VA Community Care Guide

VA chronic pain care for Veterans

Quick answer: Veterans researching VA chronic pain care should start by identifying the authorized care type, then compare pain management, PM&R, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, neurology, behavioral health, and other pain-adjacent options with the VA care team.

Last updated 2026-06-23. This independent guide is for research and does not replace VA referral authorization, eligibility decisions, or provider office verification.

What to do next

  1. Ask the VA care team which chronic pain service is being considered or authorized.
  2. Use pain management, PM&R, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, orthopedics, neurology, and mental health pages to research matching options.
  3. Compare state, city, provider, and VA location pages when a Community Care referral is being discussed.
  4. Verify authorization, provider participation, visit limits, location, phone number, and appointment availability before scheduling.

Frequently asked questions

What VA chronic pain services should Veterans research?

Veterans may research pain management, PM&R, physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, orthopedics, neurology, behavioral health, and other pain-adjacent services depending on the care plan and authorization.

Can Veterans use Community Care for chronic pain?

Community Care may be available when VA authorizes the specific service. Veterans should confirm the referral and provider participation before scheduling.

Does this page recommend a chronic pain treatment?

No. This page helps Veterans organize provider and referral research. Treatment decisions should be made with qualified clinicians and VA authorization guidance.

Related VA community care pages

VA Community Care Directory is independent and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans should verify eligibility, referral authorization, provider participation, appointment availability, address, and phone details before scheduling.