Service treatment records (STRs) are the medical records generated during your military service. They document every sick call visit, hospitalization, surgery, dental treatment, and medical examination you had while serving. These records are often the most important evidence in a disability claim because they show what happened to your body during service.
The VA obtains STRs through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, which serves as the central repository for military personnel and health records. When you file a claim, the VA automatically requests your STRs if they are not already in the system. For more recent veterans, STRs may already be in the VA electronic health record system.
The process can be slow. NPRC handles millions of requests, and it can take weeks or months to locate and send physical records, especially for older veterans whose records are stored on paper rather than digitally. More recent separations often have records available electronically, which speeds up the process considerably.
If your STRs are incomplete or missing, there are several reasons this might have happened. The 1973 fire at the NPRC destroyed approximately 16 to 18 million records, primarily Army records from 1912 to 1964 and Air Force records from 1947 to 1964. Records can also be lost during transfers between facilities or during the separation process.
When STRs are missing, the VA has a heightened duty to assist as discussed in a separate article. Alternative evidence such as buddy statements, personal journals, photographs, and early post-service medical records become critical.
You can request your own STRs directly from NPRC using Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records). Having your own copy allows you to review them before filing and identify any gaps or favorable entries that should be highlighted in your claim.
During the separation process, service members should request a complete copy of their STRs. If you did not do this at separation, request them now regardless of whether you have a pending claim. Having your records on hand gives you a strategic advantage.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).