Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is the VA term for sexual assault or repeated sexual harassment experienced during military service. MST can affect any veteran regardless of gender, branch, era, or assignment. The VA treats and rates conditions resulting from MST.

Do I need to have reported the event in service?

No. The vast majority of MST events were not reported in service for documented reasons — fear of retaliation, command climate, career impact. The VA does NOT require an in-service report to grant a claim. The relaxed evidence standard exists specifically because so many MST events went undocumented.

What if my discharge was less than honorable?

You may still qualify for VA mental health treatment for MST regardless of discharge characterization. For disability compensation, less-than-honorable discharges have a more complex eligibility analysis but ARE NOT automatic bars. Many MST survivors received OTH discharges due to behavior changes triggered by the trauma — the VA has acknowledged this pattern. File anyway. A VSO or MST coordinator can advise.

I was harassed but not assaulted — does that count?

Yes. MST includes both sexual assault AND repeated, threatening sexual harassment. Persistent harassment that affected your service or mental health is MST. Document the pattern (who, when, what was said/done, who witnessed, how it affected you).

Can men file MST claims?

Yes. MST affects veterans of all genders. Roughly 1 in 100 male veterans report MST per VA statistics — likely underreported. The VA has both male and female MST outreach coordinators in every regional office.

What if my claim was denied years ago?

File a Supplemental Claim with new evidence or request a Higher-Level Review. The VA has updated MST evidence standards multiple times — many denied claims could succeed today on the same facts. The MST coordinator can specifically help with re-filing.

●InvestigationsCongress made VA disability claims free to file. An entire industry charges veterans anyway — and nobody can stop them.→

VA Toolkit · MST

MST Claim Process

How to file a VA disability claim for Military Sexual Trauma. The relaxed evidence standard, "marker" evidence, and the free MST outreach coordinators every regional office has. You do not need to do this alone.

Three things to know first

No stressor verification required. You don't need a police report, witnesses, military investigation, or even to name the perpetrator.
VA treatment is free regardless of claim status. Counseling at any VA medical center or Vet Center is available right now, whether or not you ever file a claim.
Every VA regional office has MST coordinators. Both male and female. They specifically help MST survivors file claims. Use them — they exist for exactly this.

The 6-step process

Know the streamlined evidence standard

MST-related PTSD claims do NOT require traditional stressor verification. Per updated VA regulations effective 2024, a credible account of MST combined with a PTSD diagnosis is sufficient. You do not need a police report, rape kit, military investigation, or named perpetrator.

Collect "marker" evidence

Indirect evidence the VA accepts: records of STI or pregnancy testing around the time of the event, requests for a duty station transfer, decline in job performance documented in evaluations, disciplinary issues that began after the event, substance use that started or increased, mental health treatment records, statements from family/friends/counselors/clergy who were aware.

Connect with an MST outreach coordinator (free)

Every VA regional office has both a male and female MST outreach coordinator. They help veterans file or refile claims. Find yours at va.gov → Find a VA Office → search for "MST coordinator" within the regional office. Use them — they exist because the standard claim process is hard for MST survivors to navigate alone.

File through a free VSO

VFW, DAV, American Legion, VVA, Swords to Plowshares (specific MST experience), Service Women's Action Network (SWAN). All free. Many have MST-specific service officers.

Get treatment — separate from the claim

MST counseling is FREE at any VA facility regardless of discharge status, time since service, or claim status. You can access counseling whether or not you ever file a disability claim. Vet Center community-based locations are often less stigmatizing than main VA medical centers.

Document functional impairment

The MST event itself triggers service connection. The RATING is based on functional impairment — work missed, relationships strained, treatment received, daily-life impact. Keep a brief journal or treatment record. The PTSD rating tiers (0/10/30/50/70/100%) are based on how the condition affects function, not on the severity of the original event.

Conditions commonly rated from MST

PTSDDC 9411

Most common MST-related rating. 0/10/30/50/70/100% based on functional impairment.

Major depressive disorderDC 9434

Same rating tiers as PTSD. Often co-occurs with MST-PTSD.

Anxiety disordersDC 9400/9413

Generalized anxiety, panic disorder. Same rating tiers.

Eating disordersDC 9520/9521

Anorexia, bulimia. Documented MST link.

Substance use disorder— (rated as residual)

Secondary to MST-PTSD. Often disqualifying alone, but allowed as a secondary connection.

Insomnia / sleep disorderDC 6847 (sleep apnea) / 9400 (anxiety component)

Often filed secondary to PTSD.

Sexual dysfunctionVarious

Documented physiological and psychological residuals.

Fibromyalgia / chronic painDC 5025

Increasingly recognized MST residual.

Free help — use these

VA MST Hotline: Available 24/7 at the Veterans Crisis Line — 988, then press 1
VA Crisis Text Line: Text 838255
Find your MST coordinator: va.gov/find-locations → your regional office → ask for the MST outreach coordinator
Vet Centers (community-based, less stigmatizing): va.gov vet center locator
Swords to Plowshares (MST-experienced service officers): swords-to-plowshares.org
Service Women's Action Network (SWAN): servicewomen.org

Adjacent tools