Last post I wrote about survivors who come back years later. Today I want to talk about what happens when they do, what Congress can do to fix it, and how you can help.
Right now, when an MST survivor files a VA disability claim, whether it's been two years or twenty, benefits start from the date they filed. Not the date they were harmed. Not the date they got out — but the day they asked.
Several bills would change that:
H.R. 7976 — the Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act, introduced March 18, 2026 (a reintroduction of the "Veteran Restitution and Justice Act" efforts), would make VA disability awards for MST retroactive to the day after discharge instead of day of filing.
H.R. 2576, the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025, also addresses retroactive benefits and expands VA access for MST survivors with other than honorable discharges.
The Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) — VFW, DAV, American Legion, etc. — help file claims for free and know this system better than anyone. What an attorney and advocate can do is work alongside the VSO to help build the story: identifying investigations, emails, command records, and anything that adds context. The VSO files the claim, the advocate helps tell it, and neither should cost anything. Lost compensation from lost time as stands is more than enough.
What can I do?
- Contact your representative. If they haven't co-sponsored H.R. 7976 and H.R. 2576, ask them to. If they have, ask them to push for a floor vote.
- Repost — we are stronger together.
Ruth's Truth: The law should meet survivors where they started and not where they landed.
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