Through its data linkage program, NCHS has been able to expand the analytic utility of the data collected from the National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) by augmenting it with administrative data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). NHCS data have been linked to VA administrative data containing information on details of active-duty service in the United States uniformed services (such as branch of service and era of active-duty service) and VA benefit program utilization including VA health care, service-connected disability compensation, pension, VA guaranteed home loan program, life insurance, education, training and veteran readiness (vocational rehabilitation), and employment benefit programs.
