https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2863
This directive WILL cover hormone replacement therapy, gender identity therapy, speech therapy to teach you to change the pitch of your voice as well as basic health care. '
If you have a dishonorable discharge, you are NOT eligible for V.A. Benefits of ANY sorts. If you have an other than honorable discharge, you may have limitations to your benefits. Please seek the counsel of a patient advocate at the V.A. Hospital if you need further clarification.
The first step you MUST take is upon discharge from the military, you must go to your nearest V.A. Hospital and register. Once you have registered, you need to file a claim for disability (if you have service-connected injuries and disabilities from your time in the service). If you are retired and did 20 - 30 years of service, you may not need to file for disability depending on your situation, but since you gave a life of service you are entitled to free healthcare through the V.A. Medical System and all you need to do is simply get registered.
For disabled veterans, once you have submitted a claim for disability, you will be evaluated and then a decision will be made regarding your disability and a percentage rating will be assigned to you. It can be anywhere from 10% too 100%. All you need is 10% to get medical care through the V.A.
After that, you will be assigned a primary care provider (PCP). Get an appointment with your PCP (sometimes, this takes a lot of time to get that first appointment). When you meet with him/her, request a consult to Mental Health. Explain that you are transgender and you need to see someone.
The V.A. does NOT have gender identity therapists on hand. When you get the referral consult, you need to tell the person you see, you are transgender, you want a Pay Fee's/Fee Basis referral to an outside provider. They MUST provide this to you under the directive referenced above. It may take several weeks to get that referral. YOU are responsible for calling around to local gender identity therapists and asking them if they will take Veterans Administration payments. Once you have located one that will take Veterans Administration payments, notify the Pay Fee's/Fee Basis office and provide their contact name and information so they can get everything set up for you.
Once you have been seeing a GID therapist for at least 3 months, you need to get a letter from him/her recommending you for hormone replacement therapy. It should follow the WPATH Guidelines.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/amo_hub_content/Association140/files/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH%20(2)(1).pdf
You will then need to make an appointment with your PCP and request a consult to Endocrinology to begin hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
If you feel inclined and feel that you need speech therapy to raise the pitch of your voice, also request a consult to Speech and Audiology.
The V.A. will NOT pay for gender reassignment surgery. They will NOT pay for laser hair removal or electrolysis (electrical hair removal). They will NOT pay for facial feminization surgery. They will NOT pay for breast augmentation, mastectomy or any other cosmetic procedures.
For Active Duty Personnel
The military IS paying for sex-change operations for active duty personnel ONLY, at this time. This policy went into effect on October 1st, 2016.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/21/pentagon-pay-for-some-sex-change-operations-transgender-troops.html
Update Your Military Form DD 214 to Reflect Your New Name
If you have military service prior to your transition, you can follow the process below to update your legal name to be reflected on your military discharge papers (Form DD 214). Having the wrong (previous) name on your outs you as transgender and can a lot of anxiety, depression and harm to finding gainful employment.
Below is the entire process on how to apply to get your name updated.
Form DD0149 (This is your application to update Military Records)
Social Injustice Statement (Input name, sign, change date and attach to your application)
2015 Board Decision (Attach to your application)
You can create an account, apply here and upload all of your documents.
http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/online-application.cfm
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