---
title: "How to Request Military Medical Records: A Legal Guide"
description: "Request military medical records through the right custodian, with guidance on active-duty care, archived records, VA forms, and consent."
canonical: https://www.tavrn.ai/blog/how-to-request-military-medical-records
updated: 2026-11-05
---

# How to Request Military Medical Records: A Legal Guide

*By Tavrn Team · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-11-05 · Law*

To request military medical records, match the treatment and service dates to the right custodian, form, and authorization.

![Illustration of a file box, government office building, filing cabinet, envelope, and clock.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/97t2tbu4/production/79b545af54fb517e1d89dd9813f97d0a78c58fb5-1536x1024.jpg)

To request military medical records, note the care type, service branch, and separation date. Use these to find the right office. Older service health records may be at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), while later records may be with VA or a service records office. Hospital inpatient records can require a separate search. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)

For a legal team, start with the records needed, not a blanket request for a military file. Keep service treatment, hospital stays, VA care, and civilian care on separate lines in the case checklist.

## Match the record to the office that holds it

The same client may need requests to several offices. NARA treats these as distinct record groups: outpatient service care, inpatient hospital care, and VA care. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)

| Record needed | Where to start | Request detail to check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Care at a military hospital or clinic | MHS GENESIS for patient access, or the facility's records office | Follow the facility's release instructions. [\[2\]](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords) |
| Service health records after separation | Current NARA location chart and SF 180 routing table | Match branch, separation date, and record type. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)[\[3\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html) |
| Archived inpatient hospital records | NPRC, when it holds the records | Identify the hospital, year, and type of treatment. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)[\[4\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access) |
| Care provided by VA | Treating VA facility's Release of Information office | Keep VA treatment separate from service health records. [\[5\]](https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-get-your-medical-records-from-your-va-health-facility/) |
| Care from a civilian provider | The civilian provider | TRICARE advises requesting those medical and dental records separately. [\[2\]](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords) |

Do not use a personnel-file access date as a medical-record routing rule. The SF 180 instructions direct requesters to choose a location based on the branch, separation date, and type of record. [\[3\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html)

### Check the later separation dates

Not all veterans' service health records go to the VA Records Management Center. NARA says the services stopped retiring those records to VA in 2014. Its current chart identifies these later routes: [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)

| Branch | Separation date | Listed health-record custodian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Army | On or after January 1, 2014 | AMEDD Record Processing Center. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) |
| Navy and Marine Corps | On or after January 1, 2014 | BUMED Navy Medicine Records Activity. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) |
| Air Force / Space Force | On or after January 1, 2014 | AF STR Processing Center. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) |
| Coast Guard | On or after October 1, 2014 | USCG HSWL SC Medical Administration, subject to the service-status conditions in NARA's chart. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) |

For earlier separations, consult the full chart rather than guessing from the decade. Before mailing anything, confirm the current address in the linked instructions.

## Choose the form for the record and recipient

Use **SF 180** for military service-record requests, with the location table on the form's final page. NARA accepts mail or fax submissions under its instructions; eligible veterans and next of kin can also start requests through eVetRecs. [\[3\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html) [\[6\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records)

For NPRC clinical and medical treatment records, NARA recommends **NA Form 13042**. It captures the facility and treatment details needed for the search; it is not mandatory. [\[4\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access)

For a patient's own VA health records, use **VA Form 10-5345a**, or send a secure message to the treating facility's Release of Information team. The paper form can be submitted by mail, fax, or in person. [\[5\]](https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-get-your-medical-records-from-your-va-health-facility/)

Use **VA Form 10-5345** to authorize VA to send health information to an attorney or other outside recipient. [\[7\]](https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-5345/) For military health records, TRICARE points patients to **DD Form 2870**. Use it to give another person, such as an attorney, access. [\[2\]](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords)

Keep the form and destination together in the request log. Ask the receiving office to confirm any local submission or signature rules before sending sensitive documents.

## Request hospital stays separately

A service health file is not a substitute for an inpatient search. NARA's guidance says: “Typically, these records are NOT filed with the health records.” It explains that inpatient records are generally retired by the hospital that created them. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)

For an NPRC search, give the hospital's name and location. Add the year and type of care. NARA needs enough details to find the patient. For a military dependent, it also asks for sponsor details. [\[4\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access)

Build a checklist with a separate entry for each known hospital stay. When records arrive, compare the return with the scope you requested. Log missing facilities or treatment periods before marking the request complete.

## Establish who may receive the records

At NPRC, an attorney can request records with signed and dated consent. It must come from the veteran or eligible next of kin. NARA says to state exactly what may be released. The consent is valid for one year from signature. Clinical-record requests must also be signed and dated within the last year. [\[4\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access)

Use the custodian's instructions rather than treating a law firm's standard release as sufficient in every setting. For HIPAA-covered releases, check 45 CFR 164.508(c). It requires a description of the records, the discloser and recipient, purpose, expiration, signature, and required notices. [\[8\]](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.508)

If using a court order instead of consent, check NPRC's court-order rules. NARA states: “Subpoenas qualify as orders of a court of competent jurisdiction only if they have been signed by a judge.” This is an NPRC rule, not a rule for every provider. [\[9\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/court-order)

## Handle deceased clients and sensitive records with care

For NPRC requests, eligible next of kin include an unremarried surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling. NARