Here is the web site for the National Archives. Makes retrieval of Active Duty records a bit easier.

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html

I do have a suggestion. If you are going to file a claim, you may wish to have your veterans organization service officer order the records for you. The reason I state that is in many claims I file, data found in the service record needs to be verified. When a veteran, or their surviving spouse, bring in copies of a service record it may, or may not be altered. I must re-order the records if they are pertinent to the claim. This will create considerable delay, due to the system of record storage in the NPRC.
With copy machines, any corrupt individual can alter the records. I must order records direct and they are sent to me. This assures the VA veterans records are not altered.
Just a thought, it is your claim.

Dave , the biggest advantage of having a copy of your med records is to substantiate a NOD or CUE. You can send a copy of the pertinent info and they can go look at their official copy to verify it..

Could cut months off the response time and some of us are getting old. The VA is allegedly using the "wait them out" system. Seems to be working very well with WWII and Korean Vets.

I have been waiting five months for the VARO to do some creative math and send me an award letter. The BVA increased my rating last year.

Everytime I check I get a different answer. I used the VA inquiry system at their web site and got standard answer # 4. My SO said it would be two weeks almost a month ago...

Same song, different verse..

Since I have been doing this (1977) the VA has rejected copies, unless the original was lost by either NPRC or the VA. However, I do encourage every individual at the time of discharge to obtain a copy of their service medical records. I review them before a claim is submitted, when available.
Veterans will sometimes bring the originals to me. Those by law belong to the government. I have them copied by the VA and give the veteran a copy.

The VA that I deal with has accepted my copies as a matter of reference. They, I assume, still go to the official records to verify. If they are rejecting them I am not made aware. As long as the claim is settled to my satisfaction I don't care. Been doing it since 83..

Late last year I had a face to face hearing with a suit in Washington. He didn't say that my copies were rejected. As a matter of fact my rating was increased 20% as a result of the hearing.

Who rejects them?? You or someone else in the pipeline??

Dave -I was wondering when I sent for a copy of my DD-214 it came back with my Vietnam tour missing I found out this is quiet common according to old Shipmates. I have the orignal copy in my discharge package is that the reason it is missing in DD214.

quote:

Who rejects them?? You or someone else in the pipeline??

I do not reject anything, my job is representing veterans. The law paraphrased is original service medical records's will be used because of so many xerographic alterations.
You need to do what you need to do, my purpose is not to debate what has worked for you. I just wanted to save headaches and 6 or more months waiting time for veterans filing claims.
I have no further comment on this topic.

Neither do I..