In This Section

Introduction

This topic contains general information on clinical records including

• when clinical records are retired
• how clinical records are retired
• locating clinical records
• when to request clinical records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
• how to request clinical records from
  • NPRC, and
  • a military treatment facility (MTF), and
• clinical records destroyed in the fire at NPRC.

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.1.a.  When Clinical Records Are Retired

III.ii.2.C.1.b.  How Clinical Records Are Retired

III.ii.2.C.1.c.  Locating Clinical Records

III.ii.2.C.1.d.  When to Request Clinical Records From NPRC

• the time frames in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.C.1.a are satisfied
• a response from the MTF indicates that the records have been retired, or
• the Veteran received in-service mental health treatment.

III.ii.2.C.1.e.  How to Request Clinical Records from NPRC

• the alleged disease or injury
• name of the treatment facility, and
• beginning and ending dates of treatment.

III.ii.2.C.1.f.  How to Request Clinical Records from an MTF

If the clinical records are maintained at an MTF and cannot be obtained using JLV, submit a request to the treating facility by using a VA Form 21-8359, Information Re Veteran in Uniformed Services Hospital (Request by Department of Veterans Affairs).

The request to an MTF must include the

• Veteran’s name
• Social Security number or service number
• month of treatment (if known), and
• year of treatment.

• limitations on requests to an MTF, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.A.3.a
• when MTF treatment records are available in JLV, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.C.1.a, and
• associating health records located in JLV, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.B.1.j.

III.ii.2.C.1.g.  Clinical Records Destroyed in the Fire at NPRC

• records destroyed in the fire at NPRC, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.F.1, and
• some alternate sources for the fire-related period, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.F.5.

Introduction

This topic contains instructions for locating and obtaining Army OMPFs, including

• maintenance and storage of OMPFs, and
• location of OMPFs and the means for requesting copies.

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.2.a.  Maintenance and Storage of OMPFs

• retires from active duty
• is released from active duty with no further service obligation, or
• is released from active duty with a service obligation but is not actively serving in a specific Reserve or National Guard unit.

• The military field activity is responsible for ensuring that all personnel records are added to the OMPF in iPERMS during the separation/retirement process.
• With the exception of enlistment examination and Physical Evaluation Board reports, the OMPF rarely contains any STRs.
• Prior to August 2005, the Army referred to the OMPF of an enlisted service member as the “military personnel records jacket” (MPRJ).
• The Army began digitizing the OMPF into iPERMS on October 1, 1994 and continued to transfer the original, paper versions of OMPFs to NPRC for storage until July 1, 2002.

III.ii.2.C.2.b.  Location of OMPFs and the Means for Requesting Copies

• the location of Army OMPFs, and
• the means for requesting copies of these records.

• PIES, see the PIES User Guide, and
• DPRIS, see the DPRIS User Guide.

Introduction

This topic contains information about locating and obtaining Navy personnel records, including the location of Navy

• personnel records and the means for requesting copies, and
• records associated with line-of-duty determinations.

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.3.a.  Location of Navy Personnel Records and the Means for Requesting Copies

• the location of Navy personnel records, and
• the means for requesting copies of these records.

• PIES, see the PIES User Guide, and
• DPRIS, see the DPRIS User Guide.

III.ii.2.C.3.b.  Location of Navy Records Associated With Line-of-Duty Determinations

Introduction

• location of Air Force personnel records and means for requesting copies, and
• obtaining Space Force personnel records.

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.4.a.  Location of Air Force Personnel Records and the Means for Requesting Copies

• the location of Air Force personnel records, and
• the means for requesting copies of these records.

• PIES, see the PIES User Guide, and
• DPRIS, see the DPRIS User Guide.

III.ii.2.C.4.b.  Obtaining Space Force Personnel Records

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.5.a.  Location of Marine Corps Personnel Records and the Means for Requesting Copies

• the location of Marine Corps personnel records, and
• the means for requesting copies of these records.

• PIES, see the PIES User Guide, and
• DPRIS, see the DPRIS User Guide.

Introduction

• location of Coast Guard personnel records and the means for requesting copies, and
• requesting Coast Guard investigative reports.

Change Date

III.ii.2.C.6.a.  Location of Coast Guard Personnel Records and the Means for Requesting Copies

III.ii.2.C.6.b.  Requesting Coast Guard Investigative Reports