Infertility Diagnoses Are Spiking Among Veterans, But VA Benefits Remain Hard to Navigate

Nearly 30,000 Veterans received an infertility diagnosis in fiscal year 2025. This is up from fewer than 19,000 three years earlier. But a new federal review found that some Veterans still struggle to understand what fertility care the VA offers and whether they qualify.

In its September 29 report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) raised concerns about the information provided to Veterans and how VA medical centers determine eligibility for specialized fertility treatment.

Alyssa M. Hundrup, GAO’s Director of Health Care, said that despite the VA's website and printed resources, "there is some confusion among veterans about the availability of, and eligibility requirements for fertility care."

More Infertility Diagnoses, But Not Every Veteran Seeks Treatment

GAO reviewed the VA data from fiscal years 2022 through 2025. Both infertility diagnoses and the number receiving fertility care increased during that period.

The figures show that more Veterans received fertility care, but they don’t establish that infertility itself is becoming more common among Veterans. VA officials told GAO that expanded eligibility in 2024 and the recovery of fertility services following the COVID-19 pandemic may help explain the increase.

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Nor does the difference between diagnoses and treatment show that all untreated Veterans were denied care. GAO cited possible reasons including financial concerns, relocation, and emotional stress.

Some Veterans May Never Find the Information They Need

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive general fertility care, including fertility evaluations and certain treatments. More advanced assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), requires infertility to be caused by a qualifying service-connected disability or its treatment.

“We heard from some veterans that their VHA providers did not know what fertility care VHA offers, or they provided inaccurate information about eligibility requirements or what would be included in covered benefits,” Hundrup said.

Much of the VA's fertility information is distributed through its Office of Women's Health. That creates a particular challenge for male Veterans who may never visit that office or look for services on its website.

Hundrup described one male Veteran who had difficulty seeking an appointment for fertility care offered through a women's health clinic.

“Stakeholders suggested that information on VHA’s available fertility care services also be provided to veterans at primary care clinics, spinal cord injury centers, and anywhere veterans potentially in need of fertility care may be receiving care,” Hundrup said.

Local Fertility Teams Face Difficult Eligibility Decisions

In October 2024, the VA shifted responsibility for determining eligibility for service-connected fertility benefits from the national level to fertility teams at individual VA medical centers.

The change brought decisions closer to patients, but GAO found that establishing a link between infertility and a service-connected disability can be complex. Teams sometimes need further medical records, testing, and repeated meetings.

According to Hundrup, this can delay decisions for "multiple weeks or even months."

Expertise also differs across facilities. In FY2025, 40 of 139 VA medical centers with fertility teams had no gynecologist on staff, and 29 had no urologist, according to the VA data cited by GAO.

At two of four medical centers GAO reviewed, teams didn’t consistently send required written notifications of eligibility decisions. One Veteran told investigators they didn’t receive a letter explaining why they were deemed ineligible.

While fertility evaluations are available to all enrolled Veterans, accessing treatments can be difficult. Under current policy, a Veteran must prove that their infertility was directly caused by a qualifying, service-connected disability or its medical treatment.

This means that a Veteran experiencing unexplained infertility, or reproductive challenges unrelated to a documented military injury, can't utilize VA IVF benefits, which add increased emotional and financial stress.

What GAO Wants the VA to Fix

GAO made two recommendations. First, the VA should establish measurable outreach goals, track results, and adjust communication efforts as needed. Second, it should assess whether its fertility eligibility process is working as intended.

Hundrup said GAO didn’t prescribe specific performance measures. One possible approach would be to track attendance by male and female Veterans at fertility information sessions to see whom outreach actually reaches.

The VA agreed with both recommendations. As of October 2026, GAO still lists them as open.

For Veterans seeking care now, the VA fertility services page explains available benefits and eligibility. Veterans can start by asking their VA health care provider for a fertility consultation. The VA is required to provide written notice of service-connected fertility eligibility decisions. Veterans who disagree with a decision may request a higher-level review.

The findings leave the VA with two practical challenges: making fertility care information easier to find and ensuring eligibility decisions are timely, consistent, and clearly communicated.