Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
100% VA Disability Rating for MST
Did you develop PTSD due to
military sexual trauma?
Military sexual trauma (MST) is unfortunately a common occurrence in military service. VA reports that around 1 in 4 females and 1 in 2 males receive VA health care for MST. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and non-consensual sexual acts between soldiers and other soldiers, officers, or civilians qualify as MST.
These are complex cases and although we offer medical nexus letters for these types of cases, we strongly advise veterans to also obtain representation by a top-notch VA disability lawyer. The evidentiary issues in these cases are intricate and to really maximize your chances of winning, it is highly advisable that you also retain a lawyer. We maintain relationships with the top law firms in this field, and we would be happy to recommend the right lawyer for you.
Our medical experts provide VA nexus letters to service connect various mental health disorders with MST.
Types of mental disorders and physical health problems commonly associated with MTS include:
- Appearance/hygiene neglect
- Chronic headaches
- Circumlocutory speech
- Circumstantial speech
- Difficulty understanding
- Digestive problems
- Flattened affect
- Frequent panic attacks
- Impaired impulse control
- Impaired judgment
- Long-term memory impairment
- Major depressive disorder
- Mood swings
- Obsessive rituals
- Occupational / social impairment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Reduced reliability / productivity
- Short-term memory impairment
- Skin disorders
- Spatial disorientation
- Sporadic violence / irritability
- Stereotyped speech
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal ideation
High-quality nexus letters are critical to maximizing VA benefits for MST. Our medical experts have prepared nexus letters for numerous challenging MST claims, many involving male-male rape cases.
Typically, there is no military record to directly prove an incident of sexual harassment, non-consensual sex acts, or sexual assault. Servicemembers may feel ashamed or uncomfortable reporting the incident, they may feel they are at fault, or feel threatened for their safety or military standing should they report the event.
To address the lack of military documentation, our doctors meticulously examine the veteran’s records for markers of MST – including sudden behavioral changes, disciplinary actions, relationship problems, unit transfer requests, attempts to leave the military, substance abuse, performance problems, AWOL incidents, and other sudden changes – to establish evidence of MST.
Sometimes, records show the manifestation of physical problems linked to stress. For instance, a veteran may develop migraine headaches, digestive problems, skin rashes, or other problems that indicate anxiety reactions.
Although military records may not specifically detail problems related to mental health, our experts have been able to review these cases and determine that these symptom manifestations are the early signs of a mental health problem, corroborating that the military sexual trauma took place – supporting a claim for service connection.
In addition, our medical nexus experts are often called upon to provide medical nexus opinions for MST cases, helping to determine whether or not the evidence corroborates a marker of military sexual trauma and if so, whether or not the veteran has a diagnosed condition and whether it is related to active duty.
With decades of experience with veterans’ disability claims, our doctors are renowned for their meticulous research, recognition of all relevant scientific links between MST and health problems, and diligent nexus letter preparation.