Send us your contact information and what you need through our secure Request Assistance form and a VAC team member will follow up. Please do not enter your Social Security number online — we collect that in person.
You are not alone
You are believed. If you experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment during your military service, you may be eligible for VA care and benefits — and we will help you, with discretion and respect.
Your privacy comes first
You do not have to share more than you are comfortable sharing. Conversations with our accredited Veterans Service Officers are handled sensitively and discreetly. You may bring a support person, and you may ask to work with whichever staff member you feel most comfortable with. You do not need to have reported the experience at the time it happened to qualify for help now.
What MST Is
MST refers to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred during military service. It can affect anyone, of any gender, branch, or era of service. Related conditions — such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety — may be connected to MST and may be eligible for VA disability compensation and free VA health care.
Filing a Claim — The Evidence Rules Are Different
The VA recognizes that these experiences are often not reported through official channels. For MST-related claims, the VA accepts a broader range of "markers" as evidence — such as changes in behavior, performance, or health after the event, or statements from people you confided in. A formal police or command report is not required.
We help you identify and gather those markers, develop your statement at your own pace, and file the claim with you.
Authority: 38 CFR § 3.304(f) and VA MST policy guidance.
Free VA Care for MST
VA MST-Related Care Is Free
Every VA medical center has a designated MST Coordinator, and you do not need a service-connected disability rating or to have filed a claim to receive MST-related treatment.
Vet Centers
Free, confidential counseling for Veterans and service members, including for MST.
Find a Vet Center ↗VA Mental Health & MST
Information, treatment options, and how to connect to care.
VA MST & mental health ↗If You Need to Talk to Someone Now
Veterans Crisis Line
Free and confidential, 24/7. Dial 988 then Press 1, text 838255, or chat online.
DoD Safe Helpline
Confidential support for the DoD community affected by sexual assault: (877) 995-5247.
When You're Ready, We're Here.
There is no pressure and no timeline. Reach out whenever you're ready, and we'll take it at your pace — privately and respectfully.