Service treatment records can provide evidence of an injury, event, or disease that is necessary to obtain service connection for a current condition. Unfortunately, STRs can be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Veterans can sometimes request them directly from the military archives or through a VA Copy of File request.
Full Answer
Where can I get my DD214 free?
Apr 06, 2017 · Upon completion of the Standard Form 180, mail it to the appropriate address listed on the 2 nd page of the form. After approximately 10 days, you or your VSO can check the status of your request through the Online Status Update Request form or by calling the Customer Service Line at 1-866-272-6272. What If Some of My Service Records Are Missing?
How do I get my records from social services?
May 06, 2021 · In the interim, clinical and medical treatment records that were retired into NPRC MRS must also be ordered through the submission of a DD Form 877. Please Note: NPRC will accept faxed requests only in cases of an emergency. These emergency requests must state that there is a medical emergency and provide a deadline date, if applicable.
How to get my own phone records?
Mar 22, 2022 · Follow these steps to submit a military records request. From your signed-in homepage, click or tap on Correspondence/ Documentation. Then select Defense Personnel Records Information (DPRIS) from the ... Choose the Personnel File tab. Select Request My Personnel File. Fill out the form. In the ...
How to get CPS Records?
Dec 01, 2021 · Start Request Online DD 214/ Separation Documents Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) Replacement Medals Medical and Health Records Burials and Emergency Requests Natural Disaster Requests If you are unable to start the form online and prefer to submit a traditional request form, you can mail or Fax it: Mail or Fax Form
Once I’ve signed in to milConnect, how do I request my DD214 or other military records?
Follow the steps below to submit a military records request.
What types of records can I request with this tool?
You can request documents from your Official Military Personnel File to view and download. You can request your: DD214 DD215 Report of Separation O...
What happens after I request my military records?
You’ll receive an email letting you know we’re processing your request. You’ll receive a second email when your request is complete and your files...
Are there other ways to get my military records?
Yes. You can request your military records in any of these ways: Mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form SF 180) to the...
How do I request someone else’s military records?
If you’re a family member planning a burial for a Veteran in a VA national cemetery Call our National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 ....
What is an outpatient medical record?
An outpatient medical treatment record may contain documents covering several years from multiple MTFs. When these records reach inactive status, they are retired and usually identified by the MTF at which the patient was last treated or stationed.
How long are inactive medical records held?
Most inactive records are held at the MTF 1 to 5 years after the end of the treatment year before retirement .
What is DD 877?
The DD Form 877 is the only request form that NPRC will accept from Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) for retired clinical and medical treatment records. This form is authorized for use by military facilities ONLY . Do not distribute to individuals for personal use. Follow the instructions below to complete the form:
Can you fax a request to NPRC?
Please Note: NPRC will accept faxed requests only in cases of an emergency. These emergency requests must state that there is a medical emergency and provide a deadline date, if applicable. Contact NPRC at (314) 801-0800 before faxing your request to (314) 801-0764. Snippet.
Is the NPRC still operating?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NPRC has been operating at a reduced capacity. As of March 29, 2021, the NPRC increased its on-site staffing to 25 percent of the workforce. While we continue to increase our on-site staffing, we are still servicing requests associated with medical treatments, burials, and homeless veterans seeking admittance to a homeless shelter. Please refrain from submitting non-emergency requests such as replacement medals, administrative corrections, or records research until we return to pre-COVID staffing levels.
What types of records can I request with this tool?
You can request documents from your Official Military Personnel File to view and download.
What happens after I request my military records?
You’ll receive an email letting you know we’re processing your request. You’ll receive a second email when your request is complete and your files are ready for you to view and download.
Information to reconstruct your records
Find out if your records may have been destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, and how to reconstruct your records to support a VA disability compensation claim.
Other records information
Set up your personal health record, and download medical records, reports, and images to share with your VA and non-VA doctors.
Requesting Service Treatment Records
Unfortunately, STRs can be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Veterans can sometimes request them directly from the military archives or through a VA Copy of File request. However, many records, particularly those of older Veterans, have been lost or misplaced through the years.
Getting Service Connection without STRs
Without a Veteran’s Service Treatment Records, obtaining a grant for service connection can be very difficult. However, if the VA or military lost a Veteran’s records, the VA has a higher obligation to assist the Veteran in developing their case as well as the heightened obligation to evaluate and discuss all favorable evidence.
