Filing An Inital Claim From 1965

[usmcgirl]

this is a question on behalf of my dad that i don't know the answer to...

He got out of the Army in 1965, he never filed a claim through the VA for benefits or did any of the paper work of any kind. is it too late for him to do so? can he even get his service medical/dental records from that far back he wants to know? is it even possible for him to get service connected for injuries he had so long ago to things he has going on present day?

thank you

[john999]

He can still file but he won't get compensation from 1965. The sooner he files the better.

[THOMAS89031]

USMC GIRL...Your/your dads initial step should be to go to www.va.gov on the right hand side is "Veterans on Line Application" (VONAPP)

Fill out the application.. The most important step is to file the claim in order for your dads claim to be on record with the VA .

It is not too late for him to file a claim.. VA will be able to get his records(provided they were not shredded)

Please provide more info as to injuries/"things he has going on present day"... is he a Vietnam Vet?

Semper Fi

this is a question on behalf of my dad that i don't know the answer to...

He got out of the Army in 1965, he never filed a claim through the VA for benefits or did any of the paper work of any kind. is it too late for him to do so? can he even get his service medical/dental records from that far back he wants to know? is it even possible for him to get service connected for injuries he had so long ago to things he has going on present day?

thank you

[usmcgirl]

this is kind of a stupid question but who should he go to to get copies of his service medical records and stuff from back then?

[Ethan'sGrandma]

Please don't feel like there's a stupid question in the quest for information. You can go to: www.archives.gov and look for the section on veteran records.

[THOMAS89031]

The form you want is SF_180 (When you get to the web site.. www.archives.gov type in the search block sf-180 it is a pdf and fillable form

[usmcgirl]

he is afraid a lot of his records were lost in the fire in 1973 since that is what the agency told him when he called to get a copy of his DD 214 when he needed it - what ever agency that was lord only knows. I went to the national personal records center website and ordered a copy of his records, with him, to be sent to his house with a time line of 6 to 8 weeks. While those are coming I told him to start getting all of his copies of medial stuff organized and together that he has around his house. That should keep him busy while I print out the forms he is going to need from the VA. - HA....A double whamy....being able to help another vet and keep the PTSD person busy so I don't focus on my issues LOL!