The VA has issued a fraud alert about this number as per:
http://www.military.com/military-report/va-issues-fraud-alert?ESRC=miltrep.nl

"Veterans should be aware of a marketing scam targeting callers trying to reach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Call Center or GI Bill Call Center. A marketing company has established two fraudulent numbers that differ from the two official VA call center numbers by one digit. If the fraudulent number is dialed by mistake, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain personal and financial information, including credit card information, from the caller. The answering party may even transfer the caller to the VA after the caller's information is obtained. The numbers to be avoided are: 800-872-1000 (the VA National Call Center number is 800-827-1000) and 888-442-4511 (the VA GI Bill Call Center number is 888-442-4551). VA has notified law enforcement authorities to address this situation."

Its ILLEGAL to ask for money to receive it.
Prize Offers: You Don?t Have to Pay to Play!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel17.shtm
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts

Actually dialed the number given to me by the VA but it was off by one number.  At this number I stated what I needed, and the person who answered said he would direct my call to the right department but said I had won a $100 gift certificate to Wal Mart for military service.  He then said I need to pay a small "shipping" charge and he needed a credit card number.  I told him no thank you and to just give me the other number.  He then pushed by saying the call was being recorded and that he couldn't do anything illegal.  I again said no thank you and he gave me the number to the proper department.......1 (800) 555-1212.  Wow.