Exhibit 12(b)

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

This report on Form N-CSR of the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (the “Separate Account”) (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Separate Account.

Dated: February 17, 2017	By:	/s/ Robert G. Leary
		Robert G. Leary
		Principal Executive Officer and Executive
		Vice President
		(principal executive officer)
Dated: February 17, 2017	By:	/s/ Glenn E. Brightman
		Glenn E. Brightman
		Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting
		Officer and Treasurer
		(principal financial officer)