Improving Disability Evaluations for Veterans Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine;Center for Health, People, and Places;Health Care and Public Health Program Area;Committee on the Assessment of Department of Veterans Affairs Physical and Mental Health Examinations and The Depart

Military sexual trauma can have immediate and lasting effects on veterans mental and physical health, yet many veterans seeking disability compensation for related conditions continue to encounter challenges. Veterans have reported high burdens associated with proving their claims, inconsistent examination experiences, processing delays, and interactions that can reignite trauma. This report assesses the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s tools and protocols for disability examinations related to military sexual trauma, along with the training and credentials of the clinicians who perform them.

Improving Disability Evaluations for Veterans Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma reviews the compensation and pension examination process for related claims, identifies shortcomings in examiner training, quality assurance mechanisms, examination settings, and rating tools, and offers recommendations to improve accuracy, consistency, fairness, and veterans' experiences throughout the process.