MST VA Rating: How the VA Rates Military Sexual Trauma

If you experienced military sexual trauma (MST) during your time in service, you may be entitled to VA disability compensation for mental health conditions linked to that trauma—most commonly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Although the VA doesn’t assign a separate MST VA rating for MST itself, you can still receive a VA rating for PTSD caused by MST based on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.

This guide explains how the VA rates PTSD related to MST, the evidence needed to prove your claim, and what each MST PTSD VA rating percentage (0%–100%) means for your benefits.

Summary of Key Points

• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is not rated directly, but veterans can receive compensation for PTSD or other mental health conditions caused by MST.

• An MST VA rating ranges from 0% to 100%, depending on symptom severity and how your condition impacts work, relationships, and daily functioning.

• Buddy statements, nexus letters, and markers of trauma (like behavioral changes or requests for transfer) can strengthen your MST PTSD claim when official documentation is limited.

MST VA Rating Criteria

While military sexual trauma isn’t a ratable mental health condition, you can receive VA disability benefits for mental health conditions related to MST. For example, many veterans who experience MST develop mental health conditions, including Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, and PTSD. 

Even though there is no specific MST VA rating for military sexual trauma, you can still qualify for VA benefits and compensation. 

Before being granted an MST VA Rating, you must prove a service connection, determining whether your mental health condition should be service-connected. 

You can visit your local VA medical center for assistance in your diagnosis or speak with your primary care physician about your symptoms related to MST. 

To prove your service connection, you must provide the following:  

• A current diagnosis; AND 
• An in-service event, disease, or injury; AND 
• Medical nexus from a physician that links your diagnosis and an in-service event (can be a Nexus Letter)

PRO TIP: It’s also helpful to write a personal statement or obtain buddy statements from close family or friends who have witnessed the effect of your mental health condition. 

MST VA Ratings

The VA rates PTSD due to MST at 100%, 70%, 50%, 30%, 10%, or 0%, depending on the severity of your symptoms.

100% Rating

Total occupational and social impairment due to such symptoms as gross impairment in thought processes or communication, including:

• Persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; 
• Persistent danger of hurting self or others; 
• Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); 
• Disorientation to time or place; 
• Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.         

70% Rating

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: 

• Suicidal ideation
• Obsessional rituals that interfere with routine activities
• Speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant
• Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively
• Impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence);
• Spatial disorientation
• Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene
• Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting)
• Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships

50% Rating

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, such as:

• Flattened affect 
• Circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech
• Panic attacks more than once a week 
• Difficulty in understanding complex commands 
• Impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks) 
• Impaired judgment 
• Impaired abstract thinking disturbances of motivation and mood 
• Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

30% Rating

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal) due to such symptoms as:

• Depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, and recent events).          

10% Rating

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.     

0% Rating

A mental health condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning or require continuous medication.   

PTSD MST VA Claims Process

For VA disability purposes, MST VA claims are incredibly personal and sensitive and frequently lack sufficient evidence to prove that the in-service stressor event occurred.

In compliance with 38 CFR 3.159(c)(4), an examination for MST PTSD will always be needed when a thorough review shows:

• A current medical diagnosis of PTSD or the veteran’s lay statements, aka, Buddy Letter for PTSD, describing PTSD symptoms (VA Claims Insider recommends at least one Buddy Letter to support your MST PTSD VA claim).
• Credible supporting evidence of the personal trauma incident or evidence of a marker in the in-service or post-service records
• An indication that the PTSD symptoms may be associated with the claimed MST stressor (established by applying a low threshold and liberal approach satisfied by virtue of a current diagnosis or symptoms and the presence of a marker) and
• Medical evidence adequate for rating purposes still needs to be added to the record.  

Related Guides

Military Sexual Trauma (MST): Ultimate Guide

MST C&P Exam [Your Essential Guide]

Conclusion

While Military Sexual Trauma (MST) isn’t a stand-alone VA disability, the emotional and psychological impact it causes is very real—and compensable.

If you’re living with PTSD or another mental health condition linked to MST, the VA’s PTSD MST rating system can provide life-changing compensation and support. The key is to present credible evidence, a strong medical nexus, and clear documentation of how your condition affects your daily life.

At VA Claims Insider, we help veterans like you take back control of the claims process. Whether you were denied, underrated, or just starting your claim, our expert team can support and educate you through every step.

NEED MORE ASSISTANCE?

Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and, therefore, not getting their due compensation. At VA Claims Insider, we help you understand and take control of the claims process.

If you’ve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low rating—or you’re unsure how to get started—reach out to us! Take advantage of a VA Claim Discovery Call. Learn what you’ve been missing—so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you deserve!

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

Content Reviewed By

 

Quality Assurance Team

The Quality Assurance (QA) team at VA Claims Insider has extensive experience researching, fact-checking, and ensuring accuracy in all produced content. The QA team consists of individuals with specialized knowledge in the VA disability claims adjudication processes, laws and regulations, and they understand the needs of our target audience. Any changes or suggestions the QA team makes are thoroughly reviewed and incorporated into the content by our writers and creators.

About the Author

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Brian Reese

Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.

A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.