Your records are the backbone of your claim — they prove the in-service event and document your condition. The main ones: your DD-214 and military personnel records, your service treatment records (STRs), and your medical records (VA, federal, and private). Each has a specific channel, and knowing which one saves you months.
Straight talk first
A claim is a documentation game, and the veteran who shows up with organized records is miles ahead of the one waiting for VA to find everything. The good news: you can get all of it, and VA will help with the federal pieces. The trick is knowing which door each record lives behind — milConnect, the National Archives, or your own doctor's office — so you're not mailing the wrong form to the wrong place and losing a month each time.
This is the records side of how to file your own claim.
Military records: DD-214 and personnel file
- Recent separations — request online through the DOD's milConnect portal (available for service after the branch cutoffs, e.g., Army after Oct 1, 2002; Navy, Marines, and Air Force have their own dates).
- Older records — submit a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, or use the National Archives' eVetRecs online portal (requires ID.me verification).
Service treatment records (STRs)
Your STRs are the chronological record of the medical, mental health, and dental care you received in service. They're the heart of the "in-service event" element, so request a complete copy through the same military records channels. If you filed before separating, much of this was handled through your Separation Health Assessment.
Medical records: federal vs. private
- VA and other federal records (VA medical centers, SSA) — VA will request federal records you identify with your authorization.
- Private (non-federal) records — you generally provide these yourself, or authorize VA to get them using VA Form 21-4142 (authorization to disclose information from a named private provider).
What VA does vs. what's on you
With your permission, VA requests your military service records and the federal records you point it to. The pieces most likely to fall through the cracks are private medical records — your civilian doctors, therapists, and specialists — so either gather those yourself or file the 21-4142 so VA can.
Put it to work
Organize records by condition, keep copies of everything, and submit them up front — a Fully Developed Claim with all evidence in hand gets a faster decision. Thin records are also exactly where lay/buddy statements earn their keep.
Pointman is education-only and not VA-accredited; we point you to the right channels so you can build a complete file.
Key takeaways
- DD-214 / personnel records: milConnect (recent) or SF-180 / NPRC / eVetRecs (older).
- STRs prove the in-service piece — get a complete copy.
- VA gathers federal records you identify; private records are on you (or via VA Form 21-4142).
- Organize by condition and submit up front for a faster decision.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get my DD-214 and service records?
- For most recent separations you can request them online through the DOD's milConnect portal. For older records, submit a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), or use the National Archives' eVetRecs online portal (which requires ID.me verification).
- What are service treatment records (STRs)?
- STRs are the chronological record of the medical, mental health, and dental care you received during your military service. They're central to proving the in-service event element of a claim, so getting a complete copy matters.
- How does VA help gather records?
- With your authorization, VA requests your military service records and federal records (like VA medical center or SSA records) you identify. You generally need to provide or authorize private (non-federal) medical records yourself, often using VA Form 21-4142.
- What is VA Form 21-4142?
- It's the authorization that lets VA request your private medical records directly from a named provider on your behalf. If your treatment was outside the VA/DOD system, this is how you let VA go get those records.
Sources
- VA — Request your military service records (including DD-214): https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
- National Archives — Request military service records: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
- VA Form 21-4142 — Authorization to disclose information to VA: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-4142/
- VA — Evidence needed for your disability claim: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/evidence-needed/
