MST - Military Sexual Trauma

174 questions in this forum

1. ptsd Mst Is An Experience. It Is Not A Diagnosis. Your Claim Will Be For Ptsd Most Likely.

   It's important to remember that MST is an experience. It is not a diagnosis or a mental health condition in and of itself. The claim you will file will mostly likely be for PTSD, MST is one of many causes of PTSD that our veterans face. Most likely a claim for PTSD, however it could be claim for Major Depressive Disorder MDD. Don't get yourself to wrapped up in labels while working your claim, 50% for PTSD pays the same as 50% for MDD. Remember the VA will compensate but they won't validate you. This forum was set up because when filing a claim for PTSD because of MST there are several very specific items to these claims as far what can be considered evidence …

   Asked by Tbird, February 9, 2012

   • mst
   1 vote
   23 answers
2. Read Before Posting

   A good site for these claims is http://www.vetwow.com This is a very sensitive issue, triggers abound so be careful. Remember whenever you post something on the internet it is there for everyone to see forever. So be cautious with what you share however if you have a claims question we want to help.

   Asked by Tbird, February 8, 2012

   0 votes
   0 answers
3. Need Help with an unfavorable C&P for PTSD Secondary to MST

   I need some unofficial guidance with my claim for PTSD. I think I have two uphill battles ahead...I just had my C&P and have received the notes from the exam. The doctor has completely discounted that the event happened, much less any secondary markers, attributing my trauma to a childhood incident. His notes contradict themselves on multiple occasions. He states that I denied any history of alcohol abuse, yet states later in the exam that I disclosed that I started abusing alcohol after the incident. He also discounted and falsely reported several facts surrounding my time in the service. He stated I was never in combat, never had foreign service or received an…

   Asked by LightningFan75, August 20, 2019

   0 votes
   31 answers
4. MST vs combat PTSD

   Has anyone filed a lawsuit against the VA per FTCA (federal torts claim act) due to their negligence in processing your MST claim? The ACLU reported that the VA is 16 - 29% more likely to reject a claim of MST vs combat PTSD. The mishandling of my claim for disability has made my condition worse and I want to take action.

   Asked by DIYGirl56, March 30, 2022

   • mst
   • ptsd
   • ftca
   • aclu
   • va negligence
   0 votes
   10 answers
5. Fibromyalgia Secondary to PTSD/MST

   Has anyone received a service connection for fibromyalgia secondary to PTSD/MST?

   Asked by MGarcia1, February 17, 2019

   0 votes
   9 answers
6. I am happy with MH rating despite not mentioning MST. Should I ever claim it?

   I have somewhere in my personal files a contemporaneous "restricted report" of some hazing against me that involved forced sodomy. I never claimed it but I do have ratings for depression and anxiety at the most appropriate percentage. Is there a point in me ever claiming MST? I don't know if this is a Pandora's Box that I want to open. Opinions would be appreciated.

   Asked by mb76, June 30, 2021

   • mental health
   • rating
   • mst
   1 vote
   6 answers
7. Looking for support groups outside the VA

   Hey all, I’m looking for contact info for a women’s support group for ptsd. I believe they may be based in Oregon. One of their members reached out to me, a few years back, when I was dealing with my MST claim, to offer some support, as a fellow MST survivor. I am trying to help a Veteran who seriously needs a women’s combat ptsd support group. She has been given a lot of horrible mistreatment from the VA, mostly because she won’t “shut up and do what they say”. She told me that the chief of the VAMC MH department called the Vet Center she was using, and told them to no longer treat her or return her calls. She’s afraid to go public with this, for fear of retribution…

   Asked by Andyman73, November 19, 2021

   • mst-ptsd
   • ptsd
   0 votes
   1 answer
8. NO EVIDENCE HELP

   I was recently denied for PTSD because I had no evidence for MST. How can I prove or convince them that this did take place.

   Asked by Army Soldier, May 27, 2019

   0 votes
   3 answers
9. Reopened Previously Denied PTSD due to MST claim

   Hi Everyone, I have been silently reviewing this site for quite a while and finally have the confidence to speak out. I was written up and reprimanded for reporting sexual harassment by an officer iwhen I was 18 on active duty. I was verbally reprimanded and written up and punished for two years with no favorable treatment for misrepresenting the conduct of an officer. I hand wrote a 10-page appeal letter to my battalion commander begging him to listen to me and stating I only wanted this lieutenant to leave me alone and stop harassing me. Well, that fell on deaf ears. In that letter at the age of 18, I told him if anything like that ever happened to me again, I…

   Asked by Healingfor777, April 28, 2019

   0 votes
   11 answers
10. PTSD due to MST lowered

    I received my decision letter today stating that they lowered my ptsd rating from 70 to 50. They also dropped anxiety and alcohol use. I'm currently pregnant and that is the only reason why I'm not hurting myself but it's only a matter of time before I fall into old habits. I'm doing my best to follow through on therapy with the VA but I don't think I'm getting the best care and I'm afraid once I give birth, I will lose everything like I have in the past because of my ptsd. I feel like the VA isn't listening to my fears and I will keep wash, rinsing, and repeating myself. I want to appeal but I honestly hate talking about my ptsd every single time. What should I do?

