Missing or incomplete service treatment records are a common problem, especially for events from decades ago or those tied to sensitive matters like military sexual trauma (MST) or reproductive health care. The VA has a duty to assist you in obtaining relevant records under 38 CFR 3.159, which means you can and should ask them to search further before assuming the claim cannot be supported.
Start by submitting a written request to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) for a complete copy of your service treatment records, not just what the VA already has on file, since VA sometimes receives only partial record sets. If you were treated at a specific troop medical clinic (TMC) or off-post facility overseas, you can also request records directly from that facility or through the National Archives, citing the unit, installation, and approximate date of treatment. Keep copies of every request and any response, including negative responses, since these become evidence that records are unavailable through normal channels.
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 →For claims involving MST or similar circumstances where military records are often incomplete due to the nature of the incident, VA regulations allow for markers of behavior change as alternative evidence. This can include statements from people who noticed changes in your mood, performance, or behavior around the time of the incident, mental health treatment records from any point afterward, personnel record changes such as duty reassignment requests, and lay statements describing the incident itself, even without contemporaneous medical documentation. 38 CFR 3.304(f)(5) specifically addresses this lower evidentiary threshold for personal assault and related claims.
Continue trying to obtain a statement from your former NCO, but do not let the absence of that statement stall your claim. Buddy statements from anyone else who knew you at the time, including fellow service members, friends, or family who noticed changes, can also help establish the timeline and impact.
If your claim has already been denied or the C&P exam findings were unfavorable due to lack of documentation, you can file a Supplemental Claim using VA Form 20-0995 once you gather new and relevant evidence, such as additional records or lay statements.
The concrete next step is to submit formal record requests to both NPRC and the specific overseas facility in writing, while simultaneously gathering lay and buddy statements describing behavioral changes to support an MST-related claim under 38 CFR 3.304(f)(5).
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