Do women have greater difficulty getting help from the V.A.?

I believe it depends on where you are located. When I was going to Bay Pines VA in FL, I received outstanding care in a timely manner. Here in GA, not so much. When I broke my leg and ankle I was told that none of the V.As in GA could see me. They were either booked up or weren't equipped to do orthopedics.

Personally, i have zero problems. The benfits and health side have been pretty seemless. I just spent 2yrs back to school in voc rehab -- along with being 70% disabled. The VA has a womans health rep on campus a couple times a year working to get eligible women vets into the system. I can think of two female classmates, both USAF vets who were CURRENTLY NOT taking advantage of the resources they have earned. Another USAF vet, a classmate of mine and security forces cop, needed me to go with her to get enrolled. She was immediately enrolled into the OIF/OEF priority health care program. I am like PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

CPT (Join to see) I would have liked to pick other but since that it not a choice I went with no. I expect the answer varies around the country's VA facilities. In the VA facilities I use in Martinsburg, WV, Washington, DC, and Fort Detrick, MD men and women veterans are welcomed and treated similarly with respect. Granted I am referring to treatment not to the benefit application process. That process took years for me even after I was confirmed to be service-connected disabled. I don't think that women veterans are targeted any more than men in general and I hope and pray that the benefits determination and treatment processes are improving for all disabled veterans.

I'm a man so I don't know what a woman goes through but I would hope not because that woman served just like I did so she should have the same level of treatment.

As a county veterans service officer, i will brave a statement in that the topic of this board might have been more true 20 years ago, that said, i dont care what kind of veteran you are, all have the same bit of difficulty as each other unless you or your representative have put together ALLof the required items. As for actually seeing a doctor and such, for the first time ever, most of the big VA hospitals are actively seeking female only medical issues..doctors. For those specific things, sure, women have an increades challeng due mostly to there not being a big demand until more recently and the lack of specific specialized docs. Times are changing as well as the VA. Personally, in my book, any vet is a vet and therefore a brother/sister. Keep the pressure on the VA to get those services that you earned .

I've been going to the VA Audie Murphy Hospital here in San Antonio since .....well I can't remember it's been so long. I've never ever ever ever had a problem or any problems...as a matter of fact...for years now I get an appointment card in the mail every year telling me it's time for my annual check up and I get another that tells me it's time for my annual FEMALE check up and a third one that tells me something I dread...yep...it's time for you to schedule your annual mammogram. I'm seriously hounded by the VA to make these appointments and come in and see them once a year.

If I'm sick...not feeling well...have any type of problem...I pick up the phone and I schedule an appointments with my primary care physician....if she can't help me and I need a specialist, she refers me and I get an appointment almost right away...

I do not know why some people seem to have so many problems or issues with the VA, but here in SA...we do not...not only do we have the VA hospital, but we have many VA clinics around town....
It could be because we have so many bases here in one place...like 6 of them...and we have a TON of retired military and or VETS.

Also, if the VA doesn't have a doc for a speciality they give you an outside consult. You have to find the doctor and ask the doctor if they'll take the consult. I had to have female surgery and at the time, the VA didn't have a doc on hand to perform it. They gave me a consult which is good for ???something like 6 months...I found a outside doc who agreed to take the VA Voucher and she performed my surgery and few follow up visits....it went really well....a smooth transaction...I cannot complain at all for the all of the VA care I've received....I have a few friends who go to the VA too and they love it....and meds....my doc gives me a choice of going to pick them up at the Frank Tejeda Clinic or Audie Murphy or have them mailed to my house....I have them mailed and always get them in 2 to 5 days. It's awesome!

I am not a woman so I wouldn't know but I am a Veteran so I hope that the VA would treat my sisters the same as they would my brothers, that being said wish the VA would treat us all better than they do.

I would hope that the care is equal.Saying that,it is known that the VA facilities have fallen very short for male and female veterans.I can see where a Primary Care clinic could possibly not have specialized female care.A VA Hospital ,on the other hand,should be equal in all aspects of any General Hospital.All the employees (that I know)at my care clinic are veterans.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I never paid attention to this problem. I go to the VA, I have tunnel vision. I see my doctor, I get my script, I manage things on MyHealtheVet and life goes on. Having read your attached article, I can see how things might be a little more difficult for female veterans when it comes to getting treatment. I personally have not witnessed such problems...but then again, I haven't been paying attention. I wont say 'No' on your survey and sicne there is not an 'unsure' option, I will go the safe route and say 'yes.' I hope all soldiers get the treatment they need. Regardless of gender.

As a retired VA employee I would definitely say yes. Some VA facilities have gone above & beyond to assist female vets where others remain quite lacking. Where I worked they had a sign on the door saying women's health & that was about it. Then they progressed but with very spotty care. Now they have a full time women's health specialist. As far as mental health, PTSD, & MST, still quite lacking. I remember one combat veteran who was so brutally injured from a rape downrange she had to be discharged & still had worsening health due to a stroke she suffered from it. The VA couldn't seem to separate the rape & the combat part of her experiences in Iraq. I tried to hook her up with people who could up her VA claim & get her more help since she was young & could barely care for herself due to brain damage. The VA referred her for mental health & turned her down for TBI since it wasn't in a combat role. They just couldn't get her situation. The culture in many VA facilities & even in the claims depts hasn't adapted yet. How long will that take? It's been 14 years now & they still haven't gotten their shtuff together.