ptsd Sexual Harassment

[waynes]

my wife has 2 statements on record from her captain verifying sexual harassment from fellow soldiers given to her physician when she was hospitalized for suisidal ideation. can she add this to her existing ptsd claim for military sexual traum or does she open a new claim? would these two statements in her military medical records be enough information or does she need something more? are there any websites that refer to this subject? thanks, wayne

[Pete53]

She should submit that as part of her current claim.

[waynes]

In what way should she introduce this to her claim, she's in the process of filing to reopen her original claim which was denied, for lack of evidence.

[mountain tyme]

Hello waynes: I hope the following information will be of help...

"Military sexual trauma includes rape, sexual assault, or persistent sexual

Harassment that was "threatening in nature," according to the Department of

Veterans Affairs."

also....

In the VA site it states:

" What is Military Sexual Trauma?

Military sexual trauma refers to both sexual harassment and sexual assault that

occurs in military settings. Both men and women can experience military sexual

trauma and the perpetrator can be of the same or of the opposite gender. A

general definition of sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct

of a sexual nature that occurs in the workplace or an academic or training

setting. Sexual harassment includes gender harassment (e.g., put you down

because of your gender), unwanted sexual attention (e.g., made offensive remarks

about your sexual activities or your body) and sexual coercion (e.g., implied

special treatment if you were sexually cooperative). Sexual assault is any sort

of sexual activity between at least two people in which one of the people is

involved against his or her will. Physical force may or may not be used. The

sexual activity involved can include many different experiences including

unwanted touching, grabbing, oral sex, anal sex, sexual penetration with an

object, and/or sexual intercourse.

Furthermore.... There Unique Aspects of Sexual Trauma Associated with Military Service because Sexual trauma that is associated with military service most often occurs in a

setting where the victim lives and works. In most cases, this means that victims

must continue to live and work closely with their perpetrators, often leading to

an increased sense of feeling helpless, powerless, and at risk for additional

victimization. In addition, sexual victimization that occurs in this setting

often means that victims are relying on their perpetrators (or associates of the

perpetrator) to provide for basic needs including medical and psychological

care. Similarly, because military sexual trauma occurs within the workplace,

this form of victimization disrupts the career goals of many of its victims.

Perpetrators are frequently peers or supervisors responsible for making

decisions about work-related evaluations and promotions. In addition, victims

are often forced to choose between continuing military careers during which they

are forced to have frequent contact with their perpetrators or sacrificing their

career goals in order to protect themselves from future victimization.

Accordingly, many victims are reluctant to report sexual trauma and many

victims say that there were no available methods for reporting their experiences

to those in authority. Many indicate that if they did report the harassment

they were not believed or encouraged to keep silent about the experience. They

may have had their reports ignored, or even worse, have been themselves blamed

for the experience. Having this type of invalidating experience following a

sexual trauma is likely to have a significant negative impact on the victim’s

post-trauma adjustment.

What Type of Psychological Responses are Associated with Military Sexual Trauma Victimization?

Given the range of sexual victimization experiences that veterans report

(ranging from inappropriate sexual jokes or flirtation, to pressure for sexual

favors, to completed forcible rape) there are a wide range of emotional

reactions reported by veterans in response to these events. Even in the

aftermath of severe forms of victimization, there is no one way that victims

will respond. Instead, the intensity, duration, and trajectory of psychological

responses will all vary based on factors like the veterans’ previous trauma

history, their appraisal of the traumatic event, and the quality of their

support systems following the trauma. In addition, the victim’s gender may play

a role in the intensity of the post-trauma reactions. While the types of

psychological reactions experienced by men and women are often similar, the

experience of sexual victimization may be even more stigmatizing for men than it

is for women because these victimization experiences fall so far outside of the

proscribed male gender role. Accordingly, men may experience more severe

symptomatology than women, may be more likely to feel shame about their

victimization, and may be less likely to seek professional help.

Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation for Sexual or Personal Trauma

A number of women and men suffered sexual or other personal trauma while serving

on active military duty. These veterans may still struggle with fear, anxiety,

embarrassment, or profound anger as a result of these experiences. We cannot

undo the past; however, if a veteran suffers from the effects of trauma in

military service, VA may be able to help them.

How Does VA Define Sexual or Personal Trauma?

