VA Programs for Infertility Evaluation & Treatment in South Carolina

Infertility occurs when a woman is unable to become pregnant after a year of trying. It can occur in men or women and is a treatable condition. Veterans of the United States Military have a program that is available to them through their VA health benefits, but in South Carolina there are some restrictions as to how those benefits may be used to evaluate and treat the problem.

Evaluation and Treatment in Men

• The VA Champva policy manual lists the rules and regulations of VA health benefits and outlines the rules about the evaluation and treatment of male infertility. There are five treatments available to men: penile implantation following disease, trauma or radical surgery; hormone injections; external vacuum appliances; prescribed medication for impotence; and surgical procedures covering aortoiliac reconstruction, endarterectomy and arterial dilatations for proximal lesions.

Evaluation and Treatment in Women

• The VA Champva policy manual covers the infertility evaluation and treatment options available to female veterans. According to the manual, the VA benefits will cover the correction of physical conditions only. For women, diagnostic testing, surgical intervention and hormone therapy are covered in the attempt to correct infertility.

Treatment Exclusions

• The South Carolina VA does not cover artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfers or any other procedure that does not involve heterosexual copulation. VA program benefits will not cover any of the costs related to the use of sperm banks or to donors of eggs or semen.

Evaluation and Treatment Eligibility

• Veterans are eligible for VA Health programs and services if they meet any one of the following three criteria: have served two years of active duty, were deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, or experienced military related sexual trauma.