Military personnel records, including proof of service, discharge papers (DD-214), and unit/deployment history, are maintained by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), part of the National Archives, in St. Louis, Missouri. If your relative passed away, you can request their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) as next of kin. Next of kin is generally defined as an unremarried surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased veteran.
The standard way to request records is through Standard Form SF-180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records," which can be mailed or faxed to the NPRC, or submitted online through the eVetRecs system or the newer milConnect/National Archives online portal. You will need to provide as much identifying information as possible: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, branch of service, and approximate dates of service. Include a copy of the death certificate to establish that you are requesting records as next of kin of a deceased veteran, along with proof of your relationship (such as a birth certificate showing your parent-child link if you are a grandchild requesting through a parent's line).
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →It is worth noting that a large portion of Army and Air Force personnel records from before the early 1960s were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the NPRC. If records were lost, the NPRC can often reconstruct partial service information using alternate sources like pay records, unit morning reports, or state National Guard records, but this process takes time and may not produce a complete picture.
A draft card only shows draft registration, not actual service, so it cannot confirm or deny whether someone served. Official confirmation requires either the DD-214 (or equivalent separation document) or a response from the NPRC based on their archival records. If a person received VA disability compensation or a military pension, VA and DFAS may also have records, though these agencies typically only release information to the veteran or their legal next of kin, sometimes requiring additional documentation such as a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The concrete next step is to complete and submit SF-180 to the National Personnel Records Center, along with a copy of the death certificate and proof of your relationship to the veteran, to request the Official Military Personnel File directly rather than relying on secondhand claims about what it does or doesn't contain.
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