Jump to content

Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

  • tbirds-va-claims-struggle (1).png

  • 01-2024-stay-online-donate-banner.png

     

  • 0

Does C-File Include Service Treatment Records?

Rate this question


SubicBay0311

Question

Does anyone know if your C-file is supposed to include your entire service treatment record?

I have requested a copy of mine and my c-file does not. At a recent C&P exam the doctor noted only reviewing my C-file, and my claim was denied. I am quite sure this was because he did not see my service treatment records.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • 0

You really need to review your C-File first before submitting a claim. I made the mistake of striking out on my own before obtaining a copy of my C-File. When I finally did receive it, I found around 90 or so pages of medical records from other veterans, and barely any of my SMR's. I ended up being rated, simply assuming the VA would have had access to all of my military records. Wrong!

After I received my C-File, I immediately started digging up my old documents from records I had on hand, and then submitted repeated requests to the National Personnel Records to obtain other records, inlcuding extremely important entrance and separation examination records. Once I had obtained and put together these records, I immediately shot them over to the VA through eBenefits, fax and via certified mail to help substantiate my NOD.

Don't assume anything with the VA. Also just in case, it doesn't hurt for you to go ahead and start requested records from the NPRC, just to have them on hand in case the VA C-File is missing them. You also never know what you might find that you had forgotten about. I did.

Good luck!

Mark

Edited by MarkInTexas

USAF Active Duty 1988-1994

Security Police - Law Enforcement Specialist

Thank you all for your service to our great nation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • HadIt.com Elder

I know some of my SMR's Didn't make it back from Nam, I have tried & tried to get them from NPRC St Louis & RO but all I get is'' Not found''

Ft Hoard Calif I never got any of my SMR's when I got out of the service altho a VA doc, stated at a C&P he review my smr's at the time of discharge he claim they gave me a complete physical, eye /hearing test?

I NEVER REMEMBER THEM DOING THAT?

I remember clearing out getting my ETS records signed and got my steak dinner that was it then I caught the next flight home.

Edited by Buck52

I am not an Attorney or VSO, any advice I provide is not to be construed as legal advice, therefore not to be held out for liable BUCK!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

A few points:

1) Service Records SHOULD be in your C-File, but the VA does not always include your entire Service Record file - they sometimes selectively remove portions that they deem irrelevant. Most of the time, they are wrong.

2) Also, ALWAYS request your service records from the Archives every year or so.

Why? Military units are constantly archiving old records and so your files can get updated with additional information from time to time.

3) If you are filing a claim to Reopen a previously denied service connection claim, getting your service records can make the difference between your original effective date (the date of the original claim) or a later effective date (the date of the reopened claim).

Read here to find out more about how newly discovered Military Service Records can affect the effective date in a Reopened Claim.

We make a point to request updates for our clients every year or so, depending on the issues in the claim (once service connection is granted for all the medical conditions you seek, the service records become largely meaningless).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!
  • Recent Achievements

    • keepmovingforward earned a badge
      One Year In
    • kidva earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • kidva earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • kidva earned a badge
      First Post
    • kidva earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
  • Our picks

    • These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.

      Service Connection

      Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
      This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected. 

      Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
      The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.

      Effective Dates

      Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
      This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.

      Rating Issues

      Continue Reading on HadIt.com
      • 0 replies
    • I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful.  We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did.  He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims.  He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file.  It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to  1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015.  It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me.  He didn't want my copies.  Anyone have any information on this.  Much thanks in advance.  
      • 4 replies
    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
      • 0 replies
    • Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
    • VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their  ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.  

      They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.  

      This is not true, 

      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

          Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly.  The VA is broken. 

          A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals.  I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision.  All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did. 

          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use