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Overview

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Non Combat-Related Military Sexual Trauma Personal Trauma Fall Conference 2009 Trista Barnum. Overview. Types of Non Combat Trauma Personal Trauma Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Development of Claim Stressor Investigative Reports Exam

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Overview

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  1. Post Traumatic StressDisorderNon Combat-RelatedMilitary Sexual TraumaPersonal TraumaFall Conference 2009Trista Barnum

  2. Overview • Types of Non Combat Trauma • Personal Trauma • Military Sexual Trauma (MST) • Development of Claim • Stressor • Investigative Reports • Exam • List of Acceptable Evidence since 1995

  3. Overview • Markers VA looks for • Healthcare • Statistics • Questions

  4. Non Combat Types • Personal Trauma • Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

  5. Personal Trauma • Define • physical injury carried on between individuals directly • Ex: Mugging, Robbery

  6. Military Sexual Trauma (MST) • Define: • any sort of sexual activity between at least two people in which one of the people is involved against his/her will. • Ex: Rape, Physical assault

  7. Development Personal Trauma/MST Claim • Provide Stressor • Investigative Report (if needed) • VA exam with medical opinion

  8. Stressor Letter • VA form 0781a • Completed Stressor Questionnaire • VA will obtain STRs • VA will obtain military personnel record jacket (MPRJ) or 201 file (the entire file)

  9. Investigative Reports • Provide a copy of any investigative report if applicable. • Army Investigative Report • Crime Records Center (CRC) – address in SG • Air Force Investigative Report • Air Force Office of Special Investigation (OSI) – address in SG

  10. Investigative Reports • Navy & Marine Corp Investigative Reports; Court Martial Reports • Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – address in SG • Coast Guard Investigative Reports • The General Law Division – address in SG

  11. Investigative Reports • National Guard Investigative Reports • National Guard Headquarters for each state maintains the investigative reports under it’s jurisdiction – contact the local NG HQ to obtain contact information for the HQ in another state. • Addresses for state Adjutant Generals are listed in M21-1 Part III Addendum F

  12. Investigative Reports • Military Police • Now every reported sexual assault is investigated • Police report must be requested from the military installation where the incident occurred • Many installations destroy military police reports after 5 years

  13. Exam • Only after the VA is able to verify the claimed MST/personal trauma occurred • Ordered with medical opinion • “In your opinion it is a least as likely as not that the veteran’s record supports the occurrence of a military sexual assault?” • May request a female (or male) • Can request a family member or friend accompany them during the exam

  14. List of Acceptable Evidence since 1995 • Second-party testimonials of friends, family, peers and clergy • Contemporaneous personal letters, diaries or journals written by the claimant describing the assault or its after-effects • Phone logs from rape or crisis centers • Civilian police records • Private medical records

  15. “Markers” VA should be looking for • Private or military medical records documenting sudden proximal increases to sick call or leave • Increase in counseling services • Request for HIV, STD, or pregnancy testing • Increased use of OTC medication, prescription drugs or street drugs

  16. “Markers” VA should be looking for • Increase in alcohol • Sudden changes in job performance ratings, military ratings, military occupation specialties (MOS) or duty assignments • The breakup of a primary relationship • Behavioral changes, such as increased isolation on promiscuity

  17. Healthcare • No requirement the sexual trauma had to be reported when it occurred or anytime during active military to be eligible to receive help • Not necessary for eligible veterans to file a disability claim or provide evidence of the sexual trauma to receive MST counseling and services

  18. Healthcare • Veterans received MST counseling are not billed for inpatient, outpatient, or pharmaceutical copayments however they may be charged for service not related to military sexual trauma or for other non-service connected conditions • There are designated MST coordinators – so that all enrolled vets are screened for MST

  19. Statistics • 1995 Department of Defense Study of Sexual Victimization • Active Duty Population • Annual Sexual Harassment • 78% Women • 38% Men

  20. Statistics • Rates of MST among VA healthcare users • Approx 23% females have experienced sexual assault • Approx 55% females have experienced sexual harassment • Approx 1% males have experienced some form of sexual trauma • 54% of all VA patients who screen positive for MST are men

  21. QUESTIONS? THAT’S ALL FOLKS

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