
• Schedule or request certain Community Care appointments, depending on referral type and provider participation.
• Receive email or text reminders for online-booked appointments.
• View appointment details in the VA Health & Benefits app.

However, it is important to note that appointment availability varies by facility. As you consider using these online options, remember that the tools are not the same across locations, as the VA website clarifies that online scheduling is not uniform nationwide and varies by medical center, system, staffing model, and clinic setup.

This feature is not yet available on the official VA app.

There is no VA-wide list of locations for online scheduling, making it crucial to check with your specific VA first. Simply log on to VA.gov, and you’ll see a drop-down list of available locations you’re registered to receive care. It is important to note that Veterans may see different appointment types online depending on their site of care.

How the Online System Works

Veterans access online scheduling using secure credentials, Login.gov, and ID.me. Once authenticated, the system displays appointment types that the veteran’s primary VA facility has enabled.

The process is straightforward:

1. Select the appointment type available for online scheduling

Options are displayed automatically based on local availability.

2. Choose an available date and time

Slots shown are real-time openings from the facility’s scheduling system.

3. Confirm the appointment

Veterans receive a confirmation screen and optional reminders.

4. Manage appointments anytime

Rescheduling and cancellation can be handled online without the need to call.

This functionality is underpinned by VA’s centralized scheduling software, expanding as part of broader digital modernization initiatives. Understanding this support helps clarify why the shift is happening now.

“Online scheduling gives Veterans greater control over their healthcare and reduces the need to call or visit a VA facility to manage appointments,” — VA Office of Connected Care public update

Why VA is Investing in Direct Scheduling

The VA has openly prioritized modernization of the veteran experience through its Digital Transformation Strategy. Scheduling has been a focal point because it directly affects access, satisfaction, and timeliness of care.

These three solutions are the catalysts behind expanding online scheduling:

• Reduced administrative burden, allowing staff to focus on clinical coordination instead of repetitive phone scheduling.
• Improved access during high-volume periods, especially early mornings when phone lines are busiest.
• Greater reliability, since digital systems reduce missed messages and follow-up delays.

What Could Expand Next

Based on VA’s modernization trajectory and public-facing priorities, not on internal data or unpublished plans, the specialties most likely to expand online scheduling first are those with predictable, standardized appointment structures (e.g., follow-ups, routine check-ins, non-urgent visits).

This category commonly includes:

• Certain mental-health follow-ups
• Audiology checks
• Routine optometry services
• Nutrition or health-coaching consults

These areas have historically adopted digital scheduling earlier in federal and private-sector systems. However, because VA has not published any official list of upcoming expansions, these examples are provided for illustrative analysis only, not as confirmed or announced rollouts.

Why This Matters for Veterans

Online scheduling won’t solve all access issues, but it removes the barrier of navigating calls or waiting on hold. Veterans with jobs, caregiving duties, or chronic conditions benefit from flexible scheduling outside business hours.

As more VA facilities enable online booking, veterans gain a clearer, more consistent way to access care, underscoring how these incremental changes meet modern expectations and reduce friction.

Digital scheduling is not a headline. But it is a tangible improvement that thousands of veterans feel every day when they click a button instead of waiting on hold.

What Veterans Can — and Cannot — Schedule Online

Important:

Online appointment availability depends on the Veteran’s local VA facility. VA does not publish a universal list of eligible specialties, so this chart reflects only what is publicly confirmed by VA.gov and Connected Care.

1. Appointment Types Veterans Can Schedule Online — When Enabled by Their Facility

• Some VA health care appointments: Determined by local clinic setup and system configuration.
• VA primary facility appointments: Only if that specific clinic has turned on online self-scheduling.
• Certain Community Care appointments: Eligible only when referral, provider participation, and appointment type meet VA guidelines.
• Appointment management: Veterans can manage appointments they originally scheduled online.
• Appointment reminders: Email/text reminders supported for online-scheduled appointments.

2. Appointment Types Veterans Cannot Reliably Schedule Online

• Labs (phlebotomy, blood draws): VA provides no official nationwide list showing labs as an online scheduling category.
• Vaccinations (flu, COVID, routine immunizations): Availability varies by facility; no uniform national listing.
• Mental health (all types): Some facilities may enable follow-ups, but there is no national standard list.
• Audiology, optometry, physical therapy, nutrition, chiropractic, women’s health, specialty clinics: VA has not published current guidance confirming that any of these are consistently offered online.
• Urgent care or same-day care: VA requires phone or in-person coordination for urgent needs.
• Emergency care: Must be accessed through emergency medical services.

3. Requirements for All Online Self-Scheduling

• Verified Login Credentials: Veterans must use Login.gov, ID.me, My HealtheVet Premium, or DS Logon Level 2.
• Enrollment in VA Health Care: Required to schedule VA facility appointments.
• Participating VA clinic: Online scheduling must be enabled by the local facility.
• Active referral (for Community Care): Required before online scheduling is available for CC appointments.

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