Female veterans missing out on benefits

Report: Women missing out on post-war benefits
By Zinie Chen Sampson - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 10, 2011 18:03:03 EST
RICHMOND, Va. — A new study says female military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to be diagnosed with mental-health conditions than their male counterparts. But men are more likely than women to get benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

The Veterans Administration’s Office of Inspector General report, released Monday by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., also found that women are much more likely to suffer from major depression and to have a harder time transitioning back to civilian life after combat service than men.

It also advises that the Veterans Benefits Administration better inform female veterans about specific services available to them.

“Female veterans may be unaware of services available through Women Veterans Coordinators, because few regional offices post signs describing those services,” the report said.

The study also found that the benefits administration denies payment for PTSD claims at a higher rate for women than for men, and denies a higher rate of male veterans’ claims for mental health conditions other than PTSD.

During a review of 750 veterans’ claims, the inspector general found that one of the primary reasons that more male veterans were granted disability compensation than female veterans was due to a regulation that the service member was required to have earned a combat badge or ribbon — which leaves out many female service members, because Defense Department policy requires that women be excluded from units that primarily engage in direct ground combat, the report said.
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Women missing out on post-war benefits