Summary

Makes VA disability awards based on military sexual trauma (MST) effective as of the day after a veteran’s date of discharge and requires retroactive payment from that date when a claim for a covered health condition is approved. It adds a new statutory provision that defines MST and what counts as a covered health condition (certain mental health conditions and any physical injury or disease caused or worsened by MST).

• Approves an earlier effective date for VA disability awards tied to military sexual trauma: the day after discharge.
• Requires retroactive benefits to be paid starting on that effective date when a covered MST claim is approved.
• Defines covered health conditions to include specified mental health conditions and any physical injury or disease caused or worsened by MST.
• Uses the existing statutory definition of military sexual trauma by reference to current law.
• Adds a new provision into title 38 of the U.S. Code and updates the chapter table for accuracy.
• Does not itself appropriate new funds or specify new funding sources for retroactive payments.
• Clarifies timing of benefits and may reduce disputes over when retroactive MST-related compensation should begin.
• Could increase VA retroactive compensation payouts and affect VA workload for claims processing.