Rep. Young Kim Leads Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims

As first reported in Washington Examiner, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) introduced the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act  (H.R. 2201). 

According to VA officials, the department received 57,400 MST claims in fiscal 2024, up 18% from the previous year, and approved more than 63% of them, up from roughly 40% more than a decade ago. 

The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act: 

• Requires the VA Secretary to create a plan to improve training for Contracted Disability Compensation Examiners (CDCEs) who examine veterans dealing with MST claims; 

• Ensures annual training for all employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration; 

• Improves quality assurance of CDCEs so MST veterans are not retraumatized during the medical disability examination process; and, 

• Requires the VA to automatically obtain all service and personnel medical records for PTSD-based claims filed for in-service personal assault.