If you are filing a claim with the VA, any record of traumatic events, injuries, and medical treatment you received during your service can be helpful. Once a servicemember has been discharged and no longer has any further service obligation, his or her personnel records are sent to a central archiving facility. A person released from active duty based on expiration of terms of service, generally is transferred into the inactive reserve. This information is shared electronically between VA facilities so most information created at one VA facility can be accessed from other VA facilities. VA claims file containing records of all examinations, claims, treatment, decisions, and other documents relevant to the veteran’s claim. A veteran’s claims file is maintained at the VA Regional Office where the veteran filed his or her claim for benefits.
