Veterans’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026

This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inform veterans of their rights regarding health care, benefits, and services provided by the Department. It outlines ten specific rights, including access to VA or authorized community health care, the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and to provide informed consent for treatment, ensuring comprehensive awareness and access to benefits.

Additional rights include seeking care without retaliation, protecting privacy, filing complaints for timely resolution, receiving transparent communication on claims, and appealing adverse decisions with fair hearings. To implement these, the Secretary must integrate the rights into all VA policies, employee training, and public materials, including the VA website, mobile app, and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) curriculum.

The bill also mandates that VA medical facilities designate patient advocates for annual compliance audits and clarifies that it does not create new causes of action or alter existing eligibility requirements for care or benefits.