what proof does va need to service connect mst
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It can be very healing for survivors of any kind of trauma to feel heard, validated and supported as they recover. This can be especially truthful for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST), many of whom may exist suffering lone – feeling ashamed, disconnected or unable to talk with anyone about their experience.
That'due south why, during Sexual Assault Sensation Calendar month this April, VA's message to MST survivors is this: Nosotros believe y'all – and nosotros believe in you .
Throughout the year, VA reaches out to Veterans. Information technology encourages them to bring together a community that listens, understands the potential impacts of MST, believes in survivors' resilience and can help them continue to heal.
During Sexual Assault Awareness Calendar month every year, VA redoubles its efforts to raise awareness about its free services to back up survivors' healing and recovery across a variety of settings.
VA believes MST survivors
"MST" refers to sexual assail or sexual harassment that occurs during war machine service. Service members of all genders, sexual orientations and backgrounds accept experienced MST.
MST can affect both physical and mental health – sometimes fifty-fifty years after the experience(s). It can lead to challenges with strong emotions, sleep disturbances, relationship and trust problems, and unsafe coping behaviors, among others.
Many MST survivors do not want to tell others about their experiences. Some may worry that others will judge or non believe them. Others tin't imagine how treatment could truly help with healing, and then they endure lone. Equally a event, many survivors can notice it hard to access care fifty-fifty when they demand it.
That is part of why VA makes special efforts during Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise sensation about our MST-related services.
And VA believes in MST survivors
VA stands set to help Veterans who experienced MST and who need additional support. Eligibility for MST-related care is expansive, and no documentation of the MST experience is required. Veterans do not need to have reported the MST feel at the time, to have sought care within a certain time frame, or to have applied for service connexion for an MST-related status to get care.
To acquire more, Veterans may contact a local VA medical center and ask to speak with the MST Coordinator, a professional at every VA health care facility. They specialize in connecting survivors with the MST-related care and services that are right for them.
Veterans can too speak with a VA wellness intendance provider. Compassionate VA professionals are ready to mind and help.
VA encourages everyone to larn about MST to discover means to support the recovery of Veterans they care almost and to get part of the larger supportive community for Veterans.
Download Sexual Assail Sensation Month resources and share them with your networks to aid brand certain all Veterans know about VA's gratis services and support.
Jessica Keith and Chris Skidmore both piece of work with the War machine Sexual Trauma Support Team, VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
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Source: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/86069/va-believes-survivors-military-sexual-trauma/
I was assaulted while in ROTC ( I was too a member of the guard and had been for 3 years prior)
The control lost my unrestricted written report and all supporting documents. The VA mst coordinator said I didn't qualify for annihilation since "information technology didn't count" because I was a cadet
Any assistance I've gotten I've had to go notice myself. The VA never helped and made it worse past invalidating what happened to me and treating me like I didn't matter. It was similar being assaulted all over once more.
If the VA does believe in survivors, so why doesn't information technology take a registry? Why take I got to look up you as a person who has not only survived sexual rape by an officeholder ( whom I don't arraign by the manner he was in hospital too at the time and also drugged up from wounds and trauma ) simply especially as the relative of a homicide victim?
This article is pure propaganda.
E'er since Trump left function it doesn't matter what you are who you are where you are if yous're a veteran you are being abused medically administratively past every single constabulary officeholder who's out here who literally harasses us at present nosotros're being harassed past everyone yous guys aren't listening this is an commodity that is a prevarication from get-go to stop and you demand to become off your asses and tell the truth
Every bit a fellow in 1983 in the usaf, I was raped!!! Did I tell anyone-NO! Who do you tell? My life has been a big mess since, drugs, alcohol, always moving from chore to chore, moving from state to land. Never trusting Anyone, fugitive whatever kind of human relationship, keeping my distance from my family unit. Ten years ago I started talking virtually what happened to me. It hasn't been easy and I do have bad days. I tin can not speak about all VA'southward , but I am getting assistance. Delight talk to someone!!
I have begged, pleaded and fifty-fifty repeated a humiliating story to be turned down and turned away from compensation lath. I have been waiting three years for a hearing despite having contracted a disease during the assault. I have told my story 18 times. To 18 different counselors. They keep trying to protect me by not describing the incident so the VA claims the trauma is unrelated. I have even gone to 2 Country Senators request for help existence heard. I am offended and sickened that now the VA is willing to listen. You lot want to know why 22 a twenty-four hours take their own life?! Read these experiences!!!
