How Can Veterans Get Lost or Destroyed Medical Records?
A primary element of any veteran disability claim is a service connection. How is your injury, illness, or medical condition connected to your years of military service? Your military medical and service records play an important role in establishing that connection — but what happens if your medical and service records have been lost or destroyed?
A 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis destroyed many records and many more have been lost on deployments — which can lead to an automatic denial of your claim for a lack of in-service event. Veterans who have found themselves in similar situations need to know — how can veterans get lost or destroyed medical records? VA Benefits Attorneys may be able to help.
How To Locate or Request In-Service Military Records
In-service records for veterans are held at a pair of locations — the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis or the Department of Veterans Affairs Records Management Center. Records locations are based on when the veteran served with in-service records for veterans who were separated before the 1990s filed at the National Personnel Records Center. Many military service records can be accessed via online portals or veterans can submit a request for replacement paper documents.
Use Online Portals to Request Records
Many modern military records are converted to digital files and can be accessed via online portals. The portal veterans need to use may vary based on what kind of records have been lost or destroyed.
- Request records via the National Archives eVetRecs System
- Electronic service and treatment records for veterans who served after 2006 – 2007 can be accessed via the MHS Genesis Patient Portal.
- VA-related health records can be accessed via the VA Blue Button Report at MyHealtheVet.
Submit a Form SF-180
Veterans who prefer paper documents can submit a standard SF-180 form. All veterans need to do is print out the form, fill it out, and mail it in or fax it to the NPRC or the appropriate service branch center.
Invoke the VA “Duty to Assist”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a Duty to Assist rule when veterans file a disability claim. If a veteran’s records have been lost or destroyed, they can put the responsibility on the VA, and the VA is required to attempt to locate missing service records.
Request a C-File via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Veterans who have filed previous disability claims and have lost their in-service records can request a complete VA claims file — or C-File — under the Freedom of Information Act. This file includes many historical medical records.
How To Prove Service Connection When Medical Records Are Missing
Your military medical records are an important piece of your disability claim, and many claims will be denied without that evidence to define your service connection — but you may be able to file a successful VA disability claim without your service medical records. This means you need to have the right documents to support your claim without that direct connection.
- Personnel and Service Records: Your Official Military Personnel File will show your MOS, deployments, hazard duty, and combat history that can help connect a medical condition to your service and can be used to support PACT Act and burn pit exposure claims.
- Lay Statement: Veterans can write a detailed personal statement that explains when the injury occurred or the symptoms started, what you believe caused the medical condition, how the medical condition has progressed, and what treatment you have had.
- Buddy Statements: Veterans can submit a VA Form 21-10210 with Buddy Statements when they file a claim. These statements can include fellow service members, family, or friends who may have witnessed the incident or the subsequent symptoms.
- Personal Evidence: Do you have old photographs, journals, or letters home that detail an injury or illness? This personal evidence can serve as a connection between your military service and your current medical condition.
- Nexus Letter: A Nexus Letter from your private doctor or a VA doctor that has reviewed your medical diagnosis and service records can state that your current medical condition is at least as likely as not connected to your service.
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Are you a military veteran battling an injury, illness, or medical condition that you believe is related to your military service? Have your military medical records been lost or destroyed? You may need replacement records to be able to file a successful VA disability claim, and we hope this overview will help you determine how to get lost or destroyed military records.
