A veterans group for women has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for denying disability claims to members of the military who were raped during their service.
The Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) and Vietnam Veterans of America filed the petition to the U.S Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The group claimed that one in every three women was raped during their service and 50 percent of them experienced other forms of sexual assault. The victims requested disability claims because they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Furthermore, the lawsuit stated that the VA refused to provide them the claims despite previous knowledge that the women underwent PTSD treatment with private practitioners. Less than 30 percent of those who filed for PTSD disability claims due to military sexual violence reportedly received approval.
"The VA knows the current process makes veterans who've been harmed by military sexual harassment and assault jump through more hoops than other PTSD claimants to apply for and receive PTSD disability benefits. But they refuse to change their regulations," said Anu Bhagwati, Service Women's Action Network executive director and former Marine Corps captain, to The Guardian.
The VA defended that the claimants were denied of their requests due to solid evidence of military sexual assaults.
SWAN petitioned for an amendment of the rules for benefits of sexual violence victims last June, but didn't receive a response from the VA.
VA refused to comment on pending litigation but a spokesman responded to The Guardian via email.
"Meeting the needs of Veterans who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma is of the highest importance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)," the statement read. "The department is working very hard to ensure that these claims are adjudicated compassionately and fairly, with sensitivity to the unique circumstances presented by each individual claim."
