Transgender Veterans Association Sues VA for Gender-Affirming Surgery Coverage

The lawsuit seeks to compel the VA to provide and pay for gender-affirming surgeries, citing the urgent need due to the risk of suicides, depression, and psychological distress for transgender veterans.

The Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to compel the department to provide and pay for gender-affirming surgeries for transgender veterans.
The lawsuit follows verbal assurances from the VA that it would begin providing these services, but no action has been taken to codify these assurances into regulations.
The VA currently provides some transgender care, including hormone therapy and mental health care, but does not cover surgeries.
The veterans first petitioned for the rule change in May of 2016, and despite hearings and proposed rules, no changes have been made.
The lawsuit highlights the urgent need for these surgeries, citing the risk of suicides, depression, and psychological distress for transgender people living with gender dysphoria.