Military Sexual Trauma (MST):

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a serious issue affecting veterans in the United States. Veterans who experience MST during their service may be eligible for VA disability benefits. You must have a documented diagnosis of a mental health condition caused by MST from a qualified mental health professional. Your MST experience must have occurred during active military service.

  • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men report experiencing MST during their military service.

  • A 2021 Department of Defense (DOD) report estimated that approximately 20.5% of active-duty service members experienced sexual assault in the 12 months preceding the survey.

  • These numbers may underestimate the true prevalence of MST due to factors like underreporting and stigma.

  • Veterans who experience MST are at increased risk for various mental health conditions, including:

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

    • Depression

    • Anxiety

    • Substance abuse

    • Suicidal ideation

  • MST can negatively impact physical health, relationships, and employment.

  • LGB veterans are at higher risk of experiencing MST compared to non-LGB veterans.

  • Women veterans are more likely to report experiencing sexual assault than men veterans.

  • Combat exposure increases the risk of experiencing MST for both men and women veterans.

The VA uses the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders to assess the severity of your mental health condition and assign a disability rating. This rating is based on the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and considers factors like:

  • Frequency and intensity of symptoms: This includes symptoms like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and others related to your MST experience.

  • Impact on daily life: How severely do these symptoms affect your ability to work, maintain relationships, and function in daily activities?

The VA assigns a disability rating for MST-related mental health conditions ranging from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. A rating of 0% is applied to applicants with no current symptoms or minimal impact on daily life. Higher ratings are assigned for increasing severity of symptoms and significant impact on various aspects of life.

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