MST survivors face a separate set of intake pathways at the VA, with confidentiality protections distinct from the general claims process. A directory of what is available, what is reportable, and how the two tracks differ.
Military sexual trauma is a VA term covering sexual assault and threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service. The category is administrative rather than diagnostic — it triggers a specific set of VA care pathways and a specific evidentiary standard for related compensation claims. Survivors of any era, any branch, any discharge characterization are eligible for the MST care track.
Free MST-related care is available at every VA medical center and many community-based outpatient clinics. The care covers physical, mental health, and pharmacy services related to the trauma. Enrollment in the broader VA health system is not required for MST-related care. A veteran can receive MST services even if they do not qualify for general VA health care due to discharge characterization or income. The co-payment is waived.
Each VA medical center has an MST coordinator. The coordinator is the entry point. They know which clinicians have MST-specific training, can arrange same-gender providers if requested, and can route survivors to inpatient programs if outpatient care is not sufficient. The coordinator's contact information is listed on the VA medical center's public site. The coordinator role exists separately from the general behavioral health intake, which means a survivor who is uncomfortable explaining the situation to a generalist can ask for the coordinator directly.
Confidentiality. VA medical records are not automatically shared with the Department of Defense or law enforcement. Treatment for MST does not require disclosure of the perpetrator's identity. Reporting to military authorities is a separate decision the survivor makes — restricted reports to a SARC remain confidential while preserving evidence; unrestricted reports trigger investigation. The VA care track does not require either kind of report.
Compensation claims for MST-related conditions follow a modified evidentiary standard. The Veterans Benefits Administration recognizes that MST is often unreported at the time and that personnel records may not document the event. Markers — collateral evidence of behavioral changes, requests for transfer, performance changes, statements from family or fellow service members — can substitute for direct documentation of the trauma. The rater's job is to weigh markers in the aggregate against the standard for service connection.
Conditions that are commonly service-connected from MST include PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and certain physical injuries. The rating itself is based on the current severity of the diagnosed condition, not the details of the trauma. A C&P exam for an MST claim is conducted by a clinician with specific training in this area and can be requested with a same-gender examiner.
Outside the VA. The DoD Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247 is anonymous, confidential, and available twenty-four hours. It is staffed by trained crisis workers and offers both telephone and online chat. The line serves active-duty service members, veterans, and their family members. For veterans who prefer not to enter the VA system, RAINN's national sexual assault hotline at 800-656-4673 routes to local rape crisis centers across the country.
Practical notes for engaging the system. Make a private intake call before the first appointment if possible — most MST coordinators will take a phone call to answer questions without committing to an appointment. Bring a written timeline of the relevant events to the first session even if you do not share it; the act of writing it organizes the memory and makes it easier to answer questions during the evaluation. If a clinician is not a good fit, request another. The system supports it and survivors are not obligated to continue with a provider who is not working out.