Military Sexual Trauma VBA Claims Clinic

Representatives from VBA’s Pittsburgh Regional Office will assist Veterans impacted by military sexual trauma (MST) with filing disability compensation claims. To respect each Veteran’s privacy, all interviews will be conducted on a one-to-one basis with a VBA representative.

MST refers to sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service. MST includes any sexual activity during military service in which you are involved against your will or when unable to say no. Examples include:

• Being pressured or coerced into sexual activities, such as with threats of negative treatment if you refuse to cooperate or with promises of better treatment
• Sexual contact or activities without your consent, including when you were asleep or intoxicated
• Being overpowered or physically forced to have sex
• Being touched or grabbed in a sexual way that made you uncomfortable, including during “hazing” experiences
• Comments about your body or sexual activities that you found threatening

Unwanted sexual advances that you found threatening