Infertility can be an emotionally taxing experience for couples. In many cases, underlying medical issues may cause or increase the chances of infertility. If you have a condition related to your military service that led to infertility, you may qualify for VA disability benefits. This post explains more about the female and male infertility VA ratings.
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You served your country and you’re ready to start a family, but you and your partner are having trouble conceiving. Infertility is heartbreaking for those who experience it. If you can show a service connection, you may be able to get an infertility VA disability rating and the benefits that come with it.
In this article about the infertility VA rating:
Veterans and infertility
Infertility is when someone is unable to conceive after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without contraception, or for more than six months for women older than 35. About one in six people globally are impacted by infertility, but the rate is higher in veterans. The infertility rates for veterans are 16-18%, compared to 12-14% in their civilian counterparts.
Both male and female veterans are more prone to infertility, with exposure to chemicals being one of the most common causes of veteran infertility.
Infertility also has mental health implications, which may be especially challenging for veterans who are already prone to PTSD and other trauma- and stress-related emotional concerns. Infertility treatments can be stressful, and this stress can exacerbate symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders if left untreated.
You can see why many vets apply for VA disability for infertility.
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Camp Lejeune and infertility
Service at Camp Lejeune has been directly tied to various cancers and other health conditions like female infertility because of dangerous toxins that were found in the base’s water supply. Now, eligible veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune can receive health care benefits for such conditions.
These health benefits are for active duty, Reservists, and National Guard members who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, N.C. for at least 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and who left the service under conditions other than a dishonorable discharge.
Under this rule, qualifying veterans experiencing infertility who enroll in VA health care will not have to pay a copay for their infertility care. Infertility is just one of the 15 conditions covered by this benefit. To see what other conditions are covered, visit the VA’s website.
Infertility VA ratings
While some causes for infertility are more common in veterans, like toxic exposure or serious injuries, various things can cause infertility. There isn’t a VA rating for infertility, but the VA provides disability benefits for many of the conditions that cause it. Below we list some of those conditions and how they present in both men and women.
Male infertility
Male infertility is sometimes the result of drinking, smoking, and drug use. Chronic health conditions, obesity, injuries, and illnesses can also lead to difficulty conceiving a child. Additionally, low or abnormal sperm production and function can impact infertility, as can blockages that limit sperm delivery.
Both medical and environmental causes can lead to infertility in men. Some of the medical causes include:
- Infections and conditions that negatively impact the quantity or quality of sperm. Some of these issues include undescended testicles, genetic defects, and diabetes. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV may also lead to problems with sperm count and quality.
- Conditions that block sperm from reaching the female reproductive tract. These may be sexual conditions like premature ejaculation, genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, or physical problems due to damage or injury to the reproductive organs.
- Cancer and cancer treatment. Both men and women who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation may experience damage to their reproductive systems that results in infertility.
Female infertility
Some of the same factors that cause infertility in men can also cause it in women. This includes drinking, smoking, drug use, cancer and cancer treatment, obesity, and toxic exposure.
Other conditions that may result in female infertility include:
- Menstrual disorders. Conditions that cause hormonal problems can cause irregularities in ovulation that may increase a woman’s risk of infertility. Some of these include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, excessive exercise, and eating disorders.
- Uterine diseases such as uterine polyps, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.
- Damage to fallopian tubes. Swelling of the fallopian tube, or salpingitis, may lead to infertility. Salpingitis is often the result of pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency. This is a condition in which the ovaries stop working as they should, causing menstrual periods to end before the age of 40. Some potential causes of this condition include immune system disease, genetic disorders, and radiation or chemotherapy.
- Pelvic adhesions. Pelvic adhesions are bands of scar tissue that bind organs. Pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis, or abdomen or pelvic surgery may cause pelvic adhesions.
- Cancer and cancer treatment.
Additionally, certain medicines used to treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure, and depression may also contribute to infertility in both men and women.
The VA may provide benefits for some or all of the above concerns, so it’s worth exploring what you might qualify for.
Additional VA benefits for infertility
The VA may also offer financial assistance for infertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), or other assisted reproductive technologies.
Although the VA used to require veterans to be married and able to produce their own eggs and sperm to be eligible for IVF, a recent expansion of care is changing this rule. The VA will now “offer IVF benefits to qualifying veterans regardless of marital status and…allow the use of donor eggs, sperm, and embryos.”
This new rule will allow eligible unmarried and same-sex couples to receive infertility benefits. Likewise, veterans who are unable to produce their own sperm or eggs due to service-connected injuries and conditions can also receive these benefits.
VA compensation for loss of a reproductive organ
If you’ve lost or lost the use of one of your reproductive organs, you could receive special monthly compensation (SMC). Reproductive organs can include the penis, testicles, vagina, uterus, or ovaries.
SMC is a type of disability benefit for veterans that increases the compensation they receive for certain severe disabilities.
The VA provides SMC for various reasons, most often related to the loss or loss of use of extremities and other senses.
Read more about how the VA compensates for loss or loss of use of reproductive organs, including erectile dysfunction and hysterectomies.
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TDIU for infertility
A veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) benefits if they can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions.
The VA doesn’t provide TDIU for infertility, but you may receive TDIU for the conditions that lead to infertility. For example, if service-connected erectile dysfunction results in the need for surgery, complications from that surgery could leave you unable to work.
TDIU pays at the same level as a 100% disability rating, even when the veteran’s combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- One service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How Woods and Woods can help
If you have service-connected conditions that affect your ability to live and work comfortably, you deserve VA disability compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
One of the most common causes of infertility in veterans is toxic exposure. However, other factors may also lead to infertility, such as drinking, drug use, chronic conditions, STDs, and reproductive diseases.
There is no male infertility VA rating. However, veterans may be eligible to receive a rating for the condition that caused their infertility.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
