In 2011, “don’t ask, don’t tell” was repealed. Unfortunately, the harassment and other damage from this long-standing rule was not undone. If you suffer from mental health conditions due to harassment during your time in-service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation benefits. Additionally, if you were discharged solely due to your sexual orientation, you should be considered a veteran eligible for VA benefits, including disability compensation. Mental health conditions due to “don’t ask, don’t tell” harassment will be rated along the same guidelines as other mental health disorders.

If VA grants service connection for a veteran’s mental health condition, it will rate the condition under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which provides ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 100%, based on the severity, frequency, and duration of your symptoms, and the level of occupational and social impairment resulting from your condition.

Have you had lasting effects from DADT harassment?  Talk to our team.