Prequalification and pre-approval are not the same. VA loan pre approval requires a lender to pull your credit and verify your income, and it's what makes your offer credible to sellers.
From a Navy Officer to Veteran: sharing my own experience and benefits from the time before I served, during service, and after resigning

Prequalification and pre-approval are not the same. VA loan pre approval requires a lender to pull your credit and verify your income, and it's what makes your offer credible to sellers.