This is the process I used to get my medical records from the private doctors that treated me for eyes, ears, noses and throat. In a letter, I included the information in the paragraphs below. If you are applying for your military records, you should apply to your branch of service, (Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy) or the NPRC, National Personnel Records Center, where you can apply on line.
In the first paragraph, I told the doctor I need my medical records and why I needed them. I told them what records I needed and gave them the date, month and year if I had that information intact, (I keep all medical receipts, hospital records, so I just look at the date on them and include them in my request.) If not, I gave them the reason I visited the doctor and asked them to please send the records of that visit. Within fifteen days I received medical records from two doctors, when I called the third doctor the lady on the phone said my records are available but I would have to pay for them. When I told her that it would have been nice if she had used the phone and call me within the thirty days and told me I had to pay for my medical records, before I could finish she said “if your doctor or the VA request them by fax, we will fax them and there is no charge” So veterans, make sure your request is to get the records at no cost if possible!
In the second paragraph I told them why I need those records and that I had a claim with the VA or (Veterans Administration) and needed any records that related to the treatment I received for that ailment or sickness. And I told them that my claim was to get compensation for an injury I received in combat. In the letter I told the doctors that the records should include any treatment or visits for my eyes. Make sure you enclose a copy of the page where the VA list the medical information they need from you in your letter of request!
I used the third paragraph to thank the doctor in advance and explain that, I will stop by in the next thirty days to pick up the records or they could be mailed to my home
This procedure is best because it gets the records to the VA in thirty or forty days, not six months or a year. Now, another concern can be addressed, and that is the fact that the doctors at the VA Medical Centers tell me that they cannot get copies of my medical records from the VA when they request them, or the process is slow too never! Well, I just made a copy for my VA doctors and took them in on my next appointment or mail or fax to that Medical Center. In my case, I will reduce the time it takes to process my claims in half!
Filed under: Benefits
