Recover Your
Service Treatment Records
Your STRs (Service Treatment Records) are the only proof that an injury happened in service. Without them, your VA claim is just a story. Here is the exact, click-by-click process to retrieve them from the National Archives.
Stop! Check Your Discharge Date.
Not all records are in the National Archives (NPRC) in St. Louis. If you discharged recently, your records are likely already digital.
The "Archives" Era (Use this guide)
Discharged Before 2014 (Army), Before 1998 (Navy), or Before 2004 (Air Force).
The "Digital" Era
Discharged recently? Do NOT use VetRecs. Go to TRICARE Online or VA.gov directly.
Record Location by Discharge Year
How to Use vetrecs.archives.gov
Follow these steps exactly to avoid a generic "No Record Found" letter.
Launch & Authenticate
Go to vetrecs.archives.gov. Click "Make a New Request". New Rule: You must now sign in using ID.me or Login.gov to start the request.
Document Selection (CRITICAL)
When asked what you want, do NOT just select "Military Personnel File". You must manually check:
- ☑ Inpatient Clinical Records
- ☑ Outpatient Medical Records
The "Comments" Section Hack
In the "Purpose" or "Comments" box, type this exact phrase:
"REQUESTING ALL SERVICE TREATMENT RECORDS (STRs) FOR VA DISABILITY CLAIM."
This signals the clerks to look in the medical vaults, not just the personnel vaults.
Review & Submit
Verify your SSN and Service Number. A single digit error here will result in a lost request.
Do Not Ignore the Signature Page
Even if you submit online, the system often generates a PDF "Signature Verification" page at the end.
Requests without a wet signature often stall indefinitely.
If you see a "Signature Page" PDF:
- PRINT the page immediately.
- SIGN it with a pen (wet signature).
- FAX it to the number on the sheet (usually 314-801-9195) OR MAIL it within 20 days.
If they do not receive this paper within 20 days, your online request is deleted.
The ID.me Exception
If you successfully verified with ID.me at the start, you might skip the paper signature. However, if the system asks for it, do not assume ID.me was enough. Send the paper.