Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Services For Female Veterans

April 5, 2010 - In this day and age of mass communication, there is no reason why critical information regarding veterans' health care services should not be received by those veterans who need it. This, however, is exactly the case when it comes to female veterans receiving vital information regarding treatment and services offered by the Department of Veterans Services (VA).

The VA's treatment of veterans always has been, and still is for the most part, geared towards treating men. Female veterans need treatment in areas where men do not, e.g., gynecological services.

Brown VA Medical Center houses the Women Veterans Health Center which focuses on exclusively treating female veterans with an honorable discharge. The approximately 3,000 female veterans treated annually could be, and should be, a much higher number. Out of the 1.7 million female veterans the VA estimates exist in the U.S., 50,000 live in Illinois.

Depending on eligibility, most services are free and include:  

• Counseling for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
• Mammograms; and
• Gynecological services.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IVA) holds fairs and events throughout communities to aid the disconnect that seems to happen once women leave the military. Many female veterans are just not being properly informed of the small amount of women-centric VA health services that currently exist to help them. Hopefully as these treatment programs grow, more information regarding the whereabouts and availability of health services for female veterans will reach the soldiers who need them.