Obtaining Digital Records?

[Navy Spook]

I went to my VAMC (North Texas Dallas) records release area and asked for all my medical records so I could prepare a new claim. I was informed there would be some 10,000 pages so they would mail them to me. I declined that and asked if I could get it in a digital format of some kind. The guy at the desk said, "No, we don't have the capability to do that."

Has anyone come across a VAOGC determination or other ruling or regulation that allows the veteran access to their records in a digital format?

Also, slightly related, I can get my X-Rays and Scans on a disk, but there is a handmade sign at the radiology window that says they will charge $15.00 for each request. I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to charge a fee unless it is a duplicate request that has been provided previously.

Thanks.

[carlie]

A few vets I know have been able to get their records on a CD - but very few so far.

Good luck.

[retiredat44]

I got a copy of my medical records from a hospital stay at the VA where is was in a bed for 6 months.. they sent me pages the size of two large phone books.. mind you I have been a patient there 15 years.. so I could not imagine how many pages it were if I asked for them all..

[Notorious Kelly]

The Portland, Oregon VA Requires records to be issued on CD after so many pages. I wonder if you might contact a VA who has CD-writing capability to issue you one.

My pages were only in the hundreds but it was still a formidable task reading, sorting, categorizing, removing duplicates etc

I found it best to skip labs, meds etc if they were mentioned in the Progress Notes. That can take a nice chunk out of the papers you must shuffle.

[Vync]

My VAMC does not have the ability to provide digital media, so here is what I did:

1. Contact your Patient Advocate and request this service be made available.

2. They can call many of the VAMC's on the West coast and confirm this is possible.

3. They will eventually get the hardware ordered and installed.

Stay on them weekly until it is complete.

[SLEDGE]

My former VAMC and my current VAMC use two different computer coding systems and it was like speaking English and Spanish (just an example).

In order to allow my specialist to examine the nuclear testing results I had to hand-carry the films and text documents to the location of the specialist.

MRI, X-rays, physical examinations and everything in text form.

Then I found out that the x-rays, blood values, tox screens and even gender belonged to another veteran.

The specialist was not impressed with my objections and showed me the door.

sledge