This month Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Undersecretary Willie Clark told Congress that one in five military sexual trauma claims were wrongfully denied or improperly handled by the Department of Veterans Affairs over the last two years.
According to an article published by Radio.com, “In September 2019, VBA completed a review of about 9,700 previously-denied MST claims from Oct. 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. Of the 9,700 the agency reviewed, about 1,900 “required additional development” so they were initially wrongly denied or improperly handled, VBA Undersecretary for Field Operations Willie Clark told Congress. That amounts to about one in every five MST claims during that period being wrongly denied or handled incorrectly.”
Clark continued by saying more than 2 thousand cases still being worked since September 2019 and about 900 claims were sustained or remained denied. According to reports, around one in four women veterans experience sexual harassment or assault at VA facilities. Overall, female veterans are seven times more likely to experience military sexual trauma than men.
Relevant pages: Veterans Disability