ptsd VA lost my claim years ago and my medcal records are "missing"

[AFWarrior]

Greetings,

I filed my claim at the Winston-Salem VA location in October of 2015. In may of 2012 I received an email response notifying me there is NO OPEN CASE on file. I called and it was confirmed there is no record of a claim. Since then, I have attempted to acquire my medical and full service records, with no success. The latest attempt at records retrieval was also unsuccessful, however I did receive a letter from NPRC informing me my health record “may” have been sent to the regional office where my claim was filed.

The letter came from St. Louis, Mo and indicated that my records could be at VARMC in St. Louis. I’m confused, tired. And emotionally drained. I am a 52 year old Air Force veteran (1983-1992) dealing with several service connected injuries that continue to get worse as I get older.

I have received both inpatient outpatient mental health care at the VA here in Asheville. So far, I have managed to survive and cope with these conditions, but my pain and psychological issues (including PTSD)become too much to bear at times. In short, I need help. I feel like the government has given me the runaround for 20 plus years and I don’t know what else to do.

I have called the veterans crisis line and spoken to local case workers here at the Asheville VA, however I have not heard from them in over 3 weeks.

I think they forgot about me (again), or maybe they are understaffed.  There have been recent tragedies in recent months committed by veterans, and those incidents  have spurred me to again seek help, I don’t know where to start and I’m slowly losing my mind! Veterans who proudly served this great country are being cast aside, adrift in a sea of red tape.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Keith F.

[Berta]

It seems you filed a claim in 2012 and also 2015? And they do not have either one you filed?

Did you file it on line using the 21-526 form?

Do you have proof of filing it on line, or proof of sending it in by mail, or did a vet rep say they filed it for you?

This is confusing  please clarify:

"I filed my claim at the Winston-Salem VA location in October of 2015."

(by location do you mean the Winston-Salem Regional  Office in North Carolina?

 "may of 2012 I received an email response notifying me there is NO OPEN CASE on file. I called and it was confirmed there is no record of a claim. ' who did you call? what VA did the email come from?

"The letter came from St. Louis, Mo and indicated that my records could be at VARMC in St. Louis "

Were you ever treated by the St Louis RMC?

Is it possible they meant the St Louis Missouri Regional Office?

Did you moved from N Carolina to St Louis or vice versa during the past 4-5 years?

Since 2012  what mail have you received from the VA, if any.

 

 

 

[AFWarrior]

Thank you for you questions, clarification is required

I only filed one claim in person at the Winston Salem location in 2010. ( I made a typo in my original post of 2015, apologies).. I heard nothing for months. By May of 2011 I became homeless and had been admitted to the VA-Asheville in June 2011 for mental health issues. i have no proof of the original claim due to homelessness and the loss of my personal affects and records. I began working a new job, stabilized a bit and in May 2012, an email from National IRIS response center manager stated no open claim is on file. I decided to seek my records on my own, and since 2012 I have submitted Vetrecs requests a few times on line, without success.  My job went out of business July 1st, so I am taking some time to try again. I was active duty from January 1983 thru Oct 1992. I haven't been to St. Louis, but the NPRC is usually where I am directed by Vetrecs. I don't know the difference between VARMC and NPRC,  and both are in St. Louis. I'm confused and lost at this point. Big thanks to you for your response, much appreciated.

:

[Berta]

This might be the best place to contact :

Department of Veterans Affairs
Records Management Center (VARMC)
P.O. Box 5020
St. Louis, MO 63115-5020

Telephone: 1-888-533-4558

I also suggest you contact a Vet rep or VSO to formally file a claim.

VA medical records would be found at the VAMC that treats you. Their Records Access person ( FOIA/Privacy access Officer) would surely have a brief form you can fill out to get them.

Your VAMC might have a local vet rep or VSO to help you file the claim.

I assume you filled out a SF 180 at the National Archives site? www.archivesgov

On a SF 180 I suggest asking for all military medical records as well as a copy of the complete 201 Personnel file.

[Berta]

I needed to add:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html

That is where NPDB indicates AF records might be at.VARMC in St Louis.

[AFWarrior]

Thank you, I have contacted the local VSO office, so hopefully I can get some help.

If I'm not mistaken, filing a claim will generate the records request, however I'm afraid the records

won't be located even if I do file again. I did  the SF 180 and requested full full personnel and medical records, and

to date have not received them, just the letter I mentioned previously. Excellent info, very helpful, thank you,

[john999]

Do you have a copy of your DD214 and/or your discharge?  If you have those documents you can at least prove you served.  Your military records exist either at the VA or in St. Louis.   If you do any business with the VA use certified mail/return receipt.  Make copies of everything and never trust the VA for anything.   The VA "lost or disregarded" vital evidence in my original claim and it cost me a lot of compensation.  You cannot trust these dogs one millimeter.  You need to get hold of your  Military medical records and your personnel file.   Do what Berta has said and do not just leave it up to a VSO or anyone else to advance your claims.  You must remain involved all the way.    These people would screw their own grandmothers to save a buck for Uncle Sam.