DisabilitiesdeterminedbyVAtoberelatedtoyourmilitaryservicecanleadtomonthlynon-taxablecompensation,enrollmentinthe

VAhealthcaresystem, a 10-pointhiringpreferenceforfederalemploymentandotherimportantbenefits. AskyourVA 

representativeor Veterans Service Organizationrepresentativeabout Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver 

Program, Career Services, EducationalAssistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insuranceand/or Dependentsand Survivors’ Benefits.

DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR CONDITIONS RELATED TO

MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA (MST)

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your military service can lead to monthly non-taxable

compensation, enrollment in the VA health care system, a 10-point hiring preference for federal

employment, and other important benefits. Ask your VA representative or Veterans Service

Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver

Program, Career Services, Educational Assistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insurance and/or

Dependents and Survivors Benefits.

Some Veterans may have experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military. These kinds of

experiences can affect Veterans’ mental and physical health, even many years later. Veterans can

apply for disability compensation for any current difficulties that are related to their service,

including difficulties related to MST. The VA has military sexual trauma coordinators at local 

regional benefit offices who can assist Veterans. The list of coordinators is located here, 

http://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/mstcoordinators.asp.

HOW DOES VA DEFINE MST?

MST is defined by Title 38 U.S. Code 1720D as “psychological trauma resulting from a physical assault

of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran

was serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.” Sexual harassment is

defined as "repeated, unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in

character.”

ARE VETERANS GRANTED DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR MST?

Veterans are not granted compensation for the traumatic event itself, but can be granted disability

compensation for conditions that result from MST.

DISABILITY COMPENSATION

MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA
Compensation – March 2016

CAN YOU DEVELOP POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH

DISORDERS AS A RESULT OF MST?

Yes. Exposure to any trauma can potentially result in PTSD or another mental health disorder.

PTSD is the most common mental health diagnosis related to experiencing MST.

WHAT EVIDENCE CAN SUPPORT A DISABILITY CLAIM FOR PTSD AS A RESULT OF MST?

Department of Defense forms used in reporting incidents of sexual assault or harassment, as well as

investigative reports during military service are direct evidence to support these claims. However,

VA knows that events involving sexual trauma are not always officially reported. Therefore, for PTSD

claims relatedtoMST VA has relaxed the evidentiary requirements and looks for “markers” (i.e.,

signs, events, or circumstances) that provide some indication that the traumatic event happened.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Records from law enforcement authorities, rape crisis centers, mental health counseling

centers, hospitals, or physicians

• Pregnancy tests or tests for sexually transmitted diseases

• Statements from family members, roommates, fellow Servicemembers, clergy members, or

counselors

• Requests for transfer to another military duty assignment

• Deterioration in work performance

• Substance abuse

• Episodes of depression, panic attacks, or anxiety without an identifiable cause

• Unexplained economic or social behavioral changes

• Relationship issues, such as divorce

• Sexual dysfunction

VA RELAXED THE STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE FOR COMBAT RELATED PTSD. ARE THE

STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE FOR MST – RELATED PTSD CLAIMS MORE STRINGENT THAN

OTHER PTSD CLAIMS?

No. In fact, VA relaxed its evidentiary standard for disability claims related to MST in 2002 to

ensure all available evidence supporting these claims is considered. Because military service

records may lack corroborating evidence that a stressful event occurred, VA regulations make clear

that evidence from non-military sources may be used to corroborate the Veteran’s account of the

MST. Further, when direct evidence of an MST is not available, VA may request a medical opinion

to consider a Veteran’s account and any “markers” to corroborate the occurrence of the MST event as

related to current PTSD symptoms.
Compensation – March 2016

CAN PREVIOUSLY DENIED MST RELATED PTSD DISABILITY CLAIMS BE RE-EVALUATED?

Yes. Increased awareness of MST issues resulted in special training beginning in December 2011 for

all VA regional office personnel who process MST-related claims and the mental health clinicians

conducting the examinations related to these claims. This ongoing training focuses on discovering

“marker” evidence to support the claim. VA wants all Veterans who filed MST-related PTSD claims

before December 2011 to receive the benefits of this nationwide training. If your claim was submitted

before that date and denied, you can request a re-evaluation from your local VA regional office.

WHAT DO VETERANS NEED TO DO TO GET A PREVIOUSLY DENIED MST-RELATED PTSD

DISABILITY CLAIM RE-EVALUATED?

Veterans who want VA to review their previously denied MST-related PTSD claim can start by 

contacting their regional office, calling 1-800-827-1000 or logging into their free eBenefits account at

www.eBenefits.va.gov.

CAN VETERANS PROVIDE NEW INFORMATION FOR A RE-EVALUATION OF A PREVIOUSLY DENIED MSTRELATED PTSD DISABILITY CLAIM?

Yes. VBA will accept new evidence to be reviewed when a claim is re-evaluated. It’s best to send any

new evidence at the same time as you request a re-evaluation. Veterans Service Organizations, as

well as MST specialists and/or Women Veterans Coordinators available at every VA regional office,

can help you determine what type of information is best to submit.

DO I NEED TO BE SERVICE CONNECTED FOR MY CONDITIONS RELATED TO MST TO GET TREATMENT?

No. VA provides free health care for physical and mental health conditions related to experiences of

MST. No documentation of the MST experiences or disability compensation rating is required.

Some Veterans may be able to receive this free MST-related health care even if they are not eligible

for other VA care.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION?

You can apply for disability compensation by completing VAForm21-526, Veteran's Application for

Compensation and/or Pension. You may also apply online at www.ebenefits.va.gov, or you can

appoint an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to assist you. Male and female MST

coordinators are available at every VA regional office to assist Veterans filing claims related to

personal assault or MST. You can call 1-800-827-1000, and VA will put you in touchwith an MST

coordinator, oryou can email theMST coordinator at your local regional office from the listof
Compensation – March 2016

coordinatorslocatedathttp://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/mstcoordinators.asp . For information

about MST-related treatment, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp.