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:

The annual report on Form N-CSR of the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (the “Fund”) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 (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 Fund.

Dated: February 23, 2009	By:	/s/ Roger W. Ferguson
		Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(principal executive officer)
Date: February 23, 2009	By:	/s/ Georganne C. Proctor
		Georganne C. Proctor
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial officer)