Search Help/Tips
VA Search is keyword-based. Search returns pages containing all words entered, including stemmed word variations. A search for benefits returns pages containing any of the words benefits, benefit, or benefiting. Use double quotes around words to match the exact word or phrase (thus preventing stemming). Natural language searches such as Who is eligible for long term health care? may not yield the most relevant search results. Start with a few keywords like long term care and add words to refine search results as needed. For example:
Find pages containing stemmed variations of both health and benefits
Find pages containing the exact phrase health benefits
Use Boolean operators to refine search results
Search uses Boolean operators. The Boolean operators are uppercase AND, OR and NOT. Enter search words using lowercase letters except when using one of these Boolean operators. For example:
When searching for portland or nurse, where or is the abbreviation for Oregon, enter the query as portland or nurse. If the search words are entered as PORTLAND OR NURSE, the OR Boolean operator will be used in search. Search for portland or nurse vs. PORTLAND OR NURSE. Both searches return results but the search for portland or nurse finds pages that contain all three words. The search for PORTLAND OR NURSE finds all pages that contain the word portland or the word nurse
Find pages containing only the exact words health and benefits
Find pages containing both the exact phrase health benefits and stemmed variations of the word eligibility
"health benefits" AND eligibility
Find pages containing the exact phrase health benefits and do not contain stemmed variations of the word eligibility
Advanced Search Tips (go to Advanced Search)
Advanced Search functions much the same as regular search but provides these additional options
these words:
Find pages with the words entered, including stemmed word variations
this exact word or phrase:
Find pages containing the exact phrase, not stemmed. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT are NOT supported. Quotes are not needed. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
any of these words:
Find pages with any of the words entered, including stemmed word variations. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT and quotes are NOT supported. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
none of these words:
Enter words that should NOT be included in search results. Only pages without any of the words will be returned. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT and quotes are NOT supported. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
this site or domain (enter a site URL):
Specify a site name like www.miami.va.gov or www.va.gov/opa to search that site. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT and quotes are NOT supported
this file format:
Limits search results to the selected file format
results per page:
Number of pages to be displayed per results page
in these areas:
Add or remove areas to VA Search by checking or unchecking the box next to each area and clicking the Search button. If pages were found in an area, click the link next to that area to search within that area
Board of Veterans Appeals Search Tips (Go to BVA Search)
these words:
Find pages with the words entered, including stemmed word variations
this exact word or phrase:
Find pages containing the exact phrase, not stemmed. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT are NOT supported. Quotes are not needed. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
any of these words:
Find pages with any of the words entered, including stemmed word variations. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT and quotes are NOT supported. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
none of these words:
Enter words that should NOT be included in search results. Only pages without any of the words will be returned. Enter words or numbers only. Wildcards (? and *), Boolean AND/OR/NOT and quotes are NOT supported. Do not enter a URL, like www.va.gov, into this field
results per page:
Number of pages to be displayed per results page
search year(s):
Board Decisions can be searched by year. Add or remove years to search by checking or unchecking the box next to each year and clicking the Search button. If pages were found in a year click the link next to that year to search within that year
Decisions available via sitemap.xml
Links to decision files are available via standard sitemap.xml files. http://www.va.gov/sitemap.xml links to the sitemap.xml file for each year of BVA decisions dating back to 1992
