Getting Your Military Medical Records (Service Treatment Records)

Requesting Your Military Medical and Treatment Records

Health records cover the outpatient, dental and mental health treatment that former members received while in military service. Health records include induction and separation physical examinations, as well as routine medical care (doctor/dental visits, lab tests, etc.) when the patient was not admitted to a hospital.

Before you begin, understand that the VA has a DUTY TO ASSIST in getting all Service Treatment Records as well as any non-military records you tell them about. You should supply records if you have them but never delay filing a claim because you don’t. In addition, in-patient hospital records while on active duty may be held by the treating facility.

If you are still active duty, Tricare, the health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families, states that the times you should request copies of your medical and treatment records are when you are under permanent change of station (PCS) orders, you are deploying, getting discharged or before you retire.

The first place to check will be Tricare Online. You have this option whether you are a military retiree or not. Records may include Compensation & Pension Exam results (C&P exams).

The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR) retains the military personnel, health, and medical records of almost 100 million discharged and deceased Veterans of all services during the 20th century. To request records from the NPRC, you are going to need to provide specific information that allows them to locate the records. During the COVID-19 pandemic the NPRC was shut down except for emergency requests for almost 2 years. This resulted in a huge backlog and if you request records, it may take 2 or more years. (2022)

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:

• · The patient’s full name used during treatment

• · The patient’s Social Security number and status during treatment

• · The name of the last facility responsible for the treatment record, usually the last facility that provided treatment

• · The year and type of treatment, including type of illness or injury

• · The branch of service and sponsor’s service number or Social Security number

You want to provide as much information as you can because a record may not be located if information is missing.

Veterans or next-of-kin of deceased veterans can use the online order form at vetrecs.archives.gov (or use the SF-180).

How Long Does It Take to Get Military Medical Treatment Records?

NPRC states that 92% of separation record requests (DD-214) 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.

The eVetRecs allows for emergency claims to be processed faster. DD 214/Separation Documents, Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), replacement medals, and medical records are all available online, while burial and emergency requests require fax.

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.

Military medical records can help provide a more complete picture of the patient’s medical history and may be useful in treating ongoing conditions and diagnosing illnesses that arise after the Veteran has returned to civilian life.

If it becomes necessary to apply for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military medical records can play an important role in documenting the Veteran’s medical treatments and overall condition of health during service, as well as showing the source of complications that arose later.

Information contained in a Veteran’s military medical records may be useful to support a claim for VA disability benefits for conditions such as post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). For example, if the Veteran suffered a traumatic injury while serving in the military and received medical treatment, this information could bolster a claim for VA disability benefits.

Getting your DD-214