Posted on Jun 17, 2022
Transgender veterans still waiting on VA’s promise of surgery options
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
Unless they are 100% disabled, I have a problem with this.
It has nothing to do with what the surgery is. Nothing to do with who they are, or who they *feel like* they are. It has everything to do with why they need the surgery and what the mission / purpose of the VA medical is.
VA medical care is there to cover the effects of military service. If rucking 50 miles a month with a 100lb pack shredded your knees, and FUBAR'd your back, then the CA takes care of your knees and your back. If getting hit with an IED took a leg, VA gives you a prosthesis, and treats the leg and subsequent / surrounding injuries / complications. They also treat the (almost) inevitable PTSD.
Military service doesn't create trans-ness. There is no such thing (or at least there should not be such a thing) as service-connected Gender Dysmorphia. No one joined the military as a guy who fully and completely believed they were a guy and then, DUE TO THEIR SERVICE, (not just "while in service", but actually AS A RESULT OF), decided that they were actually a gal. No service connection.
And no service connection = no responsibility to treat.
Now, I said at the top, the exception is 100%. Because 100% has a presumption of service connection. Basically everything is covered, unless the VA can incontrovertibly prove it is not. So, in essence, everything is covered, because it isn't worth the time, money, and effort (not to mention PR headaches) to go about denying anything for a 100% vet. So in those cases, I would expect coverage, just because coverage for everything is pretty much pro forma.
It has nothing to do with what the surgery is. Nothing to do with who they are, or who they *feel like* they are. It has everything to do with why they need the surgery and what the mission / purpose of the VA medical is.
VA medical care is there to cover the effects of military service. If rucking 50 miles a month with a 100lb pack shredded your knees, and FUBAR'd your back, then the CA takes care of your knees and your back. If getting hit with an IED took a leg, VA gives you a prosthesis, and treats the leg and subsequent / surrounding injuries / complications. They also treat the (almost) inevitable PTSD.
Military service doesn't create trans-ness. There is no such thing (or at least there should not be such a thing) as service-connected Gender Dysmorphia. No one joined the military as a guy who fully and completely believed they were a guy and then, DUE TO THEIR SERVICE, (not just "while in service", but actually AS A RESULT OF), decided that they were actually a gal. No service connection.
And no service connection = no responsibility to treat.
Now, I said at the top, the exception is 100%. Because 100% has a presumption of service connection. Basically everything is covered, unless the VA can incontrovertibly prove it is not. So, in essence, everything is covered, because it isn't worth the time, money, and effort (not to mention PR headaches) to go about denying anything for a 100% vet. So in those cases, I would expect coverage, just because coverage for everything is pretty much pro forma.
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SGT (Join to see)
Well then the Move program, Substance Abuse programs,, smoking cessation programs, viagra scripts are just a few things the VA would have to cut using your standard.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SGT (Join to see)
Well, let's see....
VA Move: not actual treatment. Tools available for all veterans to help THEMSELVES.
Smoking cessation: smoking CAN be caused or exacerbated by the military. Yes, rarely. But, in general, I would be against smoking cessation TREATMENT except for 100% folks or folks who have a proven service connection for smoking. Now, smoking cessation TOOLS for self-help are a different story (see above).
Viagra:. Yes, ED can be, and often is, service connected.
Please note that I was discussing SPECIFICALLY medical care. GI Bill and VA home loan guarantees also have nothing to do with service connected disability, but they are not medical care.
Just because it involves health does not necessarily make it medical care.
And it isn't *my* standard. It is the VA's standard.
Well, let's see....
VA Move: not actual treatment. Tools available for all veterans to help THEMSELVES.
Smoking cessation: smoking CAN be caused or exacerbated by the military. Yes, rarely. But, in general, I would be against smoking cessation TREATMENT except for 100% folks or folks who have a proven service connection for smoking. Now, smoking cessation TOOLS for self-help are a different story (see above).
Viagra:. Yes, ED can be, and often is, service connected.
Please note that I was discussing SPECIFICALLY medical care. GI Bill and VA home loan guarantees also have nothing to do with service connected disability, but they are not medical care.
Just because it involves health does not necessarily make it medical care.
And it isn't *my* standard. It is the VA's standard.
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There are 13 Trans Veterans in my area that have simply walked away from the VA. The abuse, harrassment and down right hostility they face going to the VA became to much for them to deal with. Its not right that these Vets are not treated as equals.
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