Service Treatment Records, STRs, and Your DD-214
Which office holds what
- milConnect (DoD): DD-214 and, for many recently separated members, in electronic form.
- National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis (National Archives): official military personnel files and older . Requested via eVetRecs online or Standard Form 180.
- VA claims file: copies of the STRs VA already obtained during a prior . If you have filed before, the records may already be sitting in your eFolder.
- Individual service branch record repositories for certain reserve and components; Guard records are often held at the state adjutant general's office.
Check your own C-file first
If VA has ever decided a for you, it obtained your STRs to do so. Requesting the portion of your existing claims file is frequently faster than starting a fresh archival request, and it also tells you exactly which records VA had in front of it — which is the question that matters on appeal.
Requesting from NPRC
- Use eVetRecs at archives.gov, or submit Standard Form 180 by mail or fax.
- Include full name used in service, service number and/or SSN, branch, dates of service, and date and place of birth.
- State the purpose — "VA disability compensation " — and name what you need: complete OMPF, , and any auxiliary medical records.
- Next of kin have expanded access to a deceased 's records; include proof of death.
Check this against your own paperwork
| If your record shows this | What it means |
|---|---|
| The decision says "service treatment records are silent for…" | Verify VA actually had the complete STRs. Request the STR index from the file and compare it against your service dates. |
| The decision references a formal finding of unavailability. | VA declared records unobtainable. That triggers the heightened duty and the alternative-evidence path — and it is reviewable if the search was inadequate. |
| You served in the Army before 1960 or the Air Force before 1964. | Your file may be fire-related. Ask NPRC for SGO index cards and morning reports as auxiliary sources. |
| Guard or Reserve service is not reflected in the record. | Those records are often held at the state level rather than NPRC. A separate request to the state adjutant general may be required. |
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
- The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center — National Archives
- Request military service records (eVetRecs / SF-180) — National Archives
- milConnect — U.S. Department of Defense
- 38 CFR § 3.159 — VA assistance in developing claims — eCFR
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
How to Get Your Service Treatment Records (STR)
Step-by-step on requesting your STRs from NPRC, the National Archives, and VA — what's inside, how long it takes, and what to do if records are missing or burned.
FOIA vs. Privacy Act Requests to VA
Which statute applies to your own records, the 20-business-day response rule in 5 U.S.C. § 552, why the C-file still takes months, and how to appeal a withheld record.
"No evidence of an in-service event or injury"
When service treatment records are silent — lay evidence under Buchanan, personnel records, and the combat presumption in 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).
How to Get Your DD-214
Three ways to request a DD-214 in 2026: the milConnect veteran self-service, eVetRecs through the National Archives, and SF-180 by mail. Timeline expectations and next-of-kin rules.