Question:
Will Veterans Administration cover the surgery?

I have been through the library, but have not been able to find my answers. I have a friend who is a 100% disabled veteran (from Vietnam War wounds), 55yo, Morbidly Obese who would like RNY. His Martinsburg, WV, Veterans Admin Doctor says he would be a good candidate for RNY and would benefit from the surgery. She is "pro surgery", however, she said that they don't do the surgery and she offered no alternatives. I could swear that I have seen people on the AMOS website say that VA could cover it. Can anyone give me any insight as to how to do this? Do they send him "outside" - perhaps the Doc just doesn't know. Thank you for your insight :-)    — M B. (posted on September 2, 2003)

July 17, 2004
I am a disabled veteran 100% also. The VA hospital here in Houston does not offer WLS either. I know of one other veteran who had to go to another VA hospital in Dallas for the surgery. The VA covered the entire surgery. I am in the process of finding a VA hospital that will accept me.So to answer your question, your doc is going to have to find another VA hospital that offers the surgery and submit your request for surgery to them. I hope this info helps.
   — Yvette H.