7 Most Common Disabilities Among Women Veterans

CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law

Women veterans are the fastest-growing group of veterans in the United States. According to data gathered by VA, as of 2026, there are over 2.1 million women veterans, which represents about 11 percent of all veterans in the U.S. This percentage is expected to grow to 18 percent by 2040. Women veterans face health issues due to their military service that may qualify them for VA disability benefits.

In this article, we will discuss some statistics concerning women veterans and break down the seven most common disabilities among women veterans based on VA’s Annual Benefits Report and information from our 25+ years of experience representing disabled veterans.

What Statistics Are Available on U.S. Women Veterans?

In 2015, a VA report on women veterans showed that over 405,000 women veterans received VA disability compensation. This number represents approximately 20.1 percent of all women veterans. Of these women veterans, 54 percent received a combined rating of 50 percent or higher.

According to the 2015 report, “about 6 percent of women Veterans who received compensation for a service-connected disability were receiving individual unemployability compensation … this represents about 1.3 percent” of all women veterans in the United States.

Other insights that this report provides include:

• In 2015, 840,000 women veterans used at least one VA benefit, which is an increase from 31.2 percent in 2005 to 41.1 percent in 2015.
• From 2005 to 2015, the total number of women veterans enrolled in VA health care increased 83.9 percent.
• From 2005 to 2015, the total number of women veterans using VA health care increased 46.4 percent.

Accordingly, VA says it is committed to ensuring that these benefits and services for women veterans are made as accessible as possible.

What Are the 7 Most Common VA Disabilities for Women Veterans?

Many medical conditions may occur among women veterans, but some are more common than others. In 2015, the top four medical conditions alone constituted 29.9 percent of all VA service-connected disabilities for women veterans. Below are the seven most common VA disabilities for women veterans.

Watch CCK Law Partners Lindy Nash and Amy Odom and VA-Accredited Claims Advocate Kayla Rogers discuss the seven most common disabilities among women veterans:

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1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, traumatic, or dangerous event. While it is natural to experience a range of reactions after a traumatic event, most people recover from the initial symptoms over time.

Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months of the traumatic incident, but can sometimes begin years later.

Specific diagnostic criteria for PTSD are divided into different types of symptoms, including:

• Reexperiencing symptoms
• Avoidance symptoms
• Arousal and reactivity symptoms
• Cognition and mood symptoms

PTSD accounts for 3.7 percent of all service-connected conditions among women veterans, affecting a total of about 251,000 women. Veterans may experience some sort of stressor in service that can be due to combat or another stressful experience.

Unfortunately, many veterans, including women, develop PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma (MST). MST can include sexual harassment and/or sexual assault that occurred during service. It can become challenging for veterans to prove claims for PTSD because VA requires credible supporting evidence of the in-service stressor.

Some stressors are documented in veterans’ treatment and service records. However, military sexual trauma (MST)-related stressors may not be documented since incidents are underreported. Mental health conditions — especially those that arise from MST — can be difficult for a woman veteran to discuss, but it is vital that they do to receive any benefits they may be entitled to.

VA rates PTSD under 38 CFR § 4.130, Schedule of Ratings — Mental Disorders. Veterans can receive a 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100 percent VA rating for PTSD. Veterans currently experiencing a mental health crisis can find important resource information at the end of this article.

2. Back Conditions Among Women Veterans

Musculoskeletal conditions of the back are some of the most common disabilities among women veterans. In 2015, about 58 percent of women were treated for musculoskeletal conditions of the back, whereas about 47 percent of men veterans were being treated for these conditions.

Three different back conditions are most often seen in women veterans:

• Cervical/lumbosacral strain — This condition involves microscopic tears in muscles and tendons, typically due to overuse, and is rated by VA based on the range of motion of the veteran, including bending forward, backward, and side-to-side.
• Intervertebral disc syndrome — Characterized by the breakdown of discs between vertebrae, often exacerbated by prolonged sitting, standing, and bending; this condition is rated based on periods of incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest, or range of motion if it results in a higher rating.
• Degenerative arthritis of the spine — This common source of pain is due to the breakdown of cartilage in the neck and back joints and discs, often caused by overuse and repetitive stress.

Other musculoskeletal conditions affecting women veterans include knee, arm, and ankle conditions, which comprised 5.3 percent; 2.5 percent; and 2.7 percent of all service-connected conditions for women veterans, respectively. In total, women veterans suffer from over 2.9 million musculoskeletal conditions, per the 2025 VA Benefits Report.