    Asked by paoret82655, April 14, 2021

    • ptsd
    • mst-ptsd
    0 votes
    20 answers
11. No C&P Exam

    Hello, I'm new here but have read through many posts. I posed this question under a different area not knowing there was a specific area for PTSD/MST cases. Anyway I put in several claims for increase & a new one for PTSD due to MST. I've had exams for everything but the PTSD. When I contacted the VA to inquire if I would be scheduled for one. They stated that reviewing chart records & other evidence no exam was needed. Has anyone had a good outcome without a C&P exam for PTSD? I'm currently at 50% for MDD & anxiety. However, recently VA doctors have said it's a misdiagnosis & changed it to PTSD. Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks

    Asked by FacingOdds, July 22, 2021

    • ptsd
    • mst-ptsd
    0 votes
    3 answers
12. MST Coordinator: No longer needed?

    EBenefits has my status as gathering evidence, and under requested documents there's an entry listed as "Request 1" for a "MST Coordinator" with a due date of "Not available" and status of "No Longer Needed." Given that the claim is predicated on the MST, is this a bad sign? Has anyone else seen something similar?

    Asked by CptDT, October 29, 2018

    0 votes
    7 answers
13. PTSD claim accepted. MST deferred. What does this mean

    I submitted a claims for ptsd through the VA due to sexual assault in active duty. I was just informed by my VSO that I was awarded 30% for PTSD and the MST is deferred. What does this mean? Also she explained that I was only awarded 30% due to what boxes the C&P examiner checked. She read me the ones not checked and I know that several of them should have been according to the things we discussed in the exam. I am very new to all of this and it has taken me years to get to a point where I could talk about this enough to even file and no I feel as if my experience has just been minimized.

    Asked by LadyMC, January 22, 2021

    0 votes
    20 answers
14. ptsd Ptsd/mst Denial

    After two long years, I just received a denial and the SOC from the VARO for service connected ptsd due to MST and I am absolutely sick about it. I really need help on where to turn now because I want to continue to fight this, but it seems like no matter what evidence I submit, service connection for PTSD due to MST is almost impossible to achieve. The SOC I received stated that "You have submitted copies of emails, letters, journals entries and documents from the Army indicating evidence of military sexual trauma. Based on all the evidence received, we have conceded that you did suffer from military sexual trauma during your military service. Treatment reports from VAMC…

    Asked by lp56, November 28, 2012

    • mst
    0 votes
    15 answers
15. Sexual assault occurred after military service and high sexual risk behavior due to PTSD

    I'm not sure where to post this because it's not MST but is about sexual trauma and is also a sensitive topic. This article details a study that was conducted on Veterans who have PTSD and also exhibit sexual risk behavior https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684959/ PTSD can result in high risk behavior such as promiscuity. I'm service connected for PTSD and was sexually assaulted after I was discharged from the military. I was service-connected rated for PTSD at 70% in 2012. The sexual assault happened in 2017. I recently filed for a PTSD increase. In my DBQ and nexus letter, my treating physician of 11 years talked about my high risk behavior broadl…

    Asked by DSIG, February 23, 2021

    • ptsd
    0 votes
    38 answers
16. mst .

    .

    Asked by lf1900, January 14, 2021

    • ptsd
    0 votes
    0 answers
17. MST C&P exam contradictory

    I recently had my c&p for mst ptsd. The c&p examiner diagnosed me with ptsd. The stressor was MST. Her opinion on the DQB form was MST. However, she wrote that she couldn't say without speculation if my stressor contributed to my diagnosis. The rater sent the exam back to her for clarification saying that she said on the DBQ that attributed my ptsd diagnosis with the MST but her written opinion said something different. She responded and stated the same thing that she couldn't say without speculating that the stressor caused the ptsd. What do I make of this? 1. Diagnostic Summary Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that …