I was sexually assaulted by a fellow Crewman at NTC Orlando, Nuclear Power School in 1989. Within weeks after the assault, my assailant went to school leadership to report he was gay and was discharged from the Navy. Information technology took me xxx years to talk well-nigh the sexual assault, but in 2019, information technology was fourth dimension. I sought assist from my CVSO who got me into counseling through the Vet Center. The biggest insult of this commodity is that the VA believes MST survivors. My CVSO assisted me to file an MST merits. My merits has been denied twice and is now on entreatment to higher authority which could take years. The reason for the denials…the VA and DOD volition not do their due diligence and admit this other sailor ever existed. They have not pulled his record and acknowledged that he was in the Navy, at NTC Orlando during the period of the sexual assail. Without the VA and DOD doing their part required of them by law, my claim continues to be denied because there is only my side of the story, my accusation. I'm told by my CVSO information technology will likely have many years yet earlier my claim gets in front of a judge at the higher authority to hopefully strength the VA and DOD to pull this other sailor'south record. Then much for the VA believing MSTsurvivors….lies…all lies.
I was a DA Civilian working for the Regular army when I was assaulted by an Army officeholder. I got nothing!!! Except PTSD and treated awful!!!! How dare I try to hurt a soldier's career. The armed services didn't pay my dr. bills that were stacking up I tried really hard to keep it together my doctor even put in my records that I am a survivor with MST. I spiraled and had to retire in 2015 from ceremonious service on medical and my annuity stopped 2 years ago because I made to much money. It's a shame all the work I did and support and this is how I got treated but if I were agile duty things would be completely unlike so very very deplorable!!
Because I'm a male, everyone thinks I'grand lying…my counselor is nice, merely bc she would like to dive right into this and set me, and I'm not ready to movement forward with some of the bug I'g still having she has quite returning calls or scheduling appts
I'g sorry, only I concur this is crap. I'g sure some people working at the VA are very skilful and some aren't. I was once told that "I gave xanthous lights" and she "wasn't certain it was a rape" by a MST Coordinator!!! It really wasn't helpful and I haven't been to counseling sessions at that place since.
And this isn't fifty-fifty mentioning the crap the USAF gave me.
The VA believes me is BULL CRAP. I did not study information technology in 1974 then there is no NEXUS now for a PTSD claim so I am on my ain I have lived with it 45+ years on my ain, with compensation, and will continue to ive with on my own. don't say yous care.
EXACTLY……Their analogy is is if yous get stabbed in the back and you did not see it information technology did not happen. Yet, you have a knife in your dorsum and know the person. Back in the day if a homo reported on some other human both would have been kicked out.
I too have been denied my MST disability twice and the entreatment denied my instance because nothing was reported in my military service records even though I seeked treatments after I got out of the military. Like all ya'll said VA doesn't care to notice that when we finally accept the backbone to speak up and take action you are denied because of no records. They need to really rethink their arroyo and why there are no records. Stupid VA if you experienced what we did you would understand there's no help or way out of your trauma, you lot tin't trust your chain of command when some knows what happens and turn their backs like they know zilch. All I take to say VA y'all need to get information technology together how can you advertise MST awareness and you don't even back up and stand by the victims.
I am very sorry to anybody who has faced MST, especially those that have been denied benefits. I know information technology may seem incommunicable but they are ways around information technology as a few have stated. You can use a diary or you tin can go a sworn statement from your family, friends, battle buddies, etc that you disclosed the incident too.
I wish you all the best and trust me I know the pain and suffering that is associated with it. To this day I find it hard to trust people, I notice it difficult to go in public without having extreme anxiety or blackout spells. To this day, I tin can not work around others because of fear that somebody may take advantage of me. It is an ongoing struggle even with care, but I but desire everyone to know please exercise non give upward. Keep fighting, do not allow anybody tell y'all to merely suck information technology upwards.
I am so saddened to read these experiences. I was raped past 2 coworkers onboard transport, several times and was told, equally most of you were, don't say anything, information technology'll ruin your career. So I didn't I spent 18 years hiding it, sucking it upwards, and dealing with the anxiety attacks, suicidal thoughts, and low. This was Desert Storm era.
So I met a wonderful adult female at my local Vet heart.
She was my counselor for ii years. Got me into therapy in the VA, they started me on meds for the depression. I filed a merits, nothing in my service record call up. I had family members write letters saying how I had inverse from before the rapes to after, therapist documentation, and and so I started getting my southward*"*t together. I finalized my claim, and I got together with the DAV coordinator to assistance me continue track of everything. My claim was settled in 2 years. No deprival.
The previous responses saddens me. I was sexually harassed in the military too. I had the psychologist to say I had PTSD. I was told I needed proof because it was non documented in my file. It was not documented for some of the same reasons the previous writers did non accept documentation. Fear of losing your job, dishonorable belch, farther harrassment, or fear. Those are merely a few of the reasons. So what do you do, finish your career early because the harrassment is affecting y'all mentally, emotionally and physically simply they continue with their career. What about us?
The VA could care less about male victims of MST. I have been diagnosed by the VA and two civilians that I have PTSD due to MST and TBI's from my ex CO and they don't do anything to help me with all the bug acquired by it. I am unable to work and have had all sorts of medical and concrete issues over the past 30 years from the constant rapes. But yet zilch is done.
