How does the VA travel compensation work?

The VA travel reimbursement, or Beneficiary Travel (BT), is governed by 38 CFR 70 and provides mileage or other travel expense payments for eligible veterans traveling to VA medical appointments, typically at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile with a deductible ($3 one-way, $6 round-trip) for each calendar month. The discrepancy you describe between the app showing a deposit and your account not reflecting it is a common system latency issue; the VA's systems often show a payment as "deposited" when it is authorized and issued by the Finance department, but there is typically a 24-48 hour (or longer) processing delay before it is visible as a settled transaction in your bank account, especially if the payment falls on a weekend or holiday. Your first actionable step is to wait at least 3-5 business days from the "deposited" status. If the funds still do not appear, contact the Beneficiary Travel clerk at your VAMC directly—they can verify the payment authorization and provide a trace number. For future claims, consider enrolling in the BTSSS (Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System) portal for more transparent tracking and, if applicable, a BTSSS debit card for direct deposits. Note that to be eligible, you must generally have a service-connected disability rated 30% or more, receive a VA pension, or meet specific income criteria (38 CFR 70.31). **This information is for educational purposes regarding VA benefits and procedures and does not constitute legal or financial advice.**