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MST — military sexual trauma and VA support

Based on VA MST-related counseling authority at 38 U.S.C. § 1720D; personal-assault PTSD evidence rules at 38 CFR § 3.304(f)(5); VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1) guidance on personal-assault claims. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026

Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.

Primary sources: 38 U.S.C. § 1720D (MST-related counseling and care), 38 CFR § 3.304(f)(5) (personal-assault PTSD evidence), VA MST support (mentalhealth.va.gov), Safe Helpline (DoD Sexual Assault Support)

VA uses the term military sexual trauma (MST)to describe sexual assault or repeated threatening sexual harassment that occurred during a veteran's military service[src]. This page is a navigation guide. It explains what VA provides at no cost, the alternative evidence rules for a service-connection claim, and how to reach support. It is not a clinical page and does not replace a conversation with a counselor or clinician.

MST-related care and MST service-connection claims apply to all veterans. Men and non-binary veterans are eligible on the same terms as women veterans. This page lives under the women veterans hub, but the pathways below are the same regardless of gender.

What VA provides at no cost

Under 38 U.S.C. § 1720D[src], VA provides MST-related counseling and care at no cost to the veteran. A veteran does not need a service-connected rating for MST, does not need to be enrolled in VA healthcare for MST-related care specifically, and does not need to have reported the incident during service. Some eligibility rules extend to veterans with a less-than-honorable discharge characterization; these are handled case by case and are worth asking about directly.

MST Coordinator at every VA medical center. The MST Coordinator is the local point of contact for MST-related care, can explain what is available, and can connect a veteran to a provider.

Vet Centers. Vet Centers are community-based readjustment counseling centers authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1712A[src]. They are separate from VA medical centers, confidential, and by default their records are not part of the VA medical chart. Vet Center counselors may work with veterans on MST-related concerns directly and may help a veteran decide whether and when to engage VA medical-center services.

Lifetime eligibility. MST-related care under § 1720D has no time limit. A veteran may first seek MST-related care decades after service, and eligibility is not reduced by that interval.

Choice of provider where possible.VA policy supports honoring a veteran's preference about provider gender and care setting for MST-related care.

If you want to file a service-connection claim

A service-connection claim is separate from MST-related care. A veteran may use MST-related care at VA without ever filing a claim; a veteran may also file a claim without being in care. The two tracks run in parallel.

For PTSD claims based on in-service personal assault, 38 CFR § 3.304(f)(5)[src] allows VA to consider a broader range of evidence than standard PTSD stressor claims. The rule recognizes that personal-assault incidents are often not formally reported during service, and specifically permits alternative evidence, which may include:

Records from law enforcement authorities, rape crisis centers, mental health counselors, or medical personnel, including from after service.
Statements from family members, roommates, fellow service members, or clergy.
Requests for transfer to another military duty assignment.
Deterioration in work performance, unexplained economic or social behavior changes, or substance-use changes.
Requests for tests for sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy close in time to the claimed incident.
Breakups of primary relationships or episodes of depression, panic attacks, or anxiety without obvious cause documented in the service record.

The veteran is not required to have filed a report during service. VA may also obtain a medical or psychological opinion on whether the behavioral evidence in the record is consistent with a personal-assault stressor. A County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or other accredited representative can help assemble and present this kind of evidence, which differs from what a standard PTSD claim relies on. The general claim process is covered on the how-to-file page.

Conditions other than PTSD that a veteran relates to MST may also be claimed on direct or secondary theories under 38 CFR § 3.310[src], depending on the evidence.

If you're in crisis right now

The Veterans Crisis Line is the right first call in an acute crisis: call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net[src]. The line is free, confidential, and available 24/7. No VA enrollment is required.

The DoD Safe Helpline for sexual assault support: 1-877-995-5247 is confidential and is also available to veterans. The online version is at safehelpline.org[src]. Safe Helpline is separate from the Veterans Crisis Line and may be preferred by veterans who want support framed specifically around sexual assault.

Vet Centers are available for walk-in support during business hours and by appointment outside business hours; the Vet Center Call Center at 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) is staffed 24/7 by combat veterans and family members of combat veterans and can connect a caller to a local Vet Center.

How to access care

There are three common ways in, and a veteran can use any of them.

Walk in at a VA medical center and ask for the MST Coordinator. Every VA medical center has one. The coordinator can take intake directly and arrange care, and may accommodate preferences about provider gender and care setting where staffing allows.

Visit a Vet Center. Vet Centers do not require an appointment for an initial visit, do not require an existing primary-care relationship with VA, and keep records separately from the VA medical chart by default. The Vet Center locator is at VA.gov/find-locations[src].

Call 1-800-827-1000 and ask for the MST Coordinator at your local VA medical center. The national number can route a caller to the coordinator without requiring the caller to navigate the local phone tree. The Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) is an alternative entry point for women veterans.

A veteran is not required to file a police report, to identify the person involved, or to have filed anything during service to receive MST-related care.

Getting help through a CVSO

A County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or other accredited representative is the right partner on the claim side: filing the claim, gathering lay and behavioral evidence under the personal-assault rules, and representing the veteran through the decision. CVSOs are free, are accredited by VA under 38 U.S.C. § 5904[src], and cannot charge for preparing a claim.

Clinical care under § 1720D runs through the VA medical center's MST Coordinator or a Vet Center, not through the CVSO. The two tracks run in parallel, and many veterans work with a CVSO on the claim while receiving support at a Vet Center or VA medical center.

The official accreditation directory is at VA.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation[src].

This page is educational. It does not file claims, determine eligibility, or provide legal advice (38 U.S.C. § 5904). If you need immediate support, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255.

Content reviewed against VA public guidance as of 2026-04-19. For personal decisions, talk with a VA MST Coordinator or Vet Center counselor.