Using Military Personnel Records for Your VA Claim
Along with STRs, a Veteran’s military personnel record can also be helpful to prove a claim. Personnel records are not automatically submitted to a Veteran’s VA Copy of File.
Call Berry Law Firm
If you are a Veteran and you have been denied disability compensation by the VA or received a low rating, Berry Law can help. We have helped Veterans from all 50 states successfully appeal VA claims and have helped thousands of Veterans increase their disability rating. Contact Berry Law today for a free case evaluation.
What Information Is Needed to Request Military Medical Treatment Records?
To obtain records from the NPRC, you are going to need to provide the following information about the Veteran:
How Long Does It Take to Get Military Medical Treatment Records?
NPRC states that 92% of separation record requests are processed within 10 days. Certain types of health records could involve delays. The NPRC processes almost 20,000 requests per week, so the turnaround time can vary depending on the nature of a request.
When Might It Be Necessary to Obtain Military Medical Records?
A Veteran’s military medical records contain crucial information about diagnoses and treatment of medical conditions during the Veteran’s time in service. This information can provide valuable insight into the Veteran’s past conditions and current health.
Where are military records stored?
If you have been discharged from military service, your personnel files are stored at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are the official repository for records of military personnel who have been discharged from the United States Air Force, Army, ...
How long do you have to keep NGB records?
States are required by law, to maintain these records for 99 years. https://www.archives.gov/veterans.
What happened to veterans records?
When applying for VA disability benefits, many veterans find that VA is missing important records that may help support their claims for compensation. Oftentimes records are simply lost, or they may have been accidentally destroyed . For example, on July 12, 1973, a fire broke out at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. The fire destroyed service records for veterans of the Air Force and Army.
What are employment records?
Employment records can become a necessary piece of evidence if a veteran is seeking entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). TDIU is a VA disability benefit that compensates veterans at the 100% disability rate if they have a service-connected condition or conditions that render them unable to work. Employment records can also be helpful in claims for increased ratings, as difficulty performing a job or receiving special accommodations at work due to a service-connected condition can highlight the level of severity of that disability. Some employment records that can be helpful are: 1 VA Form 21-4192 – These forms are used by VA to gather information regarding a veteran’s past or current employment. The forms are sent to the veteran’s employers for them to fill out basic employment information such as dates of employment, as well as details regarding the veteran’s ability to perform the job or why the veteran left that job. 2 Record of disciplinary action or performance reports – These types of records can be useful to show how a veteran’s service-connected disability negatively impacted their work. If a veteran has a service-connected psychiatric condition that caused them to be violent at work or have angry outbursts, records of those incidents can be used to show entitlement to an increased rating.
Why are employment records important?
Employment records can also be helpful in claims for increased ratings, as difficulty performing a job or receiving special accommodations at work due to a service-connected condition can highlight the level of severity of that disability . Some employment records that can be helpful are:
What is VA hearing?
VA Hearings. Hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals can be used as evidence in support of a veteran’s claim. They allow a veteran to speak with a Veterans Law Judge directly to explain their case. All hearings are transcribed so VA has a written record of the conversation. However, hearings do have drawbacks.
What does service connection mean in VA?
Generally speaking, service connection means that a veteran’s disability or death was incurred during or aggravated by their military service.
How many military records were destroyed?
Overall, the NPRC estimates that 16-18 million official military personnel files were destroyed.
How many records were destroyed in the fire?
The fire destroyed service records for veterans of the Air Force and Army. According to VA, 80 percent of the records for veterans discharged from the Army between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960 were destroyed in the fire.
Why are there no veterans records?
Whatever the reason, just because there are no records does not always mean that the Department of Veterans Affairs won’t grant service connection. Here, we will cover how to prove a service-connected disability, and obtain VA disability benefits, without service treatment records.
Why do military members not want to go to the doctor?
There are many reasons why, but one of the main reasons is that active duty military members do not want to go to the doctor for fear of being medically discharged for a medical condition that is potentially going to limit them from doing their job.
What is the duty of the VA?
The VA has a “duty to assist” by law. The law, the Veteran’s Claims Assistance Act (VCAA) defines the VA’s role and responsibilities in assisting veterans in developing their claims by attempting to obtain evidence from Federal agencies and providing a VA medical exam or a medical opinion if deemed necessary.
Can veterans have a representative to assist with a claim?
Having a representative to assist with the claim can also help provide veterans with researchers who can try to find that evidence to prove the claim. It does not always work, the road is not always smooth and straight, but if you do not try, the answer will always be no.
