Who is considered a veteran?

A veteran is anyone who:

1. Served on active duty in the Armed Forces for a period of more than 180 days and who was discharged or released there from with other than a dishonorable discharge;
2. Was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability; or
   NOTE: The term "active duty" (or active duty military, naval, or air service) means full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than duty for training in the reserves or National Guard. Any period of duty for training in the reserves or National Guard, including authorized travel during which an individual was disabled from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, is considered "active duty".
As a member of a reserve component under an order to active duty, served on active duty during a period of war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized and was discharged or released from such duty with other than a dishonorable discharge.

How do I obtain a copy of my DD-214, discharge, separation documents?

You can obtain a free, certified copy of your DD-214 by completing SF 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records and mailing your request to:

How do I apply for VA medical benefits?

Complete a 10-10 EZ form, Application for Health Benefits, and submit it to the nearest VA Medical Center. (See our section on "Medical Benefits" for mailing addresses.)

I've been told that my military medical records were destroyed in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO in 1973. What can I do? (I need this information to substantiate my VA claim).

• Write back to The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and request a copy of your personnel file, TDY orders, or any unit records that may be available for your period of service.
• Search the Internet for possible websites for the unit you served with; go to Google or Yahoo and type in your unit. (Some units have great information out there, others have nothing.) Military.com also has some great resources.
• Try to contact someone that you served with…they can write a "lay statement" on your behalf. A "lay statement" is a letter stating what a person has first hand knowledge of; what they've seen and/or what you've told them. They will need to state who they are, how they know you, give their service number or social security number, and the unit they were assigned to in service. Then they will need to state what injury or event occurred to you in service that they are aware of and any events following that pertain to your situation. They need to give a statement at the end of the letter stating, "I herby certify that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge and belief."
• Try to obtain copies of any private physician or hospital medical records where you would have been seen or treated, for the condition you are trying to service connect, especially within one year of your date of discharge from the military.
• Family members and friends may also write "lay statements" in regards to your conditions. They too need to state who they are and how they know you. They can discuss how you were prior to service and then the changes they saw in you after service. If they received a phone call or letter from you while you were in service and told them about the injury or event that occurred they may also state that in their letter. They should also discuss the conditions and problems they see you having now. They also need to give the statement at the end of their letter, "I hereby certify that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge and belief."
• Check with family and friends that you may have written home to in service. Perhaps they still have your service letters tucked away in the attic and in one of those letters you talked about your injury or an event that occurred that would have had something to do with the condition you are filing service connection for.
• Send copies of any pictures of yourself in service where you were either bandaged up or showing your location.