Updated September 2026
Veterans who receive health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs may have access to chiropractic care either directly through a VA facility or, in some circumstances, through an approved community provider.
The former Veterans Choice Program is no longer the current program. Today, care outside a VA facility is generally provided through VA Community Care when eligibility requirements are met and the care has been authorized by VA.
At Canada Chiropractic in Salt Lake City, Dr. Angie Canada, DC provides individualized chiropractic care for Veterans whose treatment has been appropriately referred and authorized through VA Community Care.
Does the VA Cover Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is included in VA’s standard Medical Benefits Package for eligible Veterans.
VA provides chiropractic services in two primary ways:
- Through chiropractic clinics located within VA facilities
- Through approved community providers when care is provided through VA Community Care
VA states that access to chiropractic services is generally by referral from a VA primary-care or specialty provider. Veterans should not assume they can simply schedule community chiropractic care and have VA pay for it without prior approval.
What Is VA Community Care?
VA Community Care allows eligible Veterans to receive certain health care services from providers outside the VA health care system when specific eligibility requirements are met.
Community care may be available when, for example:
- The needed service is not available at the appropriate VA facility
- VA cannot provide care within applicable access standards
- The Veteran and VA provider determine that community care is in the Veteran’s best medical interest
- Other VA eligibility criteria are met
Eligibility is determined by VA, not by the community provider. In most cases, the Veteran must receive VA approval before obtaining care from a community provider.
Do Veterans Need a Referral for Community Chiropractic Care?
Generally, yes. Before scheduling care with a non-VA community provider, Veterans typically need a referral and authorization from their VA health care team.
VA provides a step-by-step guide to obtaining a Community Care referral and authorization before scheduling with an outside provider.
VA’s process generally involves determining whether community care is appropriate and the Veteran is eligible, obtaining a referral from the VA health care team, authorizing the specific type and scope of care, and then scheduling with an approved community provider.
The referral or authorization defines the care VA has approved. A community provider cannot independently expand the scope or number of authorized services.
Can I Choose My Chiropractor Through VA Community Care?
Eligible Veterans may be able to receive authorized care from an in-network community provider. You can search for an appropriate community provider or ask your VA health care team for assistance.
If you would like to receive authorized chiropractic care at Canada Chiropractic, your VA health care team can confirm whether you are eligible for Community Care, whether chiropractic treatment has been authorized, whether Canada Chiropractic is an appropriate provider under your referral, and the number and scope of approved visits.
What Conditions Does VA Chiropractic Care Commonly Address?
VA describes chiropractic services as focusing on the diagnosis and management of non-operative neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions, particularly conditions involving the lower back, neck, and other joints.
Depending on the individual Veteran’s symptoms and referral, chiropractic care may be considered for:
- Low-back pain
- Neck pain
- Joint or musculoskeletal discomfort
- Mobility limitations
- Some activity-related musculoskeletal problems
Treatment should be based on the Veteran’s history, examination findings, symptoms, and the scope of the VA authorization.
Learn more about Back Pain Treatment and Neck Pain Treatment.
What Can Chiropractic Treatment Include?
VA describes chiropractic treatment options as potentially including patient education, active rehabilitation, spinal manipulation, and other manual therapies.
At Canada Chiropractic, treatment recommendations are individualized. Depending on the Veteran’s presentation and authorized scope of care, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments or mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, mobility work, exercise recommendations, and education about activity and movement.
The objective is not to use the same treatment plan for every Veteran. Learn more about Chiropractic Care.
What Should I Bring to My First VA Community Care Chiropractic Appointment?
If VA has authorized community chiropractic care, it is helpful to have referral or authorization information available before your first visit. Depending on the situation, this may include identification and contact information, relevant health history, current medication information, and available imaging or medical reports related to the condition.
Canada Chiropractic can review authorization information available to the office and help clarify approved services. Do not assume that a referral allows unlimited visits or treatment outside the approved scope.
How Many Chiropractic Visits Will the VA Authorize?
There is no universal number of visits. The number and type of services authorized depend on the individual referral and VA’s authorization. If additional care appears clinically appropriate beyond the original authorization, the provider and Veteran may need to coordinate with VA before additional covered services can be provided.
Will I Have to Pay for VA Community Chiropractic Care?
VA-authorized community care is generally provided on behalf of VA, but Veterans may still have financial responsibility in certain circumstances, including possible copayments for nonservice-connected care. Confirm eligibility, authorization, and any applicable cost-sharing requirements through your VA health care team.
Canada Chiropractic can help clarify billing questions related to an existing authorization, but VA determines eligibility and coverage.
What If I Don’t Have a VA Community Care Referral Yet?
If you are interested in chiropractic care through VA, contact your VA health care team first. Ask whether chiropractic care is available directly through your VA facility or through VA Community Care if appropriate.
Canada Chiropractic cannot enroll Veterans in Community Care or independently authorize VA-covered treatment. That decision belongs to VA.
Veteran Chiropractic Care With Dr. Angie Canada
Dr. Angie Canada, DC has practiced chiropractic since 2012 and provides individualized musculoskeletal care at Canada Chiropractic in Salt Lake City.
Her approach considers symptoms, health and injury history, movement, joint function, muscle and soft-tissue findings, neurological findings when relevant, and the Veteran’s activities and treatment goals.
If chiropractic care appears appropriate, treatment is selected based on the individual examination and the scope of the VA authorization.
Learn more about Veteran chiropractic care at Canada Chiropractic, including how we work with VA-authorized Community Care referrals.
If another type of medical evaluation or care is more appropriate, that should be part of the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions About VA Community Chiropractic Care
Does the VA pay for chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is included in the standard VA Medical Benefits Package for eligible Veterans. Care may be provided at a VA facility or, when appropriate and authorized, through VA Community Care.
Is Veterans Choice still the current VA program?
No. Veterans Choice is no longer the current program for obtaining routine authorized community care. Eligible outside care may be provided through VA Community Care, subject to VA eligibility and authorization requirements.
Do I need VA authorization before seeing a community chiropractor?
In most cases, yes. Veterans generally need approval from their VA health care team before receiving care from a community provider.
Can I request Canada Chiropractic as my Community Care provider?
You can ask your VA health care team about receiving care from a specific in-network community provider. VA determines whether the provider and requested care meet its eligibility and network requirements.
Can Canada Chiropractic approve my VA Community Care visits?
No. Canada Chiropractic can provide care within a VA-issued authorization, but eligibility, referrals, and authorizations are determined by VA.
What happens if I need more visits than the VA originally authorized?
Additional covered treatment may require further coordination or authorization from VA. Community providers should follow the scope of the original referral rather than assuming additional services will be covered.
VA Community Care Chiropractic in Salt Lake City
If you are a Veteran who has been authorized for community chiropractic care, Canada Chiropractic can help coordinate your visits within the scope of your VA referral.
Dr. Angie Canada, DC provides individualized chiropractic care focused on musculoskeletal symptoms, movement, mobility, and function. If you do not yet have a Community Care authorization, contact your VA health care team first to ask about chiropractic services and whether VA Community Care may be appropriate.
Dr. Angie Canada, DC · Veteran Care · Chiropractic Care · Back Pain Treatment
