Under pressure from Congress, the VA is trying to come up with a better way of handling disability claims from veterans who say they are suffering trauma as a result of sexual assault or rapes suffered while in the military.

A key problem is how to handle claims when there may not be much evidence because sexual assault remains an underreported crime.

Veterans Affairs Department officials are working to improve the claims process for sexual assault victims while also making counseling available to veterans who do not have and may not be seeking a disability rating for sexual trauma.