Request and Save those Community Care Notes. ZERO uploaded since January

You are correct to proactively secure your Community Care notes, as systemic delays in their upload to the VA system are a well-documented barrier to both ongoing treatment and disability claims. Under 38 CFR 3.159(c)(1), the VA has a duty to assist in obtaining relevant records, but this does not relieve you of the burden to ensure evidence is present; as established in *Buchanan v. Nicholson*, the VA’s duty to assist is triggered only after a claimant identifies the relevant records and their location. Therefore, your action to collect notes directly is critical. For claims, these records are vital for establishing a current diagnosis and nexus, particularly for mental health conditions rated under Diagnostic Code 9300-9440 in 38 CFR §4.130, where the specifics of your symptoms documented in treatment notes directly dictate the evaluation percentage.

Your actionable next steps are: 1) At each Community Care appointment, request a printed or digital copy of the visit note before leaving. 2) Immediately upload these secured notes to your claim via VA.gov or provide them to your VSO. 3) Submit a formal, written request (VA Form 20-10206) to your VA Medical Center’s Release of Information (ROI) office, citing the specific provider and dates of care, to compel the VA to officially request the missing records. 4) For billing and administrative issues, escalate by contacting the Community Care office at your parent VA facility in writing and using the dedicated billing help line (877-881-7618). Persistently creating your own evidentiary record is essential to overcoming these administrative failures.

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes regarding VA procedures and is not intended as legal, medical, or official claims advice.*