Health Care for Children With Spina Bifida or Covered Birth Defects

What it is

Two VA programs cover the birth children of certain Veterans. The Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program covers children of Veterans who have spina bifida linked to Agent Orange. The Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) program covers children of women Vietnam Veterans who have certain birth defects. With covered care you have no copays or deductibles, VA pays 100 percent of the allowable amount, and providers cannot bill you for what is left.

Who qualifies: spina bifida

• Your biological mother or father served in Vietnam or Thailand for any length of time from January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975, or in a unit in or near the Korean DMZ from September 1, 1967 through August 31, 1971.
• You have a form of spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta.
• You were conceived after your parent first entered Vietnam, Thailand or the DMZ.

Who qualifies: women Vietnam Veterans' children

• Your biological mother served in Vietnam any time from February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975.
• You were conceived after she first entered Vietnam.
• You have a covered birth defect that caused a permanent physical or mental disability. Examples on VA's page include cleft lip and palate, neural tube defects, clubfoot, congenital heart disease and hip dysplasia. VA says the list is not complete, so check the page.

What it pays: monthly rates for 2026 (effective December 1, 2025)

Monthly payments are separate from health care. The amount depends on how disabling the condition is.

Spina bifida: Level I $430, Level II $1,457, Level III $2,479 a month.

Other birth defects (women Vietnam Veterans' children): Level I $201, Level II $430, Level III $1,457, Level IV $2,479 a month.

Job training (Veteran Readiness and Employment) is also available for ages 14 to 31, according to VA.

How to get it, step by step

1. Fill out VA Form 21-0304, Application for Benefits for Certain Children with Disabilities Born of Vietnam and Certain Korea Service Veterans.
2. Gather a birth certificate or other proof of the relationship, the parent's service records showing the qualifying service and dates, and medical records showing the diagnosis.
3. Mail it to Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444, or take it to a VA regional office, or file through an accredited representative.
4. For the health care program, VA says you must first be found eligible for the monetary award through the Veterans Benefits Administration, then verify eligibility before you get care.

Traps to avoid

• Spina bifida occulta does not qualify. Other forms do.
• Health care and monthly pay are two parts. The health care program requires that you first be found eligible for the monthly award.
• Keep proof of the parent's dates. Service dates decide the case.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

• Spina Bifida health care program call center, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. ET: 833-930-0816 (TTY: 711). Source: VA: Getting care for spina bifida and other birth defects and VA: SBHCBP
• Eligibility check, 24/7: 888-820-1756 (source: VA: SBHCBP)
• Monthly payment questions: VA lists hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET (TTY: 711), and email bdefects.vbaden@va.gov. The VA general benefits line is 800-827-1000.
• Health care program email: sb.hac@va.gov

Official pages

• VA: Getting care for spina bifida and other birth defects
• VA: Benefits for spina bifida linked to Agent Orange
• VA: Benefits for children of women Vietnam Veterans
• VA: 2026 birth defect compensation rates
• VA Form 21-0304 and instructions
• Find a VA regional office

Free accredited help

• Find an accredited representative (attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization representative)