Navigating VA MST Resources
Access VA MST care without re-traumatization. Know your rights and your options.
The VA has more MST-specific resources than most veterans know about — and a legal obligation to provide them. This module is your guide to accessing care without having to fight for it, re-tell your story to every provider, or navigate a system designed for someone else.
Your Legal Rights as an MST Survivor
The VA is legally required to provide free MST-related care to all veterans who experienced MST during their service — regardless of discharge status, length of service, or whether the MST was reported at the time. You do not need a service-connected disability rating to receive MST-related mental health care. You do not need a police report. You do not need to have reported the MST during service.
This is one of the most important things to know: the VA's obligation to provide MST care is broader than its obligation for most other conditions. If you were turned away from VA care for MST-related conditions because of your discharge status or lack of documentation, you may have been incorrectly denied. Contact an MST coordinator or a VSO service officer to appeal.
MST-related care includes mental health services, medical care for conditions related to MST, and referrals to community providers when VA services are not available or appropriate. You have the right to choose a provider of the same gender as you, and you have the right to request a different provider if your current one is not a good fit.
The VA MST Coordinator
Every VA medical center has an MST Coordinator — a staff member whose specific role is to help MST survivors access care and navigate the VA system. The MST Coordinator is your primary point of contact for MST-related services.
The MST Coordinator can help you: understand your eligibility for MST-related care, connect with mental health services, navigate the claims process if you are seeking disability compensation for MST-related conditions, find community resources if VA services are not meeting your needs, and address any problems you encounter in accessing care.
You do not have to disclose details of your MST to the MST Coordinator to get help. You can simply say: "I experienced MST during my service and I want to understand my options for care." That is enough.
To find your VA MST Coordinator, call your nearest VA medical center and ask for the MST Coordinator by name. You can also find contact information through the VA's MST resources page.
Accessing Care Without a Police Report
One of the most common barriers to VA MST care is the belief that you need a police report, a formal complaint, or documented evidence of the MST to access services. This is not true.
The VA uses a "military sexual trauma indicator" — a notation in your medical record that you experienced MST — to authorize MST-related care. This indicator can be added based on your own statement to a VA provider. You do not need external documentation.
For disability compensation claims related to MST, the evidentiary standard is lower than for other conditions. The VA recognizes that MST is chronically underreported and that survivors often lack documentation. Evidence that can support an MST-related claim includes: your own statement, statements from people you told at the time, records of behavioral changes after the MST (such as requests for transfer, changes in performance, or medical records), and records of treatment for MST-related conditions.
If you are pursuing a disability claim for MST-related conditions, a VSO service officer or a VA-accredited attorney can help you build the strongest possible case.
Choosing Your Provider
You have the right to choose a VA provider who is a good fit for you — including requesting a provider of the same gender. If your current provider is not trauma-informed, does not have MST experience, or is not a good fit for any reason, you have the right to request a different one.
When evaluating a provider, consider: Do they have specific training in trauma-informed care? Do they have experience working with MST survivors? Do they make you feel heard and believed? Do they explain your treatment options and involve you in decisions? Do they respect your pace?
If VA mental health services are not meeting your needs — because of wait times, provider fit, or geographic barriers — you may be eligible for community care through the VA Community Care Program. Ask your VA primary care provider or MST Coordinator about community care options.
Telehealth is also available for many VA mental health services, including MST-related care. If in-person care is a barrier, ask about telehealth options.
Carmen served 10 years as a logistics specialist. She experienced repeated sexual harassment from a superior officer that escalated to assault in her seventh year. She never reported it — she had watched what happened to other women who reported, and she was not willing to go through that. She separated and spent years managing her symptoms alone: the nightmares, the hypervigilance, the difficulty trusting anyone. At 44, she finally walked into a VA medical center and asked to speak with the MST Coordinator. She was terrified she would be asked to prove what happened. Instead, the coordinator listened, explained her options, and connected her with a female therapist who specializes in MST. Carmen did not have to prove anything. She just had to show up. She wishes she had known, 15 years ago, that this was possible.
Your VA MST Access Plan
- 1
Find your VA MST Coordinator. Call your nearest VA medical center and ask for the MST Coordinator by name. Write down their name and contact information.
- 2
Write down one specific thing you want help with — whether that is mental health care, a disability claim, or just understanding your options. You do not have to share this with anyone yet.
- 3
If you are not currently enrolled in VA healthcare, call 1-877-222-8387 to enroll. MST-related care is available to veterans regardless of discharge status.
- 4
If you have been denied VA care for MST-related conditions, contact a VSO service officer to review your case. Write down the VSO contact information from Module 03.
- 5
Write down one question you want to ask the MST Coordinator when you contact them.
- The VA is legally required to provide free MST-related care — regardless of discharge status, length of service, or whether MST was reported.
- You do not need a police report to access VA MST care or to file a disability claim.
- Every VA medical center has an MST Coordinator — your primary point of contact for MST-related services.
- You have the right to choose a provider of the same gender and to request a different provider if the fit is not right.
- Community care and telehealth are options if VA services are not meeting your needs.
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