Veterans file lawsuit demanding VA coverage for transgender surgeries

An advocacy group filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday, hoping to push the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for surgeries to change the sex traits of veterans. The Transgender American Veterans Association, or TAVA, first petitioned the VA to pay for the surgeries in 2016 but never received a response. The lawsuit contends that the VA’s inaction “puts transgender veterans at increased risk of physical harm, psychological distress, and suicide.” TAVA’s lawsuit calls on the U.S. Court of Appeals to compel the VA to respond to the years-old request within a 30-day timespan. The VA has not commented on the lawsuit.

Do veterans think the VA will cover this? The VA already covers non-invasive transgender procedures for veterans, including hormone therapy, voice training, and hair removal. The military does cover sex change surgeries for active-duty soldiers. Should the VA agree to change its health benefits, the entire process will likely take several years before being finalized and will be subject to a public comment period.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on legislation to bar people who identify as transgender from joining the military.