VA Advance Directive - Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will (VA Form 10-0137)

Section 7331 of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), requires, in relevant part, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, prescribe regulations to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that all VA patient care be carried out only with the full and informed consent of the patient, or in appropriate cases, a representative thereof. Based on VA’s interpretation of this statute and our mandate in 38 U.S.C. 7301(b) to provide a complete medical and hospital service, we recognize that patients with decision-making capacity have the right to state their treatment preferences in a VA or other valid advance directive. The VA advance directive form (both English and Spanish language versions) is VA Form 10-0137. These forms have a current OMB Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance under OMB Control Number 2900-0556. In addition, 2900-0556 includes the collection of a “Close Personal Friend Statement” for incapacitated Veterans who have not completed an Advance Directive and are in need of health care. When a Veteran is incapacitated and does not have an Advance Directive, the VA regulations allow a statement to be submitted from a “Close Personal Friend” who will be responsible for making health care decisions on behalf of the Veteran. It is estimated that 300 such statements will be collected annually.

The latest form for VA Advance Directive - Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will (VA Form 10-0137) expires 2027-04-30 and can be found here.

Close Personal Friend Statement of Relationship to Veteran

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