5 min read · Education

Evidence to gather before you file

A complete claim packet at filing time is worth months. The rater grants on what’s in front of them at decision time — they don’t chase down what’s missing. Here is the inventory to assemble before you hit submit on the 21-526EZ.

Service Treatment Records (STRs)

The VA pulls these automatically from the National Personnel Records Center for active-duty service. For Guard / Reserve members, your unit may still hold them — request a copy through your S-1 / personnel office before separation if possible.

For pre-1973 records that may have been lost in the NPRC fire: file SF-180 with NPRC and submit anything you have personally (DD-214, awards, letters home).
If you have a private copy of any STR document, upload it yourself. The VA’s pull may miss pages.

DD-214 and personnel records

Your DD-214 establishes service dates, branch, MOS, decorations, and discharge characterization. The OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) shows assignments, deployments, awards, NJP. Personnel records are the secondary source when STRs are silent about an in-service event.

Private medical records

Anything from a non-VA provider relevant to a claimed condition. The VA can request these via a 21-4142 release form, but waiting on private providers to respond can add 2-3 months. Faster: pull the records yourself and upload them with your 21-526EZ.

Don’t omit pre-service medical records that show you were healthy before service. They’re evidence that a condition AROSE during service rather than being pre-existing.

Nexus letter or DBQ

The single highest-value piece of evidence. A signed nexus letter from a treating physician (or Independent Medical Examiner) using “at least as likely as not” language with a documented rationale. For musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions, a completed DBQ from your private provider is even stronger.

Lay / buddy statements

From a battle buddy: corroborates an in-service event when STRs are silent. The witness must establish basis-of- knowledge (“I served with John in 1-5 Cav 2007-2008 and was present during X”).
From a spouse / family member: establishes symptom continuity from discharge to today. Critical for the chronicity prong of service connection.
From a supervisor: documents work impact for rating purposes (missed days, duty restrictions, accommodation requests).

Photos and contemporaneous documents

A photo of your living conditions during a Camp Lejeune assignment, a copy of the burn-pit duty roster, a contemporaneous letter home describing the firefight — anything that contemporaneously documents the in-service event helps. Especially valuable when STRs are missing or thin.

Employment records

Especially relevant for higher-percentage conditions and TDIU claims. Pay stubs showing missed time, accommodation documentation, doctor’s notes excusing work, termination or forced-retirement documentation. The VA rater applying schedular criteria to mental health, migraines, and pain conditions weighs documented work impact heavily.

Prior VA claim file (C-File)

If you’ve filed before, request your C-File via VA Form 20-10206. The C-File contains every piece of evidence the VA has ever seen on you. For appeals and supplemental claims, knowing exactly what’s in there is non-negotiable.

C-File requests typically take 4-12 weeks to fulfill. Request it now if you might appeal anything in the future.

Where to upload

VA.gov → “Your claim status” → the active claim → “Add evidence.” Upload as PDF. Filename matters — “STR_2007_orthopedic.pdf” is parsed by the rater faster than “scan_001.pdf.”