Access to Medical Records

Even in the shortest military careers a servicemember accumulates reams of records from their medical care, as do dependents of military members.  Pre-service screenings at MEPs or DODMERB, care at initial training, the countless interactions with military medical providers- whether the informal intake with a medic or Corpsman or extensive impatient care at a military treatment facility, yields massive amounts of information that is often vital to ensuring veterans receive appropriate VA benefits, ratings, and care, along with state benefits like reduced property taxes, waived tuition at in-state educational institutions and the like.  The same goes for military dependents and seeking assistance for future care or benefits.

However, leaving military service can be a rushed and hectic process.  Among the million things a service member must do prior to leaving active duty, getting hard copies or downloading electronic versions of medical records may be low on the priority list of things to do for themselves or family members.

The military and Veterans Administration has made accessing active-duty records somewhat easy.  Specifically, veterans can submit an SF-180 to the last treatment facility they were cared for at.  Additionally, through Veterans' Medical and Health Records | National Archives  a list of military and veteran resources is available for requesting records at the following: (https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html )

Often times, Rights to Records is sought to assist when records are missing or incomplete records.  Connecting current conditions (nexus) to military service or for dependents exposure when on base, requires evidence of diagnosis while on active-duty status, making it critically important to obtain these records.

Rights to Records has knowledge of former military treatment facilities that may have records, expertise in reserve medical care, and has submitted numerous Privacy Act and records access requests to military and civilian providers to gain these vital records. Likewise, if your medical records are factually incorrect- if, for example, you were treated for a certain condition, but it is not in your military medical record- Rights to Records can assist you in a Privacy Act amendment (correction) to ensure your medical history is correctly documented.

As a tangible example, a Marine veteran was born near Camp Lejeune but never lived on base as a child sought the assistance of Rights to Records.  During his military career, he was never permanently assigned (stationed) aboard Camp Lejeune.  However, that former Marine asserted they were exposed to toxic drinking water and sought access to the Camp Lejeune Water Settlement.  Had the Marine lived on Camp Lejeune or been stationed there he would have automatically been eligible for the settlement. Unfortunately, his record of service showed he had never been stationed at the base, making the evidence for his eligibility unclear.  Through the FOIA, Privacy Act and North Carolina public records access law, Rights to Records successfully established that the veteran went to grade school aboard Camp Lejeune, was treated at the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, and otherwise drank water there while participating in Marine Corps youth and recreation activities on-base, making him eligible for the settlement.  His school and active-duty records were important, but his medical care at the hospital was key in establishing strong evidence for his settlement eligibility as he already had manifested conditions as a child related to toxic water exposure.

So, if your medical record is incomplete, needs correction, or you need assistance in gaining it, Rights to Records can assist.