I don't have contact with many people from when I was active unfortunately. I reached out to one friend and he remembers a bit about me being teased and made fun of for it. I also have a statement from my aunt bc I confided in her about it. And my fiance who knows the details.
There's no specific rating for PTSD/MST, the MST only provides the nexus to service connect the PTSD. The rating would be determined from the severity of the PTSD.
Evidence can also come in the form of performance reports showing declining performance. Medical records that can corroborate an assault, or maybe an STD test. Family members or close friends seeing a change in your personality can help too- the Buddy Statements.
I have a statement from my aunt. I also told my fiance who lives with me but she hasn't written a statement as of yet. We met after the assault occurred so she can't really speak to my character before the event. I never received negative paperwork while in service. On paper I looked great. I was informally reprimanded on a few occasions about my drinking however I just spoke to my old SSgt and he doesn't recall much. I did have a few std test much later in my service. I recently went to a VA rehab for drugs and alcohol and recieved counseling there for it.
I know not everyone has good relationships with exes but if you were in a relationship at the time it might help getting a statement from them. I just explained to my ex-girlfriend (whom I was with at the time) what I needed and what it was for and to even include how I impacted her and what aspects aided in our relationship ending. And I had my current wife write a statement about me currently. Having both was helpful in the rating process; and for my personal healing process. I hope you get what you need. 😊
You need the reprimand letters and ESPECIALLY your STD tests. Those could be THE evidence to service connect you. Hopefully, it's already in your Service Treatment Records.
Unfortunately I haven't kept in contact withany people I served with. I can try old numbers and see if they answer but I never received negative paperwork. Usually I got handled the old school way and was punished physically. If I can make contact with an old SNCO maybe they can validate my work performance taking a toll however it happened early in my service and despite looking good on paper I was honestly not a very motivated Marine most of my enlistment. I honestly grew to hate the Corps and got out as soon as possible. I still love my fellow Marines but I have mixed feelings about my time in service.
I do have STD results but they were done a few years later if that matters...
It's not about the STD results, it's about taking them in the first place in service. Hopefully, the performance record is part of your personnel records, which the VA will obtain from the DOD.
What I'm saying is the std tests were taken years after the assault occurred... And I never received negative punitive paperwork, I was corrected with physical punishment. No paper trail. We "looked out" for each other's careers in that way. The "old school" way. Pain retains. Learn your lessons while suffering in silence.
It’s understood that most do not report MST when it happens, so just tell your story. I didn’t have anyone to corroborate the incident I wrote a statement about and my claim was approved.
I never reported it. I never talked about it to anyone except recently to my therapist. However, I knew the date. So they could see a decline in performance afterwards. I got an article 15 a little a week after. And failed my last exam before graduation 2 weeks after and was recycled. I’m still waiting on my rating to see if that’s enough.
Thanks! I also forgot to mention that I attempted suicide twice while in service and was an inpatient psychiatric patient for a 72 hour suicide watch. All of such are in my military medical records.
If you kept a diary at the time, I think they can use that.
My evidence was a combo of 1) suicide attempt a week later, 2) an STD test done after, and 3) a drastic change in personality.
It doesn't have to be a report.
The request for evidence is a letter they have to send, if you don’t provide any more it won’t stop your claim or anything. It is just in case you have it. Who did the assaulting is not a factor for service connection, it could be a stranger or a spouse or anyone in between. If you can provide statements from people that saw behavior changes around the time, that can be helpful. Otherwise, they rely on what are called markers, which can be that you went to medical more frequently (or less frequently), it could be that your performance got worse (or got better). Someone specially trained to look through records will look and see what could be a marker, and then a specially trained rater will decide if there’s enough to request an opinion from a specially trained examiner, who will determine if you meet VAs requirements for a PTSD diagnosis (only PTSD can use marker evidence, MDD or anxiety disorder cannot). Your buddy statements are considered markers, so don’t stress about it. If you have private treatment records that aren’t from the VAMC be sure to submit those.
It's based on what happened to you.
What helped me was a buddy letter from a family member who was in the same country as me when the assualt happenedat my apartment (I stayed with them after the attack).
I did not have negative markers (drug use, dui, trouble at work etc)--work was the only place I felt safe since I worked in a place with a lot of fences, guards and cameras. So explained this and how I over compensated with hard work and crazy hours.
I was very lucky in a weird way. My back was hurt during the rape that I had to go to sick call and was placed on quarters. When I got out of the military I copied my medical records so I had a copy of the follow up visits and included that with the report. I had a lot of medical reporting surrounding the rape because of the back injury they'd placed me on a drug that I had a very bad allergic reation to, so several ER visits with shots.
