The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers a variety of programs for veterans and their families. Measured in 2018 dollars, VA spent $180 billion on those benefits in 2017, nearly triple what it spent in 2000 after removing the effects of inflation. To help policymakers assess the risks associated with higher costs, this report presents projections of VA’s spending through 2028 under three scenarios, a modified version of CBO’s baseline and two alternative scenarios involving more rapid spending growth. Under those scenarios, the increase in VA spending ranges from 20 percent to 50 percent above the rate of inflation by 2028.

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