How to recover lost military medical records?

LCpl Steve Turnbow — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:15:02 -0400

After I had been out of the Marines for a bit, I requested a copy of my medical records. However when I received them I realized that my ankle injury from Iraq was not included. I have 75% mobility in my right ankle and wanted to go to the VA but had no proof that I had been injured. I remember that it was documented while I was there. What should I do?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 7:23 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:23:42 -0400

Unfortunately, this is why I request copies of medical paperwork prior to leaving a appointment or treatment. All to often medical records are missing documentation. I'm sorry that I don't have an answer for you but I think other than checking with the facility in Iraq if it's still open which it probably isn't, I don't think you will be able to retrieve that info.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 15 at 2015 8:52 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 08:52:15 -0400

Did you include that medical facility on the line in Section 2, Question 1 on the Form 180?
"Medical Records (Includes Service Treatment Records, Health (outpatient) and dental records.) If hospitalized (inpatient), the facility name and date for each admission must be provided"

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Mar 24 at 2016 9:17 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:17:49 -0400

Have you tried contacting the medical unit that saw you? They may have a copy.

If you are not able to get it, I've heard that sworn statements from others who were serving with you could corroborate your injury, and that the VA would still consider those.

Response by SPC James Dollins made Mar 24 at 2016 9:28 PM

SPC James Dollins — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:28:51 -0400

Were you given a copy of your medical records when you got out? If so, then I would go through them & see if the records are in your copy. If so, you might be able to get them added to your records.

Response by PFC Eddie Roger made Apr 6 at 2018 2:24 PM

PFC Eddie Roger — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 14:24:04 -0400

EDWARD RODRIGUEZ S.S. # 453824410 I NEED MY MEDIAL RECORD AUGUST 1981

Response by PO1 Terence Sperringer made May 5 at 2018 6:24 AM

PO1 Terence Sperringer — Sat, 05 May 2018 06:24:48 -0400

I need my sick call records from Afghanistan from 2008 to 2014.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 7:08 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 19:08:49 -0400

Depending on year and BAS, they were doing computer records all mine from 2010-2011 even my IED blast are all computer, even when I got back and transferred to a Battalion all records were on computer. From what I was told VA has access to these after 2009, not sure. I would tell the where and they may be able to access them.

Response by A1C Kenneth Crocker made Aug 2 at 2019 11:43 PM

A1C Kenneth Crocker — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 23:43:41 -0400

yeah atleast you have some records its as if i never existed there are no records anywhere ive looked for years i had a ts sci and i dont exist anywhere but in traffic court records ssn and birth certificate. someone made me a ghost and there are zero answers

Response by SPC Richard Zacke made Feb 19 at 2020 6:13 PM

SPC Richard Zacke — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 18:13:53 -0500

When my medical records arrived they were heavely redacted after fighting another year they came through with my injuries but nothing happed where the records say they did. And now they have been lost...I've been told there in a wharehouse in Daytona and then they said Tampa and Miami. My records are from 1978 thru 1981 so not on computer. I need a blood hound to sniff them out. Good luck to all looking for lost records....My son negotiated his disablities when he left the Air Force and got 90%...I'm 100% TDIU so I don't think I can go any higher OR can I?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2023 3:26 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 15:26:31 -0400

Your deployed military medical-dental records likely were stored in a DoD system called Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS), not in AHLTA like they are anywhere else outside of a designated war zone. Here is the link to contact TMDS to try to retrieve your records. https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/Environmental-Exposures/Theater-Medical-Data-Store I discovered all of this merely by chance during my second deployment to Iraq. None of my medical records from my first deployment ever made it into my Navy AHLTA or VA medical records and I had no idea why. They had just disappeared and I had never heard of TMDS at that point. When I had to go to medical again in Baghdad during my second mobilization, the Army enlisted member at the CASH found all of my missing records on his computer in TMDS from my first deployment - plus he added in all the new information. He said to make sure that I obtained a hard-copy of my entire TMDS medical-dental record before redeploying this time and to ensure that a copy of it was entered into my official Navy AHLTA and hard-copy medical records when I got back to Norfolk. He told me to tell everyone else I knew about TMDS, as well. I also provided a copy to the VA as an attachment to a disability claim using a VSO and retained the original copy for myself. Maybe this will help you to finally track-down your missing records. Nobody ever tells us anything - good luck!!!

Theater Medical Data Store

The Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS) provides web-based access to service member information collected at theater based medical treatment facilities (MTFs) using AHLTA-Theater, Shipboard Automated Medical System (SAMS), Global Expeditionary Medical System (GEMS), and Caché TC2.