Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025

This bill would expand VA health care and benefits for people who experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It sets clearer rules for MST disability claims, improves how the VA communicates and does outreach, and widens access to counseling and care . It also calls for reviews and a report to find gaps, especially with online harassment and other tech-related harm .

Key points

• Who is affected: Veterans and former Guard/Reserve members who experienced MST, and people who leave a service academy before graduating .
• Claims and proof: Lets veterans use nonmilitary records and behavior changes as evidence; VA must tell you about these options before denying a claim; specialized teams handle these claims; each document includes a VA point of contact .
• Medical exams: You can ask for your exam at a VA facility with a VA clinician instead of at a contractor site.
• VA letters and support: All letters about MST must include contacts for MST coordinators, a nearby VA facility, a Vet Center, and the Veterans Crisis Line; a VA workgroup will review language to avoid re‑traumatizing survivors .
• Oversight and training: The VA will check MST claim accuracy every year and fix errors; it will study and improve staff training; a separate workgroup will look for ways to reduce repeat exams and re‑trauma .
• Access to care: Expands eligibility for MST counseling and treatment to all former Guard/Reserve members who qualify under discharge rules.
• Timelines: Within 14 days of filing an MST‑related claim, the VA would send you local contacts and services; within 180 days, the VA would start an outreach program on the proof standard; within one year, the VA would deliver a “digital age” report; within 90 days, the exam workgroup would be created; annual accuracy reviews continue each year .