Women Veterans

All of the pages on our website have information for veterans, but this one has specific topics relating to women veterans.  For more information, click on the campaign ribbon as well as the various links below:

Thank you for your service! Did you serve or do you know of a woman Veteran who served? Learn more about what earned benefits and services are available to you! VA offers benefits, services, and programs such as: Benefits, including: 

• Service-Connected Disability Compensation 
• Home loans 
• Readiness and employment services 
• Small business programs with initiatives specifically for women 
• Veteran-owned small businesses Burial (including pre-need eligibility) 
• Life insurance 
• Transition and economic development 
• Education and training 
• Pension for Veterans and survivors 
• Health care, including: Specialized care for women 
• Veterans Military Sexual Harassment, Assault or Rape (Military Sexual Trauma) 
• Maternity care   

Contact Women Veterans Center at  00w@va.gov, call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-829-6636 or contact a local Veteran Service Officer. Our local Veterans Service Office is Rockland County Veterans Service Agency, 20 Squadron Blvd., Suite 480, New City, New York 10956 845-638-5244.  Many of the veterans' counselors are women veterans.

Did you know: if you need mental health services related to PTSD or other mental health conditions linked to your service (including conditions related to an experience of military sexual harassment, assault or rape) you may qualify for VA health benefits right away, even without a VA Character of Discharge review or a discharge upgrade. If you have a less than honorable discharge you may be eligible for a discharge upgrade.

Women Veterans Information:  https://www.va.gov/womenvet/ or https://www.womenshealth.va.gov

Veterans' Benefits:  https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/

Chronic Pelvic Pain:   Chronic pelvic pain is common in women Veterans, but treatment is available to reduce your pain and help you live a healthy, active life.

What services does VA provide for chronic pelvic pain?  How do I access services for chronic pelvic pain at VA?  Women Veterans Call Center  Can I get disability compensation (monthly payments) or other benefits from VA related to chronic pelvic pain?  Where can I find more information, help and resources on chronic pelvic pain? 

Find help here: https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/topics/chronic-pelvic-pain.asp

Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the lower abdomen, genital area, lower back, or thighs that needs treatment and lasts more than 6 months. This pain can be consistent but can get worse when you are having your period, urinating, having sex, or walking.  

Chronic pelvic pain is often caused by one, or several, of the following conditions:  

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects the large bowel 
• Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome) 
• Pelvic floor dysfunction 
• Endometriosis, in which cells that usually grow in the uterus grow outside of the uterus
• Vulvodynia Pelvic injury or surgery 
• Cysts on the ovaries 

Veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), combat trauma, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are 2-3 times more likely to have chronic pelvic pain than Veterans who do not have these traumatic experiences. Left untreated, chronic pelvic pain can cause problems like anxiety or depression, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue and can affect your relationships and overall health.  No matter the cause of your chronic pelvic pain, VA is here to help you improve your quality of life.  For more information, visit this website:

https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/topics/chronic-pelvic-pain.asp

I Am Not Invisible:  We are two million strong. We are mothers, sisters, friends, partners, and wives. We are advocates, bosses, students, and survivors. We are all eras and branches of service. We are women. We are Veterans. 

We Are Not Invisible Project There are roughly two million women Veterans, making up ten percent of the Veteran population and growing. Yet they continue to face significant barriers and challenges in accessing necessary health care and other services, while experiencing a lack of recognition. Women veterans are not only overlooked by those around them, but frequently struggle to consider themselves Veterans.   The I Am Not Invisible (IANI) campaign began in February 2017 as a way to increase visibility of women Veterans, who are often invisible both as Service members and Veterans. The campaign aims to increase awareness and dialogue about women Veterans and open viewers’ eyes to the myriad contributions, needs, and experiences of women who have served in the military. 

The IANI Campaign 3.0 kicked off in August 2021 to focus on giving women Veterans a safe platform to share their memories, reflections, and thoughts through the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. With support from the Center for Women Veterans (CWV) this project has crossed 50 States, 75 cities, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 28 Native American/Alaska Native Nations to capture more than 3,200 women Veteran images. For downloadable copies of any of these photos, please contact the CWV, to view them visit the CWV Facebook page, to read more news check out our blogs.  For further information:  https://www.va.gov/womenvet/iani/index.asp