How long does it take to get your VA C-file?
Last verified August 26, 2026 · Reviewed by Esteban Magallon, VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Details
- Request route 1: the VA.gov personal records request (online VA Form 20-10206).
- Request route 2: paper or fax VA Form 20-10206, signed by the requester.
- Request route 3: an accredited attorney, agent, or VSO representative with VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a on file reads the eFolder directly — no FOIA needed, and free VSOs have the same access.
- Request route 4: the National Personnel Records Center, for older or unscanned files and for service records.
- Appeal deadlines do not pause while a records request is pending. File within the one-year window and supplement the record afterward.
Related
This is general educational information about VA claims — not legal or medical advice. Individual outcomes depend on the record. Oakridge Claims is a private VA-Accredited Claims Agent practice and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.