Studies have shown that people with poor health literacy skills have significantly worse health status, greater risk for hospitalization, less knowledge about their health conditions, and are less likely to use preventative services. Little is known about the prevalence of low health literacy skills among veterans who use the VHA or the effect poor health literacy skills may have on complex preventative behaviors, such as screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). Understanding the distribution of health literacy skills among veterans and their effect on preventive behavior is critical for improving patient education, reducing health disparities, and promoting patient-centered care.