Nprc No Record Of Mil Records

[Berta]

I have received a widow's claim from one of my vet orgs that has me stumped.

The veteran, now deceased, had a heart attack within 6 months after leaving the service.The type of heart disease he had could possibly fall into the presumptive category of 38 CFR 3.309 (a) (2006) and it obvioulsy manifested at 10% within the year after service.

The widow claims the hospital that treated him had a fire and all of the records showing the 1987 heart attack were destroyed.

I suggested that a possible reconstruction could had been done by the hospital or a state medical board because the fire surely destroyed records of many others too.Also I suggested trying to find the treating doctors.

Also his insurance provider at that time might well had records of his heart attack in 1987.

The widow claims that NPRC has stated to her many times that the service records are not there.

It is possible since she appears to have filed a DIC claim, that the VA has them already or if the vet got SSA, they too might have them.

Also she stated he got a Purple heart but it is not on his DD 214 so I sent her a DD 149 and this new search for the PH might also reveal where the SMRs are.

I received a letter from NPRC 2 years ago-

they had enclosed my husband's Navy records but stated that all of his Marine Corps records were at the VARO. And this was what I needed to find out as his Marine Corp records had been at the local SSA office for years.So I knew that my 2003 claim had generated the VA to get his Marine Corps SMRs.

I also have seen where the NPRC would tell other requestors where the records were if they didnt have them.

I think it is most unusual for the NPRC not to give a reason for their lack of records on this veteran.It seems that he served for 20 years.

Other than the VARO or SSA is there any other place that ones military records would be?

This is a deceased veteran. Still deceased veterans records should be obtainable from NPRC. Rod's were.

If the SMRs never show up I strongly suggested that- since the veteran had the 1987 he should have gotten 7 years more of cardiac care up to his death and these records would probably reveal a verification of the 1987 heart attack via ECHO or MRI etc. and this would help the claim considerably.

I got 4th party information on all this and it seemed that a service officer did not want to even file a DIC claim for the widow for some reason.Maybe because of no service records and no proof of 1987 hospitalization.???

I am just baffled if the service records are not at VARO due to her filing a DIC (if she did)

and not at SSA if he ever applied for SSA benefits-what she could do to obtain them.

Any thoughts?

Do 20 year retiree military records go to a different place than the NPRC?

Edited October 18, 2006 by Berta

[Guest jstacy]

I see your Delimma. She needs to keep on looking for anything that will raise a suspicion.

She should also talk to some of his old buddies, Golf, Fishing, Drinking, To see ot they remember anything.

[LarryJ]

Berta,

Even if the hospital records did burn (frankly, I'd call the hospital to confirm this. I'm an old healthcare engineer, member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) and, for many years while I could still work, a consultant for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and my speciality was "Life Safety" i.e. fire and fire prevention..............) and I don't recall a hospital burning during that particular period of time. And, trust me, if one had burned, I'd have been there and I'd remember it!

But, having said all that, if the records did in fact burn, then it should be a simple matter of finding out who his doctor was (you know, there can't be that many cardiologists/cardiac/thoracic surgeons hanging around) and they would have his treatment records.

But, and I hate to be this way, but, there is something about Denmark and fish that comes to my mind...

Yup, 1987, I woulda been there............Heck, they called me to help out when Tulane and Charity Hospital went "under", literally went "under", and I'd been not able to work for several years at that time.......

[john999]

Funny how vet's records are always burning up in fires. My dad's records buned up in the St. Louis fire but I had his old discharge papers.

[Philip Rogers]

I'm shocked that NPRC would send the original SMR's any where and not a cert. copy!!

Boondoc

Custody of all service records belongs to the branch of service and most are generally stored at the NPRC. When the VA requests the records, the originals and custody there of is transferred to the VA. From there it's easy for them to get lost.

pr