I thought that any honorably discharged vets would be eligible for VA medical treatment but I guess that I was wrong. All can get treatment, but what you pay is
means tested based on income, disability rating, etc.
But this also brings up another point - if someone's medical problem is not due to their military service, why does Uncle Sam owe them care?
My FIL was a WWII vet (ETO) and got real PO'd when the VA wouldn't pay for his false teeth. His attitude was - they owe me.
I'm a 'Nam vet and I don't think the gubmint owes me a thing.
It is no so much being owed anything but more about the government keeping their word to those that have served. If they tell you when enlist that you will be eligible for Veterans preference and VA medical the rest of your life then they should keep their word.
I regard a portion of my Social Security as a pension for what we got politically screwed out of by the Haydens and Fondas in Congress, in not being allowed to win the war in Vietnam, which we were perfectly capable of doing and should have done.