Audit what VA has on you
Before you challenge a decision, request an increase, or file a new claim, it is worth knowing exactly what VA already has in your file. That record is your claims file, almost always called your C-file, and you are entitled to a copy. This guide shows how to request your C-file with VA Form 20-10206, how to pull your DD214 and service records, and the one rule that trips people up: this form is for your own records only.
What a C-file is, and why it matters
Your C-file is the paper and electronic trail behind your claim: the evidence VA gathered, the exam reports, the rating decisions, and the correspondence. When a decision looks wrong, the C-file is where you find out why. It is hard to spot a missing document or a misread exam if you have never seen what the rater saw.
Reading it pairs naturally with two other guides. Once you have the file, our guide on reading your VA rating decision helps you decode the decision letter, and our guide on service connection evidence helps you spot which of the three elements a denial actually turned on.
How to request your C-file: VA Form 20-10206
The tool for this is VA Form 20-10206, the "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) Request." VA describes its purpose simply: "Use this form to access personal military, compensation, pension, or benefit records."
You do not have to mail paper. VA notes, "You can submit this request online instead of filling out and sending us the paper form." Online is usually the faster route.
What you can request with it
The form covers more than just the C-file. VA's requestable-records list includes several items you may want:
| Record | What it is |
|---|---|
| Claims file (C-file) | The full record behind your disability claim |
| Claim exams | Sometimes called disability examinations or C&P exams |
| Compensation and pension records | Your comp and pension record history |
| DD214 | Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty |
| Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) | Your personnel file |
If a term on the form is unfamiliar, the glossary defines the basics, and the conditions library helps you connect exam findings to what was claimed.
Your own records, and requests for others
Here is a distinction people miss. VA's online Form 20-10206 tool is for your own personal records. The paper form, though, also permits a request concerning another person when the requester supplies the required authorization or recognized power-of-attorney documentation; it has dedicated third-party and power-of-attorney certification sections for exactly that. So use the online tool for your own file, and use the paper form with the proper authorization if you are helping someone else.
Getting your DD214 and service records
Your service records and DD214 are a separate system from your VA C-file, and there are three main ways in:
- Online through the National Archives: "You can request your military service records online using the National Archives' eVetRecs tool."
- By mail or fax: "Fill out a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form 180)." The SF-180 is the classic paper path.
- Through the Department of Defense: "If you were discharged after any of these dates, you can request your records from the DOD through the milConnect website." milConnect is useful for more recent discharges.
Which path fits depends on your situation. If you are comfortable online and want the do-it-yourself route, eVetRecs is usually the place to start. If you prefer paper, or you are mailing a request, the SF-180 is the classic form. And if your discharge is recent, milConnect through the Department of Defense may be the most direct. These repositories overlap but are not interchangeable, and availability depends on your branch, service dates, current status, and the repository.
Requesting records for a veteran who has passed
Family sometimes needs these records too. VA explains you may qualify as next of kin "if you're related to the Veteran" as a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling. And for older records, VA notes that "If the Veteran was discharged more than 62 years ago, you can order a copy of their military records." Those paths run through the National Archives rather than VA Form 20-10206.
What to look for once you have it
A C-file can run hundreds of pages, so read it with a purpose rather than front to back. Start with the most recent rating decision and the exam reports behind it, because that is where most errors hide. Compare what you told VA against what the examiner actually wrote down. Check whether every condition you claimed was addressed, whether the effective dates line up with your records, and whether a favorable finding was noted and then not carried through. If a document you expected is simply missing, that absence is itself useful information and can point to what to submit next.
Keep the file organized as you go. A simple index by date and document type will save you hours later, and it makes any conversation with an accredited representative far more productive. If the record raises questions about how a condition was rated, our guide on reading your VA rating decision explains what each part of the decision is telling you.
Why do this before a review lane
If a decision did not go your way, pulling the C-file tells you what to fix. Maybe an exam was thin, maybe a record never made it into the file, maybe a favorable finding was overlooked. Knowing that shapes which decision-review lane fits, which our guide on HLR vs Supplemental Claim vs Board Appeal lays out. A records request is separate from a benefits claim or decision review, so do not assume it pauses or extends any deadline, and do not wait for the records if a stated deadline is approaching. If the issue is a claim exam, our guide on the VA claim exam explains how to request the exam report itself.
What this does not mean: Requesting your C-file does not start, pause, or reset any claim, and it is not a decision review. It is an information request. Also, VA's online Form 20-10206 tool is for your own records; requesting another person's records requires the paper form with the proper authorization or power-of-attorney documentation.
The official pathway
Submit VA Form 20-10206 online for your C-file and personal records. For your DD214 and service records, use eVetRecs, an SF-180, or milConnect depending on your discharge. We help you read and organize these records once you have them; we never request, prepare, or file anything on your behalf. Understanding your own file, at /va-ratings and beyond, is the first honest step toward a stronger claim.