By Matt Scherer 

Military members facing a future departure from active duty should understand how well-documented medical records will help in their future VA claims. 

Even if you are not ready for retirement or a separation, things can change. 

Medical conditions can occur where the military wants a veteran to work with a medical evaluation board for an unplanned discharge.  As the chief executive officer of the Military Transition Roundtable, I have seen firsthand the impact of military professionals having to make an unexpected retirement or departure from active duty. 

Jane Babcock, a retired and former nationally accredited county veteran service officer, suggests active-duty members should document ailments, especially on deployments in oversea combat zones. 

“I’d keep a diary of anything that caused someone to go to a doctor or medical provider,” Babcock said. “Sometimes, the documentation in one’s records will get misplaced or will not have the needed details for a VA claim evaluation.” 

Babcock injured her back while on deployment in Iraq.  She provided the VA with the incident’s date, but she also gave them testimony from others who witnessed the injury.  Those documents helped her get a service-related injury added to her claim’s status. 

Some veterans will also get treatment either for emergency medical ailments or at a civilian health provider.  Babcock noted special duty assignments such as recruiting duty or work with the Corp of Engineers often result in the military member having a second set of medical records. 

“VA officials evaluate a Veteran’s claim for disability compensation on a case-by-case basis to determine whether we can establish service-connection for Veterans (meaning that their illness or injury was caused by — or got worse because of — active military service) and we are always trying to get to “yes.” That means that once Veterans file a claim, we use every tool in our power to help them demonstrate that their condition is connected to their service and then provide them with earned benefits accordingly,” Ryan Basen, a VA public affairs specialist noted in an email. 

Basen also noted: “When making our determinations, we consider all evidence, and we have a duty to help Veterans obtain that evidence. Evidence can include medical records, service medical records, the military personnel file, statements from the Veteran, buddy statements and more. And, if all this evidence is not sufficient to decide the claim, then VA will also request a medical examination at no cost to the Veteran.” 

Military members who serve in special duty assignments such as a ROTC college instructor or recruiting should make sure their non-military health providers use the Joint Health Information Exchange to transfer any medical data to their military records. 

More information on this new medical records platform is available at this Tricare link.