VA Has Come a Long Way in Serving Female Veterans, But More Could Be Done, New Report Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs has made significant progress in providing medical treatment and services to female veterans, but shortfalls still exist, especially in mental health care, largely as a result of gender differences, according to a new report from the nonprofit group Disabled American Veterans.

More than 600,000 female veterans receive health care through the VA, and the proportion of those who have a service-connected disability has risen since 2000 from 48% to 73% in 2020. Given that there are more than 2 million female veterans in the U.S., many of whom need support and qualify for VA services but aren't using their benefits, the department should do more to improve services for them, DAV analysts wrote in "Women Veterans: A Journey to Mental Wellness."

Jennifer Alvarado, a Navy veteran and domestic violence survivor, said at an event Tuesday about the report that it's important that VA officials "keep letting my fellow sisters in arms be seen."