Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act
This bill, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act, aims to tighten and expand how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles military sexual trauma (MST) claims. It requires broader and more frequent training for VA employees who process MST claims, mandates that training be tailored to an employee’s level of experience, and ensures training is updated at least annually. It also expands the VA’s duty to assist by requiring the agency to obtain both the claimant’s service personnel record and service medical record for MST-related claims. Additionally, the bill requires new reporting to Congress: (1) within 90 days after enactment, a report on past MST training and plans for implementing the new training provisions; (2) a separate 90-day report addressing sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals who conduct MST-related examinations and how to prevent retraumatization during those exams. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the quality and safety of the claims process for MST survivors and reduce the risk of retraumatization during examinations.
Key Points
- 1All VA employees who process MST claims, discuss evidence with claimants, or decide MST claims must receive annual sensitivity training, with the training tailored to the employee’s level of experience.
- 2The Secretary must ensure the training is appropriate to how much experience the employee has with MST claims and must update the training at least once per year.
- 3A report is due within 90 days after enactment detailing prior MST-related training and the Secretary’s plans to implement the new training changes.
- 4The Duty to Assist (help claimants gather evidence) is expanded to require obtaining the claimant’s service personnel record and service medical record for MST claims (by redesignating and adding a new paragraph in law).
- 5A second 90-day report is required on sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals who perform MST-related examinations, including a plan to improve this training and to prevent retraumatization of veterans during examinations.