America’s Women Veterans Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics 1 November 23, 2011 America’s Women Veterans: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics Prepared by: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics Contributors: Maribel Aponte Syreeta Cherry George Fitzelle Kelly Ann Holder Baboyma Kagniniwa Sidra Montgomery Angus St. Hilaire Eddie Thomas Acknowledgements: The following individuals provided valuable technical assistance and insight for this report. Irene Trowell-Harris, RN, Ed.D., Director, Center for Women Veterans Betty Moseley Brown, Ed.D., Associate Director, Center for Women Veterans Patricia M. Hayes, Ph.D., Chief Consultant, Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group Stacy Garrett-Ray, MD, MPH, MBA, Deputy Director, Comprehensive Women’s Health, Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Uni- versity of Maryland School of Medicine Susan Frayne, MD, MPH, Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System , Director, VA Wom- en’s Health Evaluation Initiative, Associate Professor of Medicine, Stanford University Sarah Friedman, MSPH, Project Manager, Women’s Health Evaluation Initiative, VA Palo Alto Health Care System Nicole Hampton, Management and Program Analyst, Veterans Health Administration Support Service Center Donna Washington, MD, MPH, Attending Physician, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System Salminio Garner, Management/Program Analyst, Education Service, Strategy and Legislative Development, Veter- ans Benefits Administration Dorothy Glasgow, Management Analyst, Reports and Information Service, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. For women Veterans everywhere. Recommended citation for this report: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. America’s Women Veterans: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utiliza- tion Statistics. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC. November 2011. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics i Contents List of Figures...................................................................................................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................................................................v Women in Military History..........................................................................................................................................................................1 Today’s Military Women................................................................................................................................................................................5 The History of Women as Veterans...........................................................................................................................................................6 Who are Today’s Women Veterans?..........................................................................................................................................................8 Age......................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Race and Hispanic Origin............................................................................................................................................................8 Marriage and Children.................................................................................................................................................................9 Socioeconomic Indicators........................................................................................................................................................10 Educational Attainment..........................................................................................................................................10 Employment................................................................................................................................................................11 Occupation...................................................................................................................................................................12 Poverty...........................................................................................................................................................................12 Household Income....................................................................................................................................................12 Health Insurance Coverage.....................................................................................................................................13 Utilization of the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services..................................................................................15 Health Care Services...................................................................................................................................................................15 Outpatient Care..........................................................................................................................................................18 Face-to-Face Care.......................................................................................................................................................19 Primary Care.................................................................................................................................................................19 Mental Health Care....................................................................................................................................................21 Changes in Utilization: 2000 to 2009..................................................................................................................21 Compensation Benefits.............................................................................................................................................................22 Most Prevalent Service-Connected Disabilities...............................................................................................23 Age Distribution for Women Veterans Receiving Compensation.............................................................25 National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics ii Degree of Disability...................................................................................................................................................25 Individual Unemployability Compensation......................................................................................................25 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program....................................................................................................26 Pension Program.........................................................................................................................................................................27 Education Benefits......................................................................................................................................................................27 Current Initiatives for Women Veterans................................................................................................................................................29 Health Care....................................................................................................................................................................................29 Institutional Advocates.............................................................................................................................................................29 Homelessness...............................................................................................................................................................................29 Outreach and Education...........................................................................................................................................................30 Research.........................................................................................................................................................................................32 Surveys............................................................................................................................................................................................32 Future Challenges for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Providing for Women Veterans.........................................33 Notes.................................................................................................................................................................................................................34 Appendix A.....................................................................................................................................................................................................39