How do I service-connect medical issues without medical records from over 30 years ?ago?

SSgt Mark Ashi — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:53:57 -0400

TDY at Clark AFB and Altus AFB, no clinic records available.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 1 at 2019 5:55 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:55:36 -0400

That's a toughie, see if you can get any possible help from your local VSO.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 1 at 2019 5:58 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:58:07 -0400

Talk to DAV and also your physician. See if you have documented in your civilian records any issues which are considered clearly service related. Also see if St Louis has any copies of your records.

Response by SSgt Robert Matlock made Jun 1 at 2019 6:06 PM

SSgt Robert Matlock — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:06:56 -0400

I asked for copies of my my medical records on several occasions, and every time I received different pages. The last time I got a copy, it had my MEPS induction physical, the time I got drunk and almost bit my lip off, and a page of my initial Air National Guard physical. I have several copies of the same pages included in each package, and in each one an unique page found in no other. I sorted through them according to the time line, and I think I finally got them all, but if the VA request another copy, I might find something new.

Response by SSG Dale London made Jun 1 at 2019 8:00 PM

SSG Dale London — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 20:00:47 -0400

Question: has the military lost your records or is it that you just don't have access to them. If it's the latter, then get a VSO to walk you through the process of requesting your records from the appropriate repository.
If your military medical records are lost, you have a tough hill to climb. In order to get compensation you need to show three things: 1: a current disability, 2: an in-service event that caused or aggravated it, and 3: a connection between the two. If you don't have medical evidence, see if you can find guys you served with who can corroborate your claim and check your civilian records for anything that might help.
Do not forget that the VA has a legal responsibility to help you find records to support your claim. They are not always very good at it but they sometimes come up with the goods and you'll be laughing.
First step - speak to a VSO like DAV, the American Legion or the VFW. They will help you for FREE.

Response by SSG Kasius McCall made Jun 1 at 2019 8:19 PM

SSG Kasius McCall — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 20:19:52 -0400

Buddy statements and nexus letters.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 1 at 2019 10:40 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:40:47 -0400

Witness statements from people who were there.

My uncle had a condition that he found difficult to prove, until he got someone to say there was only three ways to get it and all three were only in his Vietnam experience and no other part of his life.

Response by Maria Principio made Jun 1 at 2019 11:08 PM

Maria Principio — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 23:08:26 -0400

There are a few ways that may be helpful, depending how on the medical conditions, where you were stationed, etc... have you requested a copy of your entire CFile yet? If not, the would be a good place to start

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 2 at 2019 12:01 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 00:01:02 -0400

http://www.vetadvocates.org

Submit an eVetRecs request on line and faxed.in, signed and dated, don't lose the ref #, to NPRC in St. Louis, send Privacy Act (PA) forms to.all.three Congress offs for you, as well.as a letter explaining the problem, so a cover letter for the rEfeRred request to NPRC, asking for a call back from the dir ofc staff, call.also 86-NARA-NARA, the Natl Archives, and ask the staff to see if they can get the NPRC dir ofc staff on the phone, and/or ask the Congress mil/vet staffers to do.it, ask for NPRC and the Congress staffers to ask the USAF Surgeon Genl staff to help them find the records for both clinics, ask NPRC for both your personnel and admin files, just in case there's anything in them showing the TDYs...if you wanna chat more, just ask, this tablet is giving be a good deal of aggravation sending stuff, so I might need to use our PC instead in future, also, call.NOVA and use their search engine, they're the top Of the VA disability food chain apart from the vet groups and law.school vet law clinics...our consult cost $500 for our NOVA, but just did exactly what he sajd, my total perm disability tool six and a half yrs in all, we transferred to him from a vet group, they tried, however, my thing was way too involved, trust me, the best $500 we ever spent, honest....

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Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2019 2:13 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 02:13:15 -0400

I need a little more to go on in order to help, but help I can.
Depending on what you are trying to service-connect, this can be pretty easy or really hard.

Response by SSgt Mark Ashi made Jun 2 at 2019 2:17 PM

SSgt Mark Ashi — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 14:17:49 -0400

St. Luis just had physical exam results. Nothing from Clark AFB and nothing from Altus AFB. This was back i the 80s ad Clark is now closed. Altus directed me to St. Luis. In any case, for my GERD, which turned up to be a Hiatal Hernia (undiagnosed till scoped 10 year after I was discharged), the clinics were just giving me over the counter rolaids and tums. Those days were much different than today. So now Im dealing with very strong PPI drugs to manage the GERD. Thank you all for your great comments!