This article author's heart is in the right place but the VA follow-through is defective correct now. I am in treatment at my local VA and my therapist is trying to get me into any of the MST (7-week in-house va ptsd treatment for women) programs but all are on hold due to Covid-nineteen. Do better VA, I have been vaccinated. I need assistance with my Trauma-reactions in order to keep my civilian task. This shit follows us and takes over at the most inconvenient times. My employer has given me a deadline. I am reaching out and asking for more than than i 60 minutes a week of therapy, my Dr says I need more too. I desire to get amend. I desire even more than than my employer wants it!
I completely agree with everything else posted hither… counselors tell yous sht like this happens, the VA keeps denying you intendance, therapy and meds. They would rather lie most you and paint you equally a drug user than treat y'all medically for your problems. The VA has done absolutely zippo! in 20 years for me.
My MST was besides many years ago. The worst event in total view of four military coworkers. When he finally released me I reported the effect to the Gunnery Sgt who was the lookout man supervisor. I was told to get back to piece of work. And so his behavior continued until he transferred out. I still take nightmares, I yet see the polish of the thou-bar he held to my throat, feel his easily on me, his breath on my confront, his threat to treat me the way he did women in Vietnam. Anxiety attacks, fear and the disability to trust anyone. But no 1 believes y'all so put on a good face and bury those feelings down deep. Someone finally helped me arrive to see a VA counselor. I started to feel amend. Of grade the benefits were denied even though I had witnesses. LHI advisor told me that Vietnam vets were her priority and they had to come up offset. Part of that lip service. I had changed jobs and gone to work at the local VA hospital. Fabricated all my counseling appointments, things were looking better. Then it happened again. I was grabbed by a patient, again with witnesses nowadays Every old problem worsened. The counselor said it was a conflict to speak to me almost the job related problem. I tried to piece of work through it for xviii months and went to a dissimilar counselor. It became overwhelming, I surrendered and quit my job. The war machine didn't heed or intendance, the VA didn't mind about either event. They tin can't sugarcoat the fact that nothing has changed.
Information technology took me 12 years of fighting and I had transcripts from an article 32 and Court martial. They tried to say it didnt happen.
Sure,we were told we needed no proof. All you need to do is use and tell your story". Riiiiiiiiigggghhhhhttttt!!!!!!Endeavour to think events that occurred FORTY YEARS Agone. Waaaayyy before it politically right or even considered a trouble. Back then yous told NO ONE, especially if you wanted to have a career. there is only the one bulletin from you that is visible. I practical for a minor service connected inability and was promptly denied, TWICE,
Cheers for your help. Not once again.
June Eldridge, formerly WAC, SFC, U.South. ARMY
100% concur! Back in the 80's and 90's it was swept nether the rug and the victim was blamed. I was told I must have exaggerated the events, I was acting too emotional and should go myself together, questioned as to how much I had been drinking. There was no disciplinary actions taken, was told to suck information technology up, and ultimately I was transferred to a different unit. How on earth is that to be proven now? Nothing was documented dorsum then bc information technology was widely accustomed beliefs.
Did u take a "friend" that knew what u were going through? Did u write a diary? Practise u know who assaulted yous? All it takes is a "travel board", reliable friend or witness. If they reject u. They're substantially calling your witness a liar. Besides, impart to them that since this Military Sexual Assault month, y'all're willing to take a lie detector test in front of Trick NEWS! I'thousand sure most parents would like to know what the possibilities are that their son/daughter'southward chances are of existence assaulted past "friendlies"! What steps they WON'T TAKE to preclude or protect them from the worst expose known EVER! Not to have someone'due south back, when you lot have theirs! Very hard to live with! I fought for 17 1/2 years. Continue fighting!
I decided to get VA counseling for my mental health over a year agone. During the intake I was asked if I ever experienced MST? The question caught me of guard, I wasn't expecting it! When I confided in a counselor an experience that happened to me I too filed an MST claim and of grade I was denied. The deadline to entreatment has gone by and later on reading these other comments I realize at present it'south a agglomeration of bullsht ! Why does the VA fifty-fifty enquire the question if they don't want to hear the truth. I've buried my assault for 40 years – I'll burry it for the rest of my life!
this is a bunch of crap. for those of united states of america who were in before it was "Politically right" to file a MST charge we get no respect or acknowledgement that the harassment or rape actually happened. even if we complained to someone – there was no documentation as we were told "if yous file a claim information technology will be the end of your career not the perpetrator" in addition if you saw a doctor they did not put rape in your records because your records were looked over every fourth dimension you re-enlisted and the merits would not look good on the war machine then you would not exist allowed to re-enlist. so now those of us in the service from the 1940s – 1990s had non sexual harassment or rape – no MST of any kind. because nosotros can't bear witness information technology, even though some of u.s. had to accept abortions (on our own dime on the economic system), hospitalizations and are still traumatized from the experience. now the VA is RAPING us because there is no proof! no don't give me "lip service" about this. the counselor i saw sad substantially to "suck information technology upwards buttercup" there's no proof every bit did the benefits board.
I have been trying to get help for my mst-PTSD for over 30 years, I proceed getting denied considering no one volition listen