H.R. 210 — Dental Care for Veterans Act

This section eliminates separate eligibility restrictions for VA dental care under 38 U.S.C. §1712 (previously limited to veterans with service-connected dental conditions rated at least 10%, total disability, or other specified criteria), requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care as part of standard medical services under §1710 for all enrolled veterans. (As background, VA dental benefits currently reach approximately 25% of enrolled veterans; this change expands eligibility to all.) The amendments apply (1) immediately to veterans already eligible for dental care; (2) one year after enactment to priority groups 1-2 under §1705(a) (i.e., service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, former POWs); (3) two years after enactment to priority groups 3-4 (i.e., service-connected disability rated 30%-40%, unemployable veterans rated below 30%); (4) three years after enactment to priority groups 5-6 (i.e., service-connected disability rated 10%-20%, nonservice-connected disorders in low-income veterans); and (5) four years after enactment to priority groups 7-8 (i.e., all other veterans without priority). (Thus, full implementation occurs four years after enactment.)