Missing Military Records Killing Your VA Claim? Here Is How to Recover Them

Vet Figures It Out | Veterans Benefits Series | Article 6 of 21

I’m a U.S. Army veteran sharing what I’ve learned through personal experience and research. Nothing in this article is legal or medical advice. Every veteran’s situation is different — always verify with a qualified professional before making decisions about your benefits.

In 1973 a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed an estimated 16 to 18 million military personnel files. Army records from 1912 to 1960. Air Force records from 1947 to 1964. Gone. Veterans who had served honorably during World War II and Korea suddenly had no paper trail. If your records are missing or incomplete, you are part of a long and well-documented problem — and you have more options than you think.

How to Request Your Military Service Records

Start at archives.gov/veterans. The National Personnel Records Center processes requests for military personnel files, medical records, and separation documents. Submit a Standard Form 180 or use the online request system at vetrecs.archives.gov. Processing times vary, but this is your first step regardless of what else you pursue.

How to Request Your VA Medical Records

Log into va.gov/health-care/get-medical-records or call your local VA medical center’s Release of Information office. Your VA medical records contain treatment notes, diagnoses, and documentation of conditions treated during and after service that can substitute for missing service treatment records in many cases.

What to Do When Records Cannot Be Found

The VA’s regulations specifically address situations where records are unavailable. Under 38 CFR 3.303, veterans can establish service connection through lay evidence — meaning personal statements and witness accounts — when records are missing or incomplete.

Write a detailed personal statement describing the in-service event or condition. Include dates, locations, units, and specific circumstances. Be as precise as possible about what happened, when it happened, and how it affected you.

How to Use Buddy Statements Effectively

A buddy statement is a written declaration from a fellow service member, supervisor, or anyone who witnessed the in-service event or condition. Buddy statements are submitted on VA Form 21–10210. They carry real evidentiary weight, particularly when service records are incomplete.

Contact veterans from your unit through service organization networks, unit reunion groups, or social media communities organized around your branch, MOS, and era of service.

The 1973 Fire Exception

If your records were potentially destroyed in the 1973 fire, specifically note this in your claim submissions. The VA has established alternative procedures for veterans affected by the fire and is required to assist in developing alternative evidence when records were destroyed through no fault of the veteran.

The Bottom Line

Request your records from the NPRC and your VA medical center simultaneously. Write a detailed personal statement. Gather buddy statements from service members who can corroborate your account. If records were potentially destroyed in the 1973 fire, note that explicitly. Missing records slow claims down but they do not end them.

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DISCLAIMER: This article is written by a U.S. Army veteran for general informational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes legal or medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions about your VA or SSDI benefits. Verify current information at va.gov and ssa.gov.