Tell me if you have had this problem with paperwork

SGT Timothy Sowers — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 07:52:25 -0500

I have been trying to apply for VA benefits. I have been on a few websites trying to find as much paperwork as I can due to my old unit taking all of my records that I had to "make copies" because they lost theirs, and not returning mine. And you guessed it, they lost mine now. Oh sorry, misplaced them. So I found some on osd.mil. then going further into the website and a couple more links, I found my VMET documents. So i went to them and downloaded them. I started to look them over and to my suprise, I have been doing things in the military, (taking classes, teaching classes, and some how getting new identifiers for my MOS). I have been out since 2008! So how am i doing all of this? And out of all of the documents that were on these websites, there is no DD214. The only DD214s that they have were from training. If you seen my last post you know the trouble that I have had with paperwork my whole military career. I have made a couple of calls and asked what was going on and what I should put on my application for benefits for my release date. I was told what ever date is on the paperwork. Well the report was dont in OCT of 2013. Now I have no idea what to do. Any suggestions?

Response by SFC James Baber made Mar 18 at 2014 10:20 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:20:18 -0400

I would suggest contacting the military archives in Saint Louis, as well as DA HQs for records, even if the unit lost records, there should be some within the system as all records to include medical records went full digital as of 2006, so there has to be some within the system somewhere, your medical records will be the headache as the request for them can take any where from a few months to a year or more. The good thing there is no time limitation for filing a VA claim.

Good luck.

I feel your pain, I have had my medical records lost 3 times during my career, luckily I learned from my DS during basic to make copies of every thing, so every time I was due to PCS and in the old days we hand carried all our records with us, I made copies of the entire record.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 11:04 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 23:04:58 -0400

You poor thing! Did you not hear about the paper monsters that come out at night? They can be quite vicious. The more important the paperwork, the tastier.

Response by SGT Timothy Sowers made Mar 19 at 2014 7:57 AM

SGT Timothy Sowers — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 07:57:08 -0400

Thanks for the responses but it is all of my military records. And I filed for Health and disability. Every time I log on to the site there seems to be another piece of paperwork that shows up. they even have a card to print out that says you served in the armed forces honorably and to print cut and carry it for verification of service. did not know that they had such a thing. But i did print it. I know it is going to be a long road but it has to be done.

Response by SGT Timothy Sowers made Feb 28 at 2015 9:59 AM

SGT Timothy Sowers — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 09:59:41 -0500

it has been a long time since I've been on here but I wanted to update on my situation.I now have medical coverage through the VA and they are processing my disability claim.so thank you for all the responses and help that you've posted.I have since found a lot of my records online that the VA couldn't even find.and I still have no DD 214 but I did find a DD 215 which I guess is an update to the DD 214.