va

VA is an initialism that can refer to multiple subjects depending on context. In the United States, VA most often denotes the Department of Veterans Affairs, a federal Cabinet-level department that administers veterans' benefits, health care, and memorial affairs. The department comprises three main administrations: the Veterans Health Administration, which manages medical care for eligible veterans; the Veterans Benefits Administration, which oversees disability, education, and other benefits; and the National Cemetery Administration, which maintains burial properties.

VA also serves as the postal abbreviation for the state of Virginia, located in the southeastern United States. Its capital is Richmond; the state is known for its history, including colonial and Civil War heritage, as well as major institutions and diverse geography.

In technical and scientific contexts, VA stands for volt-ampere, a unit of apparent power equal to the product of root-mean-square voltage and current. This measure is used to rate electrical equipment and is distinct from watt, which measures real power.

In economics, VA can mean value-added, a metric representing the net output of a sector after intermediate inputs are accounted for. Note that value-added tax is abbreviated VAT, not VA, and refers to a different concept—an indirect tax on consumption.