Veterans can receive up to a 100 percent VA disability rating for back conditions, often based on range of motion measurements.

3. Major Depressive Disorder

In 2020, the National Association of American Veterans noted that 51.2 percent of women veterans received mental health services. This contrasts with only 37.4 percent of male veterans, which may show that women veterans are more likely to experience major depression.

Understandably, depression is associated with military service because people are often separated from their families for long periods, undergo multiple deployments, and feel isolated from their support systems. Women veterans experience these problems and also face issues with harassment from their peers and superiors at disproportionate rates.

Depression can also arise as a result of an already service-connected injury. For example, depression can result from a veteran’s back disability that prevents them from performing activities they once enjoyed. This would be called secondary service connection.

Depression is rated by VA using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. Veterans can receive up to a 100 percent VA disability rating for depression.

4. Migraines

Migraine headaches can be very severe and incapacitating. When someone experiences a migraine, they may also experience:

• Photosensitivity (i.e., sensitivity to light)
• Noise sensitivity
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lightheadedness

VA rates migraines under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of Ratings — Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders, Diagnostic Code 8100.

Veterans can receive a disability rating of 0, 10, 30, or 50 percent for migraine headaches based on the severity of their symptoms, the frequency of the migraine attacks, and the degree to which their migraines impact their ability to function every day.

As of 2025, about 291,000 women veterans receive VA disability compensation for migraines. Some of the most common reasons that migraines are related to service involve other primary conditions, namely, migraines are often secondary to other service-connected conditions. For example, veterans with neck conditions sometimes develop issues with headaches as well.

Below, watch CCK Law’s Kayla Rogers, a VA-accredited claims advocate, explain how veterans can pursue a 50 percent disability rating for migraines:

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5. Gynecological Conditions

As of 2025, over 250,000 women veterans suffered from and received service-connected VA compensation related to gynecological conditions. Under 38 CFR § 4.116, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) recognizes a variety of gynecological conditions, including:

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (which can disrupt menstrual cycles)
• Female sexual arousal disorder
• Ovarian cysts

If the gynecological condition first began in service, that should be enough to establish service connection. Most of these conditions cannot be rated higher than 30 percent.

Gulf War veterans who experience unexplained gynecological issues (i.e., symptoms that cannot be attributed to a known diagnosis), may be entitled to service connection on a presumptive basis. The law will presume that since the condition cannot be explained, it has something to do with possible exposures in the Persian Gulf. If the gynecological condition began during service, then service connection may be warranted.

6. Bronchial Asthma

Another common condition among women veterans is bronchial asthma. In 2025, over 381,000 women veterans received benefits for a respiratory illness — bronchial asthma being one of the more common ones.

The high rate of bronchial asthma may be due to toxic exposure during their service in the Gulf War. If their bronchial asthma has unexplained etiology or pathophysiology, then service connection may be presumed.

The rates of bronchial asthma among women veterans may also be due to post-9/11 service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, where many veterans were exposed to burn pits and inhaled various toxins, carcinogens, smoke, and particulate matter.

7. Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a hearing condition marked by near-constant ringing in your ears. In 2025, over 305,000 women veterans received VA compensation for tinnitus. Many veterans file claims for tinnitus in conjunction with claims for hearing loss.

Tinnitus is most commonly rated at 10 percent, which is the highest schedular rating for the condition. There are exceptions to this in extraordinary circumstances, but it is exceedingly difficult to prove and unlikely to succeed in most cases.

It is important to note that sometimes the veteran’s tinnitus is so extraordinary that it leads to conditions such as depression or anxiety. In these cases, it is possible to get secondary service connection for the mental health condition. Veterans must provide evidence showing that their mental health condition is caused or aggravated by their tinnitus.

In the video below, CCK Law Partner Jenna Zellmer explains what veterans need to know before pursuing a VA disability rating for tinnitus:

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Learn More About VA Disability Ratings and Appeals

Do You Need Immediate Help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line is a 24/7 resource available to veterans, service members, and their family members and friends. For assistance right now, use the confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text messaging service, whichever method you prefer.

There are several ways for veterans to access the Veterans Crisis Line:

• Dial 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.
• Send a text message to 838255.
• Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
• Find a local VA facility in your area.
• If you are an active duty service member, guardsman, or reservist, visit MilitaryCrisisLine.net.