DeLauro, Pingree, Tsongas Ask President Obama to Treat PTSD Caused by Military Sexual Trauma Equally With Other Claims

WASHINGTON, DC--Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Niki Tsongas (D-MA), joined by 43 other members of Congress, today called on President Obama to ensure Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) claims caused by Military Sexual Trauma (MST) are treated equally to PTSD claims coming from other sources. A rulemaking petition was submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in June 2013 that would establish such parity, but it was denied by then-Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Current VA rules require MST survivors to provide additional evidence to support their claims, but the decision as to whether to accept that evidence is left up to the claims officer. This results in inaccurate, inconsistent, and often delayed processing. Data indicates that MST claims are rejected more often than other PTSD claims and rates of approval vary greatly by region.

“Sexual violence is a widespread problem in the military and although the Pentagon has taken steps to improve prevention and response, the pain and suffering of those who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) continues well beyond their period of service, and the responsibility to provide care for these individuals shifts from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veteran Affairs,” the representatives wrote to President Barack Obama. “Secretary McDonald has acknowledged that the VA must provide comprehensive care for veterans dealing with MST and we applaud the recent expansion of physical and mental health services for MST survivors. But the VA is more than a hospital network. It also provides disability benefits for veterans. Comprehensive care must include ensuring that MST related disability claims are processed accurately and consistently. The current regulations do not accomplish that.”

The policy change is supported by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Service Women's Action Network.

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

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