How to Obtain and Use Military Service Records in Your VA Claim

Military service records provide valuable insight into and confirmation of in-service events, which can help veterans prepare their VA disability claims for benefits.

Summary

• Veterans can request their military service records, including their Report of Separation (DD214), to support VA disability claims.
• Military service records are crucial in VA disability claims, helping veterans prove service connection, track symptom progression, and establish accurate effective dates for benefits.
• Personnel records show duty assignments and character of discharge, which can be essential in proving eligibility and establishing service-related events.
• Medical treatment records provide documentation of health conditions and treatments during service, supporting the medical nexus VA claims require.
• Veterans can request military records online, by mail, or fax through the National Archives or Department of Defense.

Veterans can request their Report of Separation and other military service records to help build and appeal VA disability claims. This documentation provides a credible source of information the VA can use to determine eligibility for disability compensation.

Our team of veterans disability appeals attorneys are experts at effectively leveraging veterans’ military service records to help them secure the VA disability benefits they deserve. For the past decade, veterans have relied on VetLaw to represent them in complex appeals, and we have consistently delivered for them. 

We value the opportunity to advocate for veterans, which means we won’t take your trust in us for granted. Schedule a free consultation with our team by calling (855) 573-1503 or submitting a contact form today.

How to Request Your Military Service Records

Although the VA will automatically request your DD214 after you file for VA disability benefits, you may still want your own copy of your military service records from the National Archive. There are a few ways to go about this. You can either submit a request online, by mail, or via fax.

Make an Online Request for Military Service Records

Go to the National Archives website. Then, locate their eVetRecs tool to complete a new request for service records. Once you’re done filling out the information request, check for an email confirmation.

Alternatively, some veterans may be able to request their service records from the Department of Defense archives. First, log in to the Department of Defense’s milConnect site with a Premium DS Logon account.

Then, complete the request form to obtain your service records. This service is only available to Air Force vets discharged after October 1, 2004, Army vets discharged after October 1, 2002, Marine vets discharged after January 1, 1999, or Navy vets discharged after January 1, 1995.

Send a Completed Request Form by Mail or Fax

First, you’ll need to download Standard Form 180, which can be found on the VA’s website. Determine the correct mailing address or fax number by looking at the chart on the last page of the Request Pertaining to Military Records form (SF-180). 

Locate your military branch in the chart, and then find the row that contains your discharge date. Next, find where that row intersects with the column that corresponds with the type of military service records you are interested in accessing- your personnel records or your in-service medical records. 

In that box, there will be a code that corresponds with an address or fax number located in the second chart on the page. After you have filled Standard Form 180 out, send your paperwork to the appropriate location to request your military service records.  

How Do I Use My Military Service Records in a VA Disability Benefits Claim?

It can be helpful to see what information the VA is using to evaluate your claim so that you can prepare a strong appeal, if necessary. There are two main types of military service records: personnel files and medical treatment documents.

Both can be useful in a VA disability claim, as vets can leverage military service records to show eligibility or refute the basis of a VA decision. Here’s a few ways veterans can apply their military service records.

Reference Military Personnel Records to Establish Eligibility

When you request your personnel records, you gain access to a comprehensive account of your service history. Personnel records include details like duty stations and assignments, character of discharge, and other details that are often key to successfully appealing or filing a VA disability benefits claim. 

For example, veterans can use their personnel records to accomplish the following:

Prove you fit the VA definition of a veteran: Your military service records should include your character of discharge and your service commitment. Personnel records can verify that you completed 2 years of active duty service or fulfilled your contract and that you received an other-than-Dishonorable discharge.

Provide the basis for an in-service connection: Personnel records can establish that you experienced an in-service event, condition, or stressor that led to your disability. They can also provide context to show how the illness or injury occurred. 

Cite Your Military Service Treatment Records

In addition to your personnel records, you can also submit a request for a copy of your medical treatment records. This offers a reliable medical history of your physical and mental health conditions during your military service.

These records include information from routine health exams, as well as reports of treatment you received for acquired or acute medical issues. Veterans can utilize their medical treatment records in several ways:

Confirm the medical nexus between your disability and service: You can use your service treatment records to prove causation in a VA disability claim by showing a provider identified a medical link between your symptoms and in-service events.

Additionally, showing your symptoms arose pre-discharge or within a year of discharge is essential to proving a causal link for presumptive condition claims.

Show progression of symptoms: If you are claiming that your pre-existing condition was aggravated by your military service, these records are essential, as they provide proof that your symptoms grew worse over time than they otherwise would have following a specific experience or conditions in the military.

Provide the full history of your symptoms to support your diagnosis or rating: You may have experienced or been treated for symptoms of your service-related condition prior to your discharge. If the VA doubts your diagnosis or the frequency of your symptoms, you can offer your medical records to support your claim.

Determine an accurate effective date: Your military service records can provide a credible account of when you started experiencing symptoms. If you can establish that your condition manifested within a year of discharge, the VA may set your effective date as early as the day after you were discharged, maximizing your back pay benefits. 

Get in Touch With Our Skilled VA Disability Benefits Denial Attorneys to Discuss Your Appeal

At VetLaw, our team understands how to get the most out of your military service records. We have navigated the VA disability appeals process countless times on behalf of our clients, leveraging vital evidence to obtain veterans disability benefits. We encourage you to call (855) 573-1503 or use a contact form to set up a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to request a copy of my military service records?

Yes, veterans are entitled to a copy of their Report of Separation (DD214) at no cost. If you are an immediate family member of a deceased veteran, you may also obtain a free copy of their military service records.

Am I eligible for veteran disability benefits from the VA if I have a Dishonorable Discharge?

The VA requires veterans to have an other-than-Dishonorable discharge to qualify for veterans disability benefits. However, if you believe that your character of discharge is unjustified, you can appeal to upgrade your discharge status.

Veterans with Dishonorable discharges may still be able to access other types of VA compensation and services besides disability benefits.

Are military service records public?

After 62 years from their date of discharge, a veteran’s full military service records become accessible to the general public. However, in the meantime, members of the public can obtain some information from a veteran’s service record, such as their final rank, assignments, and awards.