What Is Military Sexual Trauma (MST)?

What is Military Sexual Trauma?

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a clinical term used by the VA—not a diagnosis or a disability itself.

According to the VA, MST includes:

• Sexual assault that occurred during military service.
• Repeated, threatening, or coercive sexual harassment experienced while serving.

MST can affect anyone, regardless of gender, military branch, rank, sexual orientation, or length of service.

Experiences may occur during training, deployment, or while stationed anywhere in the world.

How the VA defines Military Sexual Trauma

The VA recognizes MST as an experience rather than a medical condition.

Examples may include:

• Unwanted sexual touching or sexual assault.
• Pressure or coercion to engage in sexual activities.
• Threatening or repeated sexual comments or advances.
• Retaliation after refusing sexual advances.
• Sexual harassment that creates an intimidating or hostile environment.

Every person's experience is different, and the effects of MST may appear immediately or many years after military service.

What benefits are available for Veterans who experienced MST?

Veterans who experienced MST may be eligible for several types of support through the VA.

These may include:

• Free VA health care related to MST.
• Mental health counseling.
• Inpatient and outpatient treatment.
• Residential rehabilitation programs.
• Medications related to MST treatment.
• Referrals to additional support services.

Eligibility for MST-related health care is different from eligibility for VA disability compensation.

Many Veterans can receive MST-related care without having a service-connected disability rating.

Can you receive VA disability compensation for MST?

The VA does not assign a disability rating for Military Sexual Trauma itself.

Instead, disability compensation may be available for physical or mental health conditions that resulted from MST, such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Other diagnosed mental or physical health conditions

To receive disability compensation, Veterans generally must establish that a current diagnosed condition is connected to their military service.

The VA evaluates each claim individually using medical evidence and other supporting documentation.

Do you have to report MST during military service?

No.

Many Veterans never formally reported their experience while serving.

The VA understands that reports were not always made and considers many different types of evidence when evaluating disability claims related to MST.

For healthcare eligibility, a prior report or criminal investigation is not required.

Why this matters

Many Veterans delay seeking help because they believe they needed to report the incident during service or think they are no longer eligible for assistance. The VA has established specialized MST services to help Veterans access confidential, trauma-informed care regardless of when the experience occurred.