How to Obtain Military Service Records for Your VA Claim

Military service records are essential for veterans seeking VA disability compensation. These records play a pivotal role in establishing the link between your in-service events and your current health conditions. By presenting your military service and medical treatment records, you can bolster your VA disability claim and potentially increase your chances of securing the benefits you deserve.

This guide outlines the different types of military records, how to request them, and how these records can support your VA disability claim or appeal.

Why Military Service Records Are Important

Military service records provide a comprehensive account of your time in service, including details about your duty stations, job assignments, and health conditions documented during your military career. These records are crucial for proving service connection, establishing the severity of your symptoms, and determining the effective date for compensation.

Without these records, veterans may face challenges in proving that their current disability is related to their military service. Therefore, having access to your service and medical treatment records is critical for the success of your claim or appeal. Read more about related content here

How to Access Military Service Records

Veterans can access military service records through multiple methods, including online requests, mail, or fax. Here’s how you can obtain the records you need:

1. Request Military Records Online

The National Archives allows veterans to request their records using theeVetRecs tool. After submitting the request, veterans should receive a confirmation email with further instructions.

Veterans can also access some military records through the milConnect portal. This option is available for veterans with a Premium DS Logon account. However, availability depends on your branch of service and discharge date:

• Air Force: Records are accessible for veterans discharged after October 1, 2004.
• Army: Records are accessible for veterans discharged after October 1, 2002.
• Marines: Records are accessible for veterans discharged after January 1, 1999.
• Navy: Records are accessible for veterans discharged after January 1, 1995.

2. Request Military Records by Mail or Fax

To request your records by mail or fax, download and complete Standard Form 180 (SF-180). This form is available on the VA’s website and includes instructions on where to send it based on your branch of service and discharge date.

When filling out the SF-180, make sure to indicate whether you’re requesting personnel or medical treatment records. Double-check the correct mailing address or fax number listed in the form to ensure that your request reaches the appropriate location. read more related to this content

Types of Military Service Records and Their Uses

The two main types of records veterans should consider for their VA disability claims are personnel records and medical treatment records.

Personnel Records

Personnel records contain details about your military history, such as:

• Duty Assignments: List of your postings and stations throughout your service.
• Character of Discharge: Indicates whether you received an honorable, general, or dishonorable discharge.
• Training and Awards: Details on your military training, commendations, and certifications.

These records are especially useful for:

• Proving Eligibility: Your character of discharge and length of service will confirm whether you meet the VA’s eligibility requirements for benefits.
• Establishing an In-Service Event: Use your records to document specific incidents, such as combat engagements, accidents, or exposure to hazardous conditions, which contributed to your disability.

Medical Treatment Records

Medical treatment records provide an account of the health conditions and injuries documented during your military service. These records are key in establishing a medical nexus between your in-service events and your current disability.

Medical records can help veterans:

• Confirm the Medical Nexus: Prove that your current disability is linked to an in-service event or condition. This is critical for many VA disability claims.
• Demonstrate Symptom Progression: Show that a pre-existing condition worsened due to your military service. This is useful when filing claims for aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
• Support Diagnosis and Rating: Provide evidence of the frequency and severity of symptoms, which is crucial for the VA to assign an appropriate disability rating.
• Determine Effective Dates: If your records indicate that symptoms began during or within a year of discharge, you may qualify for an earlier effective date, resulting in higher back pay.

How to Use Military Service Records in a VA Disability Claim

Properly utilizing your military service records can significantly strengthen your VA disability claim or appeal. Here’s how to use these records effectively:

1. Establish Service Connection: Use personnel records to show that you were present during events or incidents that contributed to your current disability. For example, if you were exposed to hazardous chemicals while stationed at a specific location, your personnel records can confirm your presence there.
2. Document Symptom Onset and Progression: Refer to your medical treatment records to show that your symptoms started in service or worsened due to your military duties. This helps establish the medical nexus required for service connection.
3. Determine Effective Dates for Compensation: If your records indicate that symptoms began during or shortly after service, this could impact your effective date and increase your overall compensation.
4. Challenge VA Decisions: If your claim was denied, you can use your military service records to contest the decision. Personnel and medical records can provide additional evidence to support your appeal.

How Our VA Disability Attorneys Can Help

The legal team has extensive experience utilizing military service records to help veterans secure VA disability benefits. With a deep understanding of the appeals process, the attorneys know how to effectively gather and present the required documentation.

FAQs About Military Service Records

Is It Free to Request Military Service Records?

Yes, veterans and their immediate family members can request a copy of their military records, including the DD214, at no cost.

Can I Receive VA Disability Benefits with a Dishonorable Discharge?

Veterans with dishonorable discharges are typically ineligible for VA disability benefits. However, you may qualify for other VA services or appeal for a discharge upgrade to gain eligibility.

Are Military Service Records Public?

Military service records become publicly accessible 62 years after discharge. Before that, only limited information, such as final rank, awards, and assignments, is available to the public.

How Our VA Disability Attorneys Can Help

Our legal team has extensive experience utilizing military service records to help veterans secure VA disability benefits. With a deep understanding of the appeals process, we know how to effectively gather and present the required documentation to maximize your compensation.