Disability Claims — What Women Should File
Top conditions, rating criteria, PACT Act cancers, step-by-step filing, and the legal protections that back you up.
The Claims Women Don't File — And Why
Women serve alongside men and come home with many of the same injuries — the worn-down joints and spine, the ringing ears, the sleepless nights, the exposures. The difference is not who gets hurt. The difference is that a huge share of women's conditions never get filed. Not because they don't qualify, but because no one explained the process, the symptoms were brushed off as “normal,” and the VA has historically done a poor job of reaching out to women veterans to tell them what they earned.
That gap is made worse inside the system itself. Women are too often disenfranchised in VA healthcare and in the C&P exam process — seen by providers unfamiliar with how these conditions show up in women, so real disabilities get under-diagnosed, under-documented, and dismissed. Below are the conditions women most commonly leave on the table. We include the musculoskeletal, hearing and mental-health claims everyone should file, and we flag the ones that hit women disproportionately or go quietly under-reported. If you recognize yourself in any of these, it is worth a free review.
Rating Details — Gynecological & PACT Act Conditions
Here is exactly how the VA rates the conditions specific to women, in plain English, so you know what your claim is worth before you ever walk into an exam.
Gynecological Conditions (38 CFR § 4.116)
Hysterectomy (uterus AND both ovaries removed, DC 7617)
100% for 3 months post-surgery, then permanent 50%
Hysterectomy (uterus only removed, DC 7618)
100% for 3 months post-surgery, then permanent 30%
Endometriosis (DC 7629)
- • 50%: Lesions involving bowel or bladder + pelvic pain/bleeding not controlled by treatment + bowel/bladder symptoms
- • 30%: Pelvic pain or heavy/irregular bleeding not controlled by treatment
- • 10%: Symptoms requiring continuous treatment for control
Ovarian Conditions
- • Both ovaries non-functional = 20%
- • One ovary removed, other functional = 0%
- • One ovary removed, other also non-functional = 30%
Menstrual Disorders
30% if persistent despite treatment; 10% if controlled by continuous treatment
Loss of Use of a Creative Organ (infertility)
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K)
PACT Act — Reproductive Cancers
(Presumptive — no nexus required)
Eligible if you served in qualifying locations: Gulf War (on or after Aug 2, 1990 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE) or Post-9/11 (on or after Sept 11, 2001 in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen).
Covered Cancers:
What Your Claim Could Be Worth
A service-connected disability rating comes with a tax-free monthly payment for life — money you earned through your service. The higher your combined rating, the more you receive. These are the current VA compensation rates (effective December 1, 2025) for a veteran with no dependents; you may receive more if you have a spouse, children, or dependent parents.
This is why filing matters — many women veterans never claim conditions they are entitled to, and leave this money on the table year after year.
Source: VA disability compensation rates, effective Dec 1, 2025. Amounts shown are for a veteran alone; add-ons apply at 30%+ for dependents. Rates are adjusted annually for cost of living.
Don't Forget Back Pay
When your claim is approved, VA pays you back to your effective date — usually the day you filed your Intent to File. Because claims can take months to decide, this lump-sum retroactive payment often adds up to thousands of dollars. That is exactly why Step 1 is to file your Intent to File first — every month you wait is potential back pay you may lose.
See What You May Be Eligible For
Not sure how your conditions add up? VA Benefits Calculators is a free set of tools that lets you combine your ratings (including the bilateral factor), estimate your monthly and annual compensation with dependents, calculate your potential lump-sum back pay all the way back to your effective date, and even screen your eligibility for benefits you may not know about — all using current VA rate tables.
No account required, no email, no cost. Every figure is an estimate — a free VA-accredited representative can review your case and confirm the exact rating and amount you qualify for.
Open the Free Benefits CalculatorHow to File a Claim — Step by Step
The order matters. File your Intent to File first to lock in your effective date, build your evidence, then submit. You never have to do this alone — free accredited help is available at every step.
Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966)
Submit FIRST to lock in your effective date (retroactive pay starts here). Online filers establish this automatically when they begin.
Gather Evidence
Current medical diagnosis, in-service event evidence (service records, buddy statements, nexus letter), private doctor nexus letter: statement that it is "at least as likely as not" that your condition is related to your military service.
Submit VA Form 21-526EZ
Online at VA.gov (fastest) | By mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444 | In person at your local VA Regional Office | With help from a VSO, accredited claims agent, or attorney.
C&P Exam
VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension exam. Attend every scheduled exam. Describe your WORST days, not your best.
Rating Decision
If denied or rated too low, you have ONE YEAR to appeal via: Supplemental Claim (new evidence), Higher-Level Review, or Board of Veterans' Appeals.
The Forms You'll File — Official VA Links
Every step is explained above. Use these official links to start and submit your claim on VA.gov.
Key Legal Protections
Prior denial doesn't close your case — refile with new evidence
OTH discharge doesn't necessarily disqualify you (especially for MST claims)
VA has Duty to Assist — legally required to help gather your evidence
Service connection theories: Direct (38 CFR 3.303), Secondary (38 CFR 3.310), Presumptive (38 CFR 3.307/3.309, PACT Act), Aggravation (38 CFR 3.306)
Who Can Help You File
Women Veteran Coordinator (WVC)
At every VA regional office
VSOs
DAV, VFW, American Legion — free accredited claims help
Women Veterans Call Center
1-855-829-6636
Accredited Claims Agents
And attorneys who specialize in VA claims
Think this applies to your claim?
We focus on veterans the VA has already denied or under-rated. We do not take brand-new (initial) claims, and we do not take every case.
Guidance from a VA-accredited claims agent (#45147). Any figures are estimates that depend on your situation and the VA's decision — not legal or medical advice, and not the VA.