Sexual or personal trauma are events of human design that threaten or inflict

harm. Trauma is defined as any lingering physical, emotional, or psychological

symptoms. Examples of trauma are:

Rape,

Physical assault,

Domestic battering, and

Stalking

Can You Receive Compensation for Your Disabilities?

Disability compensation is a monthly payment to a veteran disabled by an injury

or a disease incurred or aggravated on active service. You must have been

discharged under other than dishonorable conditions to be eligible, and must

currently suffer from disabling symptoms to receive compensation. A common

disability resulting from a sexual or personal trauma is Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Sexual or Personal Trauma

PTSD is a recurrent emotional reaction to a terrifying, uncontrollable, or

life-threatening event. The symptoms may develop immediately after the event or

may be delayed for years. They include:

Sleep disturbances and nightmares,

Emotional instability,

Feelings of fear and anxiety,

Impaired concentration,

Flash-backs, and

Problems in intimate and other interpersonal relations.

Also according to Wikipedia, encyclopedia

Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Military sexual trauma is rape or any sexual assault, unsolicited sexual harassment, stalking and/or other violent acts experienced by a member of the military. Both females and males have been raped or sexually assaulted, harassed and stalked in the military during peacetime and during war. The Veterans Administration offers free counseling for MST. You may qualify for Veterans Compensation benefits. Click this link for the main Veterans Administration page, http://www1.va.gov or call VA Health Care Benefits: 877-222-8387.

Many traumatized individuals have developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of personal trauma in the military. Men and women with PTSD may not realize that sexual trauma from years and years ago could effect their lives, careers and relationships. For males, the stigma of having been raped may be great due to social standards. Some veterans have never discussed what happened to them while serving in the military. Mental health counseling at Veterans Administration Hospitals is available for any peacetime or wartime veteran who seeks care for personal/sexual trauma.

If you wife has any buddy statements that would be a great help too...

MT

[waynes]

Thanks MT for the Book!

I guess what I was asking, since my wife has already got a claim filed for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (and denied) should she do another claim mainly for MST or just add a note in her original file about the harassment with proof.

[carlie]

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/Cova/DADS/99dads/Patton.doc

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?act=...=post&id=30

http://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-...e/sexual-trauma

http://www.va.gov/vetapp04/Files/0406966.txt

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Milsvc/Docs/Trauma.doc

Hope these help some,

carlie

[mountain tyme]

Thanks MT for the Book!

I guess what I was asking, since my wife has already got a claim filed for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (and denied) should she do another claim mainly for MST or just add a note in her original file about the harassment with proof.

Waynes wrote: my wife has 2 statements on record from her captain verifying sexual harassment from fellow soldiers given to her physician when she was hospitalized for suisidal ideation. can she add this to her existing ptsd claim for military sexual traum or does she open a new claim?

Since you have already filed a claim for PTSD due to MST and it was denied...has the time of filing a NOD gone by? If it has I would think you could re-open the claim with new evidence with the 2 statements...this way when your wife is given an award it would go back to the date on the first claim. If the claim for PTSD is still an on going claim YES MAKE sure those statements are sent in (copies of course never send the originals) as evidence that an In-service stressor took place! The thing is about MST is even though the incidents occured the VA requires proof that it did...in form of Medical records, buddy statements, incidents reports made at time of service...letters to friends and family that were written during that time in service both to someone and from someone indicating the incident...the VA wants some type of proof outside of the serviceman account...You are very lucky to have those two statements...and those statements will be proof that an inservice stessor occured...which should be (should be is the majic word) enough to hold up your claim. If the diagnois of PTSD and if the doctor (IMO) connected your wifes current condition to the MST that occured inservice I think you have a winning case...Another important part of MST is the stressor letter...and that will be the hardest letter to write...in that letter it should have as much detail on what happened at the time, and how the events back then effect your life today...and when I say life I mean how did those events effect how you interact with other people close to you...after the tramua did you find yourself distancing yourself from those you love...did you find yourself losing intrest in things that once brought you pleasure....did you find yourself avoiding people and places that are associated with your time in the military...it is very important that how it changed your life then and now is brought out...This is where statements from your family, friends and buddies that knew you during your time inservice will come into play...I know this is a hard road to go...but when you went into the Miliarty there was nothing wrong with you...Uncle Sam welcomed you with open arms...You were not broke physical, physcological, or emotionaly...So as the sign say's in the store....You broke it you brought it...if you can not fix what was broke then for goodness sake compenstate and give this Hero some piece of mind!.

MT