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Locations of Medical Records - NPRC Veterans Service Officer (VSO)

NOTE:  Veterans who plan to file a claim for medical benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do not need to request a copy of their military health record from the NPRC. After a claim is filed, the VA will obtain the original health record from the NPRC. In addition, many health records were lent to the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the 1973 Fire .  Veterans who filed a medical claim should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to determine if their record is already on file. The VA Toll Free number is: 1-800-827-1000 - it will connect the caller to the nearest VA office.

In the 1990s, the military services discontinued the practice of filing health records with the personnel record portion at the NPRC. In 1992, the Army began retiring most of its former members' health records to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Over the next six years, the other services followed suit:

Branch Status Health Record to VA
Army

Discharged, retired, or separated from any component

 October 16, 1992
Navy Discharged, retired, or separated from any component January 31, 1994
Air Force Discharged, retired, or separated from Active Duty
Discharged or retired from Reserves or National Guard		 May 1, 1994
June 1, 1994
Marine Corps Discharged, retired, or separated from any component May 1, 1994
Coast Guard Discharged, retired, or separated from Active Duty - Reservists with 90 days active duty for training April 1, 1998

After the dates listed above, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Records Management Center, in St. Louis, MO, became responsible for maintaining active duty health records and managing their whereabouts when on loan within the VA. Call the VA toll free number at 1-800-827-1000 to identify the current location of specific health records and to find out how to obtain releasable documents or information.

If NPRC does not have the medical record requested, we will provide contact information for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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