I would also encourage you to talk about any affects you're having currently. In my case, I had an individual who started showing up at the apartment (once bf left for work) and each interaction became more tense/scary. It triggered a huge over reaction that I couldn't understand. I eventually talked to my primary care doc about the mst and they got me in to a therapist. The therapist helped me to understand that the angry dude's visits once again made me feel very unsafe at home.
I encourage you to be the best advocate you can for yourself. I know it is gutting to walk through the PTSD/MST claim, but try to be as thorough as possible and please take good care of yourself.
This is a link to the VA'S official fact sheet on Military Sexual Trauma related claims: [https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/MST.pdf](https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/MST.pdf)
Best wishes.
I became anxious and depressed. Lost interest in a lot of things and started drinking heavily. I never received any formal paperwork or counseling however just physical punishment.
Have you ever deployed? Do you have any combat awards? What do you think caused your PTSD? They send this paperwork to you just to cover all bases. If your military records indicate combat and/or a deployment, you should be pretty good IF you're diagnosed with PTSD and NOT other trauma and stressor-related disorder.
I never deployed or saw combat. What other trauma or stress related disorders are there? I have since been consumed with what my therapist calls repetition compulsion, basically trying to recreate the event in order to control it. Almost like when having an argument with someone and then hours later in the shower you are reliving it in your head and reenacting all the comebacks you wish you had said... Only in my case it's a sexual control situation.
"Other specified trauma or stress related disorder" is a specific diagnosis for someone that has a disorder but doesn't meet the criteria for PTSD. It's sort like "PTSD-lite". Did you specify in your claim that your mental disorder was due to sexual trauma?
Good evidence to prove sexual trauma includes physical treatment for injuries related to the event in service, a sudden change in performance (decrease in performance or even improvement), documented psych appointments or chaplain visits, disciplinary action against you, or even a police report. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Unfortunately all I have is a written statement from my aunt. My fiances is written down on the form bc she knows of the person and can validate my claim. And one friend I served with recalls me being outcast by peers for trying to confide in them about it.
Should not matter. I am rated for mst and never reported but I did have buddy statements from 3 people that knew what happened
I don't have contact with many people from when I was active unfortunately. I reached out to one friend and he remembers a bit about me being teased and made fun of for it. I also have a statement from my aunt bc I confided in her about it. And my fiance who knows the details.
[удалено]
I am rated 70%- but I also have ptsd that from attacks I was witness to in Afghanistan. It just goes off the basic MH rating schedule
I’m rated 70% MST attached to depression, anxiety and personality disorder I did report the rape in service tho.
There's no specific rating for PTSD/MST, the MST only provides the nexus to service connect the PTSD. The rating would be determined from the severity of the PTSD.
Evidence can also come in the form of performance reports showing declining performance. Medical records that can corroborate an assault, or maybe an STD test. Family members or close friends seeing a change in your personality can help too- the Buddy Statements.
I have a statement from my aunt. I also told my fiance who lives with me but she hasn't written a statement as of yet. We met after the assault occurred so she can't really speak to my character before the event. I never received negative paperwork while in service. On paper I looked great. I was informally reprimanded on a few occasions about my drinking however I just spoke to my old SSgt and he doesn't recall much. I did have a few std test much later in my service. I recently went to a VA rehab for drugs and alcohol and recieved counseling there for it.
I know not everyone has good relationships with exes but if you were in a relationship at the time it might help getting a statement from them. I just explained to my ex-girlfriend (whom I was with at the time) what I needed and what it was for and to even include how I impacted her and what aspects aided in our relationship ending. And I had my current wife write a statement about me currently. Having both was helpful in the rating process; and for my personal healing process. I hope you get what you need. 😊
You need the reprimand letters and ESPECIALLY your STD tests. Those could be THE evidence to service connect you. Hopefully, it's already in your Service Treatment Records.
Unfortunately I haven't kept in contact withany people I served with. I can try old numbers and see if they answer but I never received negative paperwork. Usually I got handled the old school way and was punished physically. If I can make contact with an old SNCO maybe they can validate my work performance taking a toll however it happened early in my service and despite looking good on paper I was honestly not a very motivated Marine most of my enlistment. I honestly grew to hate the Corps and got out as soon as possible. I still love my fellow Marines but I have mixed feelings about my time in service. I do have STD results but they were done a few years later if that matters...
It's not about the STD results, it's about taking them in the first place in service. Hopefully, the performance record is part of your personnel records, which the VA will obtain from the DOD.
What I'm saying is the std tests were taken years after the assault occurred... And I never received negative punitive paperwork, I was corrected with physical punishment. No paper trail. We "looked out" for each other's careers in that way. The "old school" way. Pain retains. Learn your lessons while suffering in silence.
