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Q660: I have tried every thing to get my medical records from 1980 when I was stationed in Ft Lee, Virginia. Please help me as it’s very important to a claim I'm trying to complete. I missed one intent to file because of not having them. How can I get my records? Please help!
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A1: I was just like u trying since 81 to get my records , finally after years of filing tons of paperwork & going everywhere VA would send me & calling every number provided I called one of the numbers for records dependent on location in the US . I luckily talked to a veteran working in that dept , that's how I learned u must speak to a fellow veteran to achieve getting anywhere with the VA. Apparently civilians were directed to flim flam veterans trying to apply for benefits to keep them out of the system. The female Army veteran I spoke with had no trouble locating my records & forwarding them to me, & had them in my hands in about 3 days after about 30 years of exhausting all avenues. Then make sure u seek professional veteran accredited assistance to file for benefits, I eventually retained a veteran law service after finding most free advocates being incompetent . Good luck ! (DM) 2/7/21
A2: There is a form SF-180 you fill out and send to St Louis, Mo, and the address is printed on one of the pages and it is box number 14. File the claim on form 21-526ez and the VA will get those records for what you are filing what disability you are filing for. (GR) 2/7/21
A3: #1 Immediately file another VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File) and establish a date for your new claim. #2 Get Form SF-180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records), fill out with your information and send back to the address that's on the form. The records that you are seeking should be sent to you. If you have internet you can obtain the form, fill out and send it back electronically which would be quicker.
Good Luck and don't wait! (RA) 2/7/21
A4: Go to an Accredited VSO with the VFW, Am Legion, DAV, Am Vets or another Service organization. They have connections through Congressional Offices who can request your Military Records (both Personnel and Medical). Filing an SF 180 yourself can take a while. The Personnel Records Center is under COVID restrictions as there has been two outbreaks. So it is taking longer. Prior to this a Congressional Office could get results within 3-4 weeks. (GH) 2/8/21
A5: Sounds like you have already run the gambit with NPRC. You are not alone. There are many veterans who's records have been lost. I am not sure how many times or, when, you have tried to get them from NPRC but, try one more time. If it was recently (since COVID-19) I would go back to NPRC. They haven't really done anything since the pandemic was declared. Many older veteran's records were destroyed in the fire of 73. What you can do to substitute for your records is to get buddy statements from people that may have witnessed what happened to you. Remember, when getting buddy statements, your buddy's cannot "diagnose", unless they are doctors, but they can state what they observed happened to you and how life was for you after that incident. (DS) 2/8/21
A6: You can request your records from this site.
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/login
or here https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-medical-records/ (ML) 2/8/21