VA Letter say they can't find medical records for 10 year span

[wjrasmussen]

Today a letter arrived from the AV regarding my claim and said they couldn't find my VA medical records from 1990 - 2000.  They ask me to provide copies if I had them and other medical records.   I don't have any.   How will this affect my claim?

[Berta]

If you have 6 years of VA medical records, they can find them but you yourself might have to try to get them.

VA told me the same thing years ago as to my dead husband's VA Newark records-

I had seen them when he was alive , they were at the SSA office, then retired somewhere at VA.

There are different places VA medical records can be at-I forget where however- will try to find more info

[Berta]

At some point the VA said my husband's VA medical records had been "retired" at St. Louis-

https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5380

because he had not used VA health care for years, because he had died.

Have you tried the above?

 

[broncovet]

Also contact the hospital at your respective duty stations during the "lost" period.  

VA does not try very hard to get our records, they would rather just deny.  

Possible alternative:  These records "may" not make any difference, especially if you have your malady's documented elsewhere.  Remember, you dont need a "diagnosis in service", you simply need to document an "in service event or aggravation".  Stick with the Caluza element basics.  

[Berta]

Thats right-

"Today a letter arrived from the AV regarding my claim and said they couldn't find my VA medical records from 1990 - 2000"

Do they have your STRs and any VA records ( or your private medical  records) After 2000?

Did you move and change VAMCs during that time frame?

If we know more about what you are claiming , we can help more (I hope).

[broncovet]

The good news:  If you submit "new service records" and are eventually awarded benefits, you should be able to get an effective date back to when you first filed, per 38 cfr 3.156 c.  

[wjrasmussen]

These are not military medical records, they are VA medical records.   Everything has been exhausted in their search.   Assuming they are gone, how might this affect my claim?

 

Yes, they have records after 2000 to now.