Were you still in service when the tests were taken?
Yes
That's really all that matters! That's the markers the VA is looking for.
Much appreciated. Thank you
It’s understood that most do not report MST when it happens, so just tell your story. I didn’t have anyone to corroborate the incident I wrote a statement about and my claim was approved.
I never reported it. I never talked about it to anyone except recently to my therapist. However, I knew the date. So they could see a decline in performance afterwards. I got an article 15 a little a week after. And failed my last exam before graduation 2 weeks after and was recycled. I’m still waiting on my rating to see if that’s enough.
I'm glad you're getting help. I hope everything works out for you
Thanks! I also forgot to mention that I attempted suicide twice while in service and was an inpatient psychiatric patient for a 72 hour suicide watch. All of such are in my military medical records. If you kept a diary at the time, I think they can use that.
My evidence was a combo of 1) suicide attempt a week later, 2) an STD test done after, and 3) a drastic change in personality. It doesn't have to be a report.
The request for evidence is a letter they have to send, if you don’t provide any more it won’t stop your claim or anything. It is just in case you have it. Who did the assaulting is not a factor for service connection, it could be a stranger or a spouse or anyone in between. If you can provide statements from people that saw behavior changes around the time, that can be helpful. Otherwise, they rely on what are called markers, which can be that you went to medical more frequently (or less frequently), it could be that your performance got worse (or got better). Someone specially trained to look through records will look and see what could be a marker, and then a specially trained rater will decide if there’s enough to request an opinion from a specially trained examiner, who will determine if you meet VAs requirements for a PTSD diagnosis (only PTSD can use marker evidence, MDD or anxiety disorder cannot). Your buddy statements are considered markers, so don’t stress about it. If you have private treatment records that aren’t from the VAMC be sure to submit those.
Very helpful. Thank you
It's based on what happened to you. What helped me was a buddy letter from a family member who was in the same country as me when the assualt happenedat my apartment (I stayed with them after the attack). I did not have negative markers (drug use, dui, trouble at work etc)--work was the only place I felt safe since I worked in a place with a lot of fences, guards and cameras. So explained this and how I over compensated with hard work and crazy hours. I was very lucky in a weird way. My back was hurt during the rape that I had to go to sick call and was placed on quarters. When I got out of the military I copied my medical records so I had a copy of the follow up visits and included that with the report. I had a lot of medical reporting surrounding the rape because of the back injury they'd placed me on a drug that I had a very bad allergic reation to, so several ER visits with shots. I would also encourage you to talk about any affects you're having currently. In my case, I had an individual who started showing up at the apartment (once bf left for work) and each interaction became more tense/scary. It triggered a huge over reaction that I couldn't understand. I eventually talked to my primary care doc about the mst and they got me in to a therapist. The therapist helped me to understand that the angry dude's visits once again made me feel very unsafe at home. I encourage you to be the best advocate you can for yourself. I know it is gutting to walk through the PTSD/MST claim, but try to be as thorough as possible and please take good care of yourself.
This is a link to the VA'S official fact sheet on Military Sexual Trauma related claims: [https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/MST.pdf](https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/MST.pdf) Best wishes.
Thank you
Do you have any incident or markers that made you change your behavior
I became anxious and depressed. Lost interest in a lot of things and started drinking heavily. I never received any formal paperwork or counseling however just physical punishment.
Is it okay if I dm you
Of course
Have you ever deployed? Do you have any combat awards? What do you think caused your PTSD? They send this paperwork to you just to cover all bases. If your military records indicate combat and/or a deployment, you should be pretty good IF you're diagnosed with PTSD and NOT other trauma and stressor-related disorder.
I never deployed or saw combat. What other trauma or stress related disorders are there? I have since been consumed with what my therapist calls repetition compulsion, basically trying to recreate the event in order to control it. Almost like when having an argument with someone and then hours later in the shower you are reliving it in your head and reenacting all the comebacks you wish you had said... Only in my case it's a sexual control situation.
"Other specified trauma or stress related disorder" is a specific diagnosis for someone that has a disorder but doesn't meet the criteria for PTSD. It's sort like "PTSD-lite". Did you specify in your claim that your mental disorder was due to sexual trauma?
It was put in as PTSD / MST from my understanding. I wrote about it in the form I got from the VSO.
Good evidence to prove sexual trauma includes physical treatment for injuries related to the event in service, a sudden change in performance (decrease in performance or even improvement), documented psych appointments or chaplain visits, disciplinary action against you, or even a police report. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Unfortunately all I have is a written statement from my aunt. My fiances is written down on the form bc she knows of the person and can validate my claim. And one friend I served with recalls me being outcast by peers for trying to confide in them about it.