A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. 1. Improvements to the processing of claims by veterans for compensation for certain mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma (a) In general Section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking or air service air, or space service (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in the heading, by striking In general Processing (B) by inserting (1) The Secretary (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) A peer support specialist of the Department— (A) shall not be responsible for providing any assistance to a veteran regarding a claim described in paragraph (1), other than counseling services, guidance, and support, pursuant to duties determined by the Under Secretary for Health; and (B) shall not participate in the adjudication of such a claim. ; (3) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; (4) by inserting, after subsection (a), the following new subsection (b): (b) Referrals to MST coordinators The Secretary shall include, in forms for claims described in subsection (a), an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a military sexual trauma coordinator of the Veterans Health Administration at the facility of the Department nearest to the residence of such veteran. ; and (5) in subsection (c), as redesignated— (A) by inserting (1) The Secretary (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) The Secretary shall ensure that peer support specialists of the Department receive annual training on how to provide peer support regarding military sexual trauma. (3) The Secretary shall provide annual training, regarding the processing of claims described in subsection (a), to the following individuals: (A) Military sexual trauma coordinators of the Veterans Health Administration. (B) Peer support specialists of the Department. ; (b) Clerical amendments (1) Section heading The heading of such section is amended by striking Specialized teams to evaluate claims Claims (2) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1166 and inserting the following: 1166. Claims involving military sexual trauma. .

Summary: This bill prescribes that a peer support specialist of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must not be responsible for providing assistance to a veteran regarding a claim for compensation for a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced during active service. Such specialists must only provide counseling services, guidance, and support and must not participate in the adjudication of the claim. As part of the forms for claims for compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST, the VA must include an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a MST trauma coordinator at the VA facility closest to the veteran's residence. Additionally, the VA must (1) ensure that its peer support specialists receive annual training on providing peer support regarding MST, and (2) provide annual training on the processing of claims for compensation for covered mental health conditions based on MST to its MST coordinators and peer specialists.