How to Add Medical Records to a VA Claim

To prove you qualify for veterans disability compensation, you need to support your VA claim with medical records related to your service-connected condition.

Summary

• Veterans can add medical records to their VA claim by either submitting them directly or allowing the VA to request them from their healthcare provider.
• Medical records from private healthcare providers, such as X-rays and therapy notes, can strengthen a VA disability claim.
• Filling out VA Form 21-4142 and 21-4142a allows the VA to obtain medical records on a veteran’s behalf.
• Medical evidence is crucial in establishing a diagnosis, service connection, and a veteran’s VA disability rating.
• Veterans have 1 year to submit medical evidence after filing a claim, even if the VA makes an initial decision in the meantime.

A veteran’s medical records are integral to their VA claim for disability benefits. If you submit incomplete or outdated medical evidence, the VA is more likely to deny your request for disability compensation, so understanding how to add your medical records to your VA claim is essential.

However, you follow all of the steps to add medical records correctly and still receive a rejection from the VA. After a VA benefits denial, our team can help you address and rectify any issues that are holding your claim back.

Get in touch with VetLaw about a free consultation by calling (855) 870-5308 or completing a contact form.

What You Need to Do to Add Medical Records to Your VA Claim

If you are a veteran seeking disability benefits for a service-related condition, there are two methods you can use to add medical records to your VA claim.

Get Copies of Your Medical Records from Your Non-VA Provider and Submit Them

You can notify your provider that you need your medical records to pursue a VA disability claim. They may ask you to sign a form acknowledging that they are giving you copies of your private medical information intended for a third party.

You will also need to let your healthcare provider know what format you want your medical records in, i.e. a digital copy or a paper copy.

Many veterans find an electronic copy easier to deal with. If you are filing your veterans disability benefits claim online via the VA’s website, you can also upload your medical records from your provider at that time.

Alternatively, the VA also accepts physical copies of medical records by mail and at its regional offices nationwide, but going this route can delay the process. If you want to mail copies of your medical records to add to your VA claim, address them to the Department of Veterans Affairs Evidence Intake Center located in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Give the VA Permission to Request Your Medical Records from Your Provider

Another way to accomplish this is to let the VA communicate directly with your provider to secure your medical records. This option may be more convenient for certain vets, such as those who live far from the facility or provider where they received care, or those who would struggle to track down records due to their health issues.

First, you need to fill out both VA Form 21-4142, Authorization to Disclose Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and VA Form 21-4142a, General Release for Medical Provider Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

You can download them electronically or print off both private medical evidence release forms on benefits.va.gov. When you have finished filling them out, you can submit them along with your veterans disability claim.

Visit the VA’s website to file your paperwork online, and the VA will do the rest of the work to secure your medical records.

What Types of Medical Records Can I Add to a VA Claim?

When you submit a claim for veterans disability benefits, the VA will automatically request your military service records, which should include any records related to treatments you received from a military provider for an illness or injury while you were on active duty.

If you sought care from a VA provider after your discharge, the VA should also already have a copy of that information. Therefore, when we talk about submitting additional medical evidence for a VA disability claim, we are usually referring to medical records from a private healthcare provider or facility.

Obviously, the specific mental or physical condition you are seeking disability benefits for will influence what kind of medical information the VA finds valuable and relevant. Some common types of medical records veterans can submit include:

• Medical imaging (X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, etc.)
• Blood test results
• Prescriptions for medication
• Medical nexus letter
• Therapy notes
• Stress test results
• Hospitalization or rehabilitation records
• Documentation of surgeries, chemotherapy, and other treatments

In a VA disability claim, medical evidence serves many purposes. For instance, if your medical records help the VA understand how your provider reached your diagnosis, the VA will likely be more confident in its accuracy and in moving forward with evaluating your condition under the appropriate rating schedule.

Additionally, thorough medical records can also document the appearance and progression of symptoms. A timeline describing your symptoms can support your assertion that your military service is the source of your disability, fulfilling a key eligibility requirement for VA disability benefits.

Look to VetLaw for Guidance in Your Veterans Disability Claim

Medical records often make or break a VA disability claim. Our veterans disability appeals attorneys will leverage your medical records to help show that you qualify for VA disability compensation for your service-connected conditions.

Learn more about what Vet Law can do for you by calling (855) 870-5308 or completing a contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I add medical records to a VA claim, do I still have to do a C&P exam?

The VA will likely ask you to do a C&P exam at some point, even if you have already provided them with your complete medical records.

Before issuing a VA disability rating and authorizing benefits, the VA typically wants to confirm that your current symptoms match what your most recent medical records describe. A C&P exam can put that concern to rest.

Alternatively, the VA may not be convinced that your disability is service-connected solely based on your medical records. A Compensation and Pension exam is an opportunity for the VA to ask questions about how you acquired or developed the condition for the purpose of establishing its relationship to your military service.

Does the VA accept medical records from private healthcare providers as evidence?

Absolutely, the VA regularly relies on medical records from providers outside the VA system, in conjunction with its own evaluations, to assess veterans disability claims. 

How much time do I have to submit medical evidence after I file my veterans disability claim with the VA?

After filing an initial disability claim, veterans have 1 year to upload medical records as evidence through the VA’s Claim Status Tool prior to a VA decision. Veterans can also send medical records to the VA through the mail or present physical copies in-person at a regional office during this time. 

Veterans can still submit new medical evidence for the remainder of the 1 year period after the VA issues a decision. However, if it has been more than 1 year since you officially filed your veterans disability claim and the VA has decided your case, any additional medical evidence you want to submit would become a part of your appeal.