If a wounded veteran suffers from combat-related infertility and wishes to become a parent, they won’t find a solution at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 1992, the VA has been legally prohibited from providing IVF treatments to veterans.

One of the seldom discussed consequences of combat is the destruction of a wounded veteran’s chances to become a parent. New surgeries are making it easier for veterans to recover from their injuries and start families, but it is illegal for the VA to provide even the most basic fertility treatments.

For example, Army medic Sgt. Thai Lee underwent an experimental surgery to extract his sperm from his damaged testicles and fertilize his wife’s eggs through in vitro fertilization (IVF). While the surgery was a success, Lee had to pay for their numerous IVF treatments out of his own pocket. It costs roughly $12,000 for each implantation attempt.

The New York Times explains that the Pentagon does offer a way for active-duty military members to receive infertility treatments, but few wounded warriors have a chance to use it before being discharged. The emphasis is ours.

Many veterans are confounded to learn that the Defense Department, which covers service members while their status is still active military, provides infertility treatment at seven hospitals, without charge for those who need it because of service-related injuries. But very few wounded troops are in any position to take advantage of that benefit. While in the hospital they still have active status until they are medically retired or discharged from the military, but they are usually in rehabilitation and struggling to recover. Only 20 service members have taken advantage of the I.V.F. benefit, according to Defense Department officials.

In January, the Pentagon launched a program to encourage troops to freeze their sperm or eggs just in case they suffered from infertility in the future. This is meant to boost retention among military parents, who might leave the service to have more children. Unfortunately, this doesn’t solve the problems faced by veterans trying and failing to conceive right now.

The devastating truth is that IVF is expensive and can take multiple attempts to work. Without the VA’s support, most wounded veterans can’t afford it.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington has submitted legislation to change this law for several years, but they are often blocked at the last minute. But she’s not giving up yet.

“I’m never going to give up until we get this done,” Murray said to the Times. “I believe it is so essential for these young men and women to know their country is behind them when they get home, and their dream is not taken away.”