An independent U.S. governmental agency created in 1930, the Veterans Administration (VA) supplanted the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. In 1988, the VA was raised to a cabinet rank, becoming the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA provides a wide range of services for veterans and their dependents, including various levels of medical care for eligible veterans. It administers veteran pension plans and other forms of compensation. The VA also directs the handling of educational programs, veterans' insurance policies, burial programs, and loans to veterans for houses, farms, and businesses. In 1986, the VA operated 172 hospitals, 16 domiciles, 228 clinics, and 116 nursing home units in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.