How do I get incorrect information removed from my VA medical records?

If another veteran's diagnosis or condition was mistakenly entered into your VA electronic health record, this is a record-correction issue governed primarily by the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a) and VA's own health information management policies, not by the disability claims process itself — though it can still affect a claim if the erroneous entry influences a future C&P exam, a compensation and pension rating, or a treating clinician's notes that get cited in a rating decision.

The first step is to request a formal amendment to your medical record. This is typically done through the Release of Information (ROI) office or Privacy Officer at the VA medical facility where the error appears, not necessarily the facility you actually visited. You can also route the request through a patient advocate at either facility, or submit it in writing by mail. Clearly identify the erroneous entry (date, author, and problem listed) and request that it be amended or removed, and ask for written confirmation once the correction is made. Keep copies of everything you submit and any response you receive.

If the facility declines to amend the record, Privacy Act regulations allow you to submit a formal statement of disagreement, which must then be attached to the disputed entry so that anyone who views the record also sees your rebuttal. You can also file a complaint with the VA Office of Inspector General if you believe this was a serious data-handling failure, since mixing one patient's clinical data into another's chart is a patient-safety and privacy concern, not just an inconvenience.

If the incorrect entry has already been used against you in a disability claim decision, such as being cited to suggest drug-seeking behavior or substance misuse, that is separate from the records-correction process. You would need to address it through the appropriate decision review lane, a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) if you have new and relevant evidence, including the medical record correction and any statement of disagreement, or a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) if you believe the existing evidence was misread. The corrected record and your written dispute become key evidence in that review.

Start by contacting the patient advocate or privacy officer at the facility where the error originated, request a written record amendment, and keep documentation of the error and your request in case it needs to be submitted later as evidence in a claims review.