Expands VA counseling and treatment eligibility for military sexual trauma to former reserve members, creates a new VA process for evaluating disability claims tied to that trauma, and requires VA to send affected veterans information on support services.

• Extends VA counseling and treatment eligibility for military sexual trauma to all former members of the reserve components of the armed forces, and replaces the narrower definition of the trauma with one covering sexual assault, battery, and sexual harassment on duty.
• Adds a new section 1166A to title 38 that lists evidence VA must consider for mental health disability claims based on military sexual trauma, including nonmilitary sources and behavior changes, and bars denial without first advising the veteran of that evidence and allowing them to submit it.
• Requires VA to include contact information for military sexual trauma coordinators, the Veterans Crisis Line, and nearby VA facilities and Vet Centers in certain written communications, and to send a similar notice within 14 days of a related disability claim.
• Requires VA to study claims training and accuracy review procedures, conduct an annual special focus review of military sexual trauma claims that ends once accuracy reaches 95 percent for five straight years, and lets veterans request VA medical examinations at VA facilities instead of contractor locations.

• Veterans' Affairs Committee (Senate)

Armed Forces and National Security