    Asked by finajones, August 27, 2018

    0 votes
    18 answers
18. MST feeling down and out on this one

    Hey all, First off, love this page it has been extremely helpful! Background: currently at 90% / 70-ptsd, 50-migraines, 10-iritis, 10-tinnitus, and I’m in the running for 100 at the moment. Current day: Was content at 90 but after all these years I have finally come out about my MST when I was in the infantry. Still working stuff out on that end as this is still fresh... Anyway, I submitted a claim for sleep apnea because of the MST. I submitted the following: picture of CPAP machine I use in my house, nexus statement from issuing doctor, Nexus statement from other doctor stating the sleep apnea is due to trauma from MST, copy of sleep study confirm…

    Asked by Ztmiller8, June 17, 2020

    • sleep apnea
    • sleep apnia
    • mst
    • mst claim
    • sleep impairment
    • c&p
    0 votes
    4 answers
19. Dealing with toxic person

    So I been rated 100% P&T for over 2 years now. How do I deal with someone that is claiming nothing happened to me in the Army and that I am mooching off the government? Due to having a child with this person I can't totally ignore them.

    Asked by 11cvolley, March 4, 2020

    0 votes
    5 answers
20. Filed for FSAD 2* MST approved

    Hey! I filed for FSAD. My C & P was performed by a female & she was very professional & kind. I have no complaints. No internal exam as this happened years ago. Did have to answer a lot of past & current sex questions. Took about 6 weeks before I got the letter that it was SC.

    Asked by Old Ratt Rigger, January 29, 2020

    0 votes
    1 answer
21. PTSD For MST Claim Finally Approved

    I haven't gotten the letters in the mail yet, but va.gov shows the claim complete; and the "download your letters" shows me at 40% SC now. (I was only at 10 before). I am glad it's finally over at least for now. Such a stressful process that dug up so many things I didn't want to think about. I feel they came in right where I should be. My private doc had filled out the DBQ before we submitted for the C&P. She specializes in Sexual Trama cases, and I really like her. She and I both felt like 30% is where I fit in the criteria. I'm glad the VA agreed with her assessment. I am grateful to everyone on this site for all of the advice and guidance in the process. …

    Asked by flow1972, December 17, 2019

    0 votes
    4 answers
22. C And P Exam On 8 July 2015

    I have been reading some of these blogs on MST and PTSD. I have a C & P exam on 8 July 2015. I have read some that are helpful and I am just a little nervous about this process. For one I am a Male and I disclosed it last year in July 2014. It was the hardest thing I have ever told anyone and was not completely comfortable telling my therapist either, but I had to do something because my mental state was deteriorating fast. I actually pushed the whole incedent out of my mind for along time telling myself it was no big deal. I could not tell anyone because I am a Guy this does not happen to men, so i silently suffered since 1995. I now have an exam. I have been diagnos…

    Asked by Jaydog, June 19, 2015

    • mst
    • ptsd
    0 votes
    67 answers
23. C&P Was Today For My PTSD Due To MST Claim

    It was a long day...literally 3 hours in that room. I'd been dreading it since I began this process. They honored my request for a female examiner. So, that was good. The questions she asked started with my childhood family life and moved forward from there. Basically, yes my parents were divorced...childhood sucked...no, I was never sexually abused...yes, my Father was married to someone who was physically abusive toward him and everyone in the house for a short period of time. No school problems, never in trouble, had a core group of friends, blah blah...Honor Graduate in Basic..moving on.... She asked if I dated in High School (uh, yeah...)..I wasn't "popula…

    Asked by flow1972, November 19, 2019

    1 vote
    0 answers
24. PTSD for MST Do I have to give access to private med records?

    My claim is currently in Evidence Gathering. My MST Coordinator has a DBQ that my VSO sent me to have my Dr (Private/Non VA) fill out. It was filed with my claim. She also has the AF OSI Report concerning the incident in question. Two things: 1. The FOIA Request I did to retrieve the AF OSI Report gave me the report summary and my hand-written statement of account. The report summary discusses all statements, but they are redacted in my copy. The report status shows Closed. Recommended for action. The MST Coordinator said she had the report but it didn't show what action was taken. I told her that I was never "sent" anything explaining the action taken. Al…

    Asked by flow1972, October 25, 2019

    0 votes
    5 answers
25. Started My MST/PTSD Journey

    I met with a VSO on Feb 8th 2019 and started my MST/PTSD claim. To be totally honest I am scared to death. The incidents happened during my Navy duty 88-89. I had hid it from everyone including my wife until this past December. I had went to a VSO to talk about other claims when it slipped out and I was offered help to form a claim. We filed an intent to claim in Dec 2018. She suggested I talk with my wife and make an appointment with my doctor. After sitting and having a very emotional talk with my wife and with her support I made an appointment with my personal doctor. I am very lucky to have a great doctor who sat with me and after many tears I was able to explain in…

    Asked by pyrotaz, February 22, 2019

    • mst
    • ptsd
    0 votes
    25 answers