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Whether you need records for a VA disability claim, a new doctor, or family history research, this step-by-step guide covers every pathway to getting your military medical records — including what was lost in the 1973 NPRC fire.
Whether you need records for a VA disability claim, a new doctor, or family history research, this step-by-step guide covers every pathway to getting your military medical records — including what was lost in the 1973 NPRC fire.
Military medical records are held by the federal government, not by individual providers or hospitals. That single fact changes the entire retrieval process. There is no patient portal to log into and download a PDF. No office to call and ask for a fax. The records belong to a system built around national security classification, archival storage, and bureaucratic timelines that have nothing to do with your Thursday afternoon doctor's appointment.
Where your records actually sit depends on when you served, which branch you were in, and whether the paper trail survived a warehouse fire more than fifty years ago. This guide maps out each pathway, with honest timelines and the workarounds that exist when the standard process fails.
The storage location depends on when you served and whether you need service records, medical records, or VA records. These are distinct categories with separate retrieval processes.
The primary repository for older military records is the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The NPRC holds official military personnel files and some medical records for veterans who have been discharged.
What the NPRC holds:
Since 2017, the Department of Defense has been transitioning to MHS Genesis, the unified electronic health record system for the Military Health System. All military treatment facilities now use MHS Genesis, and it is the source for medical records for veterans who received care after the system's rollout.
If you served and received medical care at a military treatment facility after approximately 2017, your records are in MHS Genesis.
Between roughly 1992 and the MHS Genesis transition, the armed forces used AHLTA (Armed Forces Longitudinal Technology Application), the DoD's previous electronic health record system. Records from this era exist electronically but require specific request pathways to access.
If you have received care through the VA health care system, your VA medical records are separate from your military service medical records. VA records are maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are accessible through My HealtheVet.
Military service records document what happened during your time in uniform. VA records document the care you received after discharge through the VA health care system. They are two different systems, maintained by two different agencies, with two different request processes.
On July 12, 1973, a fire struck the NPRC and burned for two days. It destroyed an estimated 16 to 18 million records. No duplicate copies existed.
Records most affected:
That a fire of this scale could destroy irreplaceable records with no backup copies remains one of the most consequential failures in federal record-keeping, and its effects continue to deny veterans and their families access to documentation they earned through service.
If you are trying to obtain records for a veteran from these eras, many original documents may not exist. NARA has procedures for reconstructing records from alternate sources (discharge papers, state records, other documents) but this process takes longer and often produces incomplete results.
If records were lost in the fire:
eVetRecs is the National Archives' online request system for military service records. It is the fastest starting point for most veterans and next-of-kin.
Who can use eVetRecs:
How to submit a request:
Be as specific as possible about the records you need. Vague requests slow things down.
Processing times: NPRC typically processes standard requests within 10 business days. Complex cases or requests requiring records reconstruction take significantly longer — sometimes months. The gap between "10 business days" and "months" is wide, and NPRC does not always communicate which category your request falls into.
The Standard Form 180 (SF-180) is the official paper form for requesting military service records. It accomplishes the same thing as eVetRecs through a mail-based process.
The tradeoff: eVetRecs is faster for straightforward requests. The SF-180 creates a paper trail and can be preferable for complex requests involving deceased veterans or situations requiring attached documentation. Neither method gives you records that the other cannot.
When to use SF-180:
How to submit SF-180:
Use certified mail with return receipt. Requests do get lost.
Processing times: Mail requests typically take 3 to 6 months for older records or complex cases. If your records were destroyed in the 1973 fire, reconstruction adds additional months on top of that.
If you have received care through the VA health care system, your VA medical records are accessible through My HealtheVet, the VA's patient portal.
Setting up My HealtheVet:
My HealtheVet provides access to VA records going back several years. It is one of the more functional patient portals in the federal system. For older VA records, you may need to contact the specific VA facility where you were treated and submit a written request.
If you received care at a military treatment facility after the MHS Genesis rollout (approximately 2017 forward), your records are in MHS Genesis and accessible through the MHS Genesis Patient Portal.
Accessing MHS Genesis:
MHS Genesis contains clinical notes, lab results, imaging reports, medications, and immunizations from your time receiving care at military treatment facilities during the MHS Genesis era.
| Service Era | Where Records Are | Best Request Method |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1960 | NPRC (some lost in 1973 fire) | eVetRecs or SF-180 |
| 1960-1992 | NPRC (paper and early digital) | eVetRecs or SF-180 |
| 1992-2017 | AHLTA (electronic) | eVetRecs or VA |
| 2017-present | MHS Genesis | MHS Genesis Patient Portal |
| VA care (any era) | VA health care system | My HealtheVet |
If you need your military medical records to support a VA disability claim, you can request expedited processing.
How to request expedited processing:
When submitting through eVetRecs or on the SF-180:
For VA disability claims specifically, the VA Benefits Administration and the NPRC have a direct channel for exchanging records. When you file a VA disability claim, you can authorize the VA to request your records on your behalf. This is often faster than requesting records yourself and then submitting them.
Do not wait for records to file your claim. The date you file establishes your potential start date for benefits. File the claim, then work with the VA to gather supporting records. An experienced VA claims representative (VSO) or veterans service organization can help navigate this process. The claim date matters for when your benefits start. You can submit additional evidence later.
Next-of-kin and authorized representatives can request records for deceased veterans through eVetRecs or the SF-180 process.
Who qualifies as next-of-kin (in priority order):
Required documentation:
Certain records — particularly records less than 62 years old — have additional privacy protections even for next-of-kin, and access may be more limited. NARA will advise you of exactly what is available when your request is processed.
For genealogical research (records more than 62 years old), access is generally broader.
Army: Older Army records are primarily at the NPRC. Post-2017 medical records are in MHS Genesis. Army National Guard members should also contact their state adjutant general's office, as some records are held at the state level.
Navy and Marine Corps: Historical records at NPRC. For medical records during active service, contact the Navy Personnel Command or use eVetRecs. Recent records in MHS Genesis.
Air Force: Historical records at NPRC (note the 1973 fire impact for certain name ranges and discharge periods). Recent records in MHS Genesis.
Coast Guard: Coast Guard records are maintained separately. Contact the National Personnel Records Center or the Coast Guard's Personnel Service Center (PSC) in Topeka, Kansas.
Reserves and National Guard: Records may be held at the state or federal level depending on the service and whether the member was activated for federal service. Contact the specific state's adjutant general's office in addition to NPRC.
Sometimes records genuinely cannot be located — whether due to the 1973 fire, administrative gaps, or records that were never centralized. For VA disability claims, this creates a real problem with a limited set of workarounds.
Steps when records cannot be found:
Request a "no records" letter from NPRC. This officially documents that the search was conducted and no records were found. This document is useful when appealing VA denials.
Gather buddy statements. Fellow service members can provide sworn statements describing the conditions, injuries, or illnesses they witnessed. These carry significant weight in VA proceedings.
Check alternate government records. VA examination records, Social Security records, military pay records, and records held by state archives may fill gaps.
Contact veterans service organizations (VSOs). Organizations like the DAV, VFW, American Legion, and others provide free claims assistance and are experienced at navigating records reconstruction.
Use VA Form 21-4142. This form authorizes the VA to request records from private sources on your behalf, which can fill gaps when service records are incomplete.
For veterans requesting their own records:
If you are navigating a VA disability claim alongside your records request, see our guide on requesting medical records for a disability claim for additional guidance on organizing your evidence.
This information is educational and does not replace professional medical or legal advice.
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