Evidence Supporting the Veterans Claim

Evidence Supporting the Veterans Claim

Military Records

Evidencesupporting a veteran’s claim is generally found in the military records. StandardForm 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, is used to obtain a copy of military records. The request requires mailing to the proper custodian of the veterans records as indicated on the form. VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit favorable evidence to VA.

Other Military Records

Other types of military recordsrelated to a veterans military service may be obtained and include reports of investigations, pay records, unitpersonnel rosters, ships logs, unitmorning reports, and unitdaily journals. (See Thumb Drive Cabinet C, Folder 4 for contact information.)VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit favorable evidence to VA.

Buddy Statements

Buddystatementsare statements of individuals with firsthand knowledge of the facts that support the veterans claim.Buddy statements should be sworn and notarized. VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.

Other Misc. Evidence

Newspaper articles, letters home to family or friends, statementsfrom family and friendsdescribing the veteran before and after service and records showing hazardous duty pay can be used to support the veterans claim. VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.

VA Claims File

Veterans who have previously filed claims for benefits may obtain a copy of their VA claims file by completing VA Form 3288, Request for and Consent to Release of Information from Individual’s Records. This form is submitted to the Regional Office where the file is located. The claims file may contain evidence to substantiate additional claims.VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.

VA Medical Facilities

A copy of the veteran’s health care records should be obtained from all VA medical facilities where the veteran received treatment. VA Form 10-5345a, Individuals Request for a Copy of Their Own Health Information, is the form used to request health care records.VA is required, at the veterans request, to obtain copies of all VA health care records. However, it may be in the veteran’s best interest to obtain the records and submit those that contain favorable medical evidence to substantiate the claim directly to VA.

Treating Physicians (Non-VA)

A copy of the veteran’s health care records should be obtained from all non-VA treating physicians and favorable medical evidence supporting the claim should be submitted to the VA.VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.

Other Medical Evidence

Veterans should consider researching and submitting evidence from medical textbooks, treatises or journal articlesthat suggest the symptoms described by the veteran are part of a diagnosable condition. This type of information, when accompanied by a statement from the veteran describing the current symptoms, can be helpful. VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.

Social Security Administration(SSA)

Veterans receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) may obtain a copy of their SSD file. VA is not bound by SSA decisions; however, the SSA file could contain favorable evidence supporting the VA claim which would be persuasive. VA 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, may be used to submit this evidence to VA.