National Personnel Records Center

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X-Rays

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) stores many different kinds of x-rays of former military personnel, civilian Federal employees and military dependents. There are approximately 25 million entrance and separation x-rays of former military and civilian personnel dating from 1955 to the present and 3 to 5 million x-rays for military dependents. Interim x-rays for military personnel taken for injury or sickness stay with the health jacket and are filed with the military personnel records jacket. Once x-rays are stored at the NPRC, they remain the property of the Department of Veterans Affairs, even though they may have been taken at a military base or installation.

To request an x-ray, follow the steps below:

STEP 1 - Provide written authorization:

  • If you are the subject of the file, send a signed letter indicating that you are requesting information from your own file.
     
  • If you are not the subject of the file, send a letter signed by the person of record indicating that he/she authorizes the NPRC to release information to a physician or medical facility. If the subject of the file is deceased, a death certificate or proof of death is required.

STEP 2 - Provide the name and address of physician or medical facility where you want the x-ray sent. Because x-rays are highly vulnerable to damage and need to be interpreted by a medical professional, the NPRC sends them to a physician or medical facility rather than to an individual.

STEP 3 - Select an option below and provide the information requested. Please provide as much of the requested information as possible to expedite your request. See: Service numbers and Social Security Numbers for additional information on what identifiers the NPRC uses to store and locate records.

Option A - Army, Air Force and Coast Guard x-rays:

  • Full name
  • Social Security/Service Number
  • Approximate dates of service
  • Name and location of facility where x-ray was taken

Option B - Navy and Marine Corps x-rays:

For x-rays taken 1955 - 1973:

  • Full name
  • Social Security/Service Number
  • Date of x-ray (year, month, day)
  • Name and location of facility where x-ray was taken
  • Film number, located on medical record

For x-rays taken: 1973 - Present

  • Full name
  • Social Security/Service Number

Option C - Military Dependents x-rays:

  • Full name
  • Sponsor's full name
  • Sponsor's Social Security/Service Number
  • Date x-ray taken (year, month, day)
  • Name and location of facility where x-ray was taken

Option D - Former Civilian Employees x-rays:

  • Full name
  • Social Security Number
  • Date x-ray taken (year, month, day)
  • Name and location of facility where x-ray was taken

STEP 4 - Mail request to:

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138

Telephone: 314-801-0800
Fax: 314-801-9195

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