VA Denials Spike: Survivors Lose Twice

June 10, 2026

VA military sexual trauma claims are still denied more often than combat PTSD claims, and that gap has fueled fresh anger over how the government handles veterans.

Quick Take

A peer-reviewed analysis found military sexual trauma claims were denied at a higher rate than combat claims.^[1]
The study reported a denial rate of 27.6 percent for military sexual trauma claims and 18.2 percent for combat claims.^[1]
The Department of Veterans Affairs says veterans can use direct and indirect evidence, not just a formal report, to prove these claims.^[6]
The department also says denied claims can be sent back for review.^[6]

What the Data Shows

A peer-reviewed study of Veterans Affairs data found that military sexual trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder claims were denied more often than combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder claims.^[1] The study said 27.6 percent of military sexual trauma claims were denied, while 18.2 percent of combat claims were denied.^[1] It also found that military sexual trauma claims remained more likely to be denied even after accounting for age, race, and gender.^[1]

That matters because the numbers point to a real problem, not a talking point.^[1] When a claim tied to sexual trauma is denied more often than a combat claim, veterans have every reason to question whether the system is fair or simply too rigid. The study also said military sexual trauma claims were two times more likely to be denied relative to combat claims, which only deepens the concern.^[1]

How the Veterans Affairs Department Says Claims Are Handled

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it does not require a veteran to have a formal incident report to support a military sexual trauma claim.^[6] The department says veterans can submit service records, investigative reports, civilian police reports, treatment records, diaries, and statements from chaplains, family members, roommates, or fellow service members.^[6] It also says indirect evidence of behavior changes after the trauma can count.^[6]

That policy is important because many assaults are never reported right away.^[6] Veterans Affairs says the evidence does not need to show a clear cause, which gives claims officers room to look at the full record instead of demanding one perfect document.^[6] The department also says veterans who were denied before can ask for a decision review.^[6]

Why the Gap Still Raises Questions

The core issue is not whether military sexual trauma is real. The issue is whether the system gives those claims the same fair shot as combat claims.^[1]^[6] The study found the denial gap persisted even after statistical controls, which suggests the difference was not just a quirk of age or gender.^[1] That should worry anyone who wants a government that treats veterans with equal respect.

How are military sexual trauma (MST) claims different from other VA disability claims? An accredited VA disability lawyer explains. pic.twitter.com/VikAeLkXmM

— Woods & Woods, The Veterans Firm (@TheVeteransFirm) June 9, 2026

Veterans Affairs has said grant rates for military sexual trauma conditions improved in later years, reaching 72 percent in one update.^[7] Even so, the department’s own guidance shows that veterans still need to fight for proper treatment of these claims.^[6]^[7] For many families, that means more paperwork, more waiting, and more pressure on people who already carried a heavy burden in uniform.

What This Means for Veterans

The practical lesson is simple. Veterans filing military sexual trauma claims should gather every piece of evidence they can find and use the review process if they are denied.^[6] The department accepts direct records and indirect markers, so a missing report is not supposed to end the case.^[6] But the data showing higher denial rates makes clear that veterans cannot assume the system will get it right on its own.^[1]^[6]