I served from 1998 to 2005. You only get "VA for life" if you incur a permanent service-connected disability. Everyone else who uses VA pays for it and are pr

I served from 1998 to 2005. You only get "VA for life" if you incur a permanent service-connected disability. Everyone else who uses VA pays for it and are prioritized lower than disabled veterans. Retirees do not have access to VA care unless they too have a disability.