This bill makes many changes so the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can better help people who experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It would require a report about MST in the digital age. It sets a clear statutory definition of MST for compensation claims and explains what evidence can support such claims, including nonmilitary records and changes in behavior. Claims related to MST must be handled by specialized teams, and veterans may ask for their required medical exam to be done at a VA facility rather than by a contractor. The bill requires written notices about claims and decisions to include contact information for VA MST coordinators, the Veterans Crisis Line, nearby VA facilities, and Vet Centers. It directs outreach to veterans whose MST claims were denied. The bill orders studies and annual special reviews of training and claims processing quality and requires reprocessing of claims if errors are found. It creates workgroups to review correspondence and medical exams to reduce re‑traumatization and overdevelopment of claims. The bill expands eligibility for VA counseling and treatment to include all former members of the reserve components and requires that individuals who leave or do not complete service at service academies be given information and the option to receive relevant records about MST.
No publicly available information on costs or funding is included in the bill text or metadata provided.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.