When the VA says it has exhausted efforts to locate service treatment records, including the entrance (MEPS) exam, this usually happens because older records are stored on paper at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) or a service branch records repository, and some were lost, damaged, or never fully digitized. This is a known, fairly common issue, especially for records from before full electronic recordkeeping. It does not mean the claim automatically fails, but it does shift some of the evidentiary burden onto the veteran.
The entrance exam matters primarily for the presumption of soundness under 38 U.S.C. § 1111. If a condition was not noted at entry, the veteran is presumed to have entered service in sound condition, and the VA (not the veteran) generally bears the burden of showing by clear and unmistakable evidence that a condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by it. If the entrance exam is missing, the VA cannot point to it to rebut soundness, which can actually work in the veteran's favor for certain claims, particularly aggravation-of-preexisting-condition issues.
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 →When the VA cannot find records, it is required under 38 CFR § 3.159(c) to make reasonable, documented efforts to obtain them, notify the veteran that the records are unavailable, describe what was done to try to find them, and explain what alternative evidence can substitute. Veterans in this situation should ask, in writing, exactly what the VA is looking for the MEPS record to prove — sometimes it's just to establish an in-service event or condition, and other evidence can fill that gap. Useful substitutes include service personnel records, sick call logs, unit records, buddy/lay statements from people who knew the veteran before and during service, private medical records from around the time of entry, and a personal statement describing symptoms or events. VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim) is commonly used to submit these alternative accounts, and a formal buddy statement from a fellow servicemember can carry significant weight.
The veteran (or spouse, with proper authorization) can also submit their own request to the NPRC using Standard Form 180 to search independently, since sometimes different offices locate records the VA's initial request missed.
The concrete next step is to request in writing exactly what the missing MEPS record was needed to establish, then gather and submit alternative evidence — buddy statements, personnel records, or private records — through a Statement in Support of Claim while also filing an independent SF-180 request to the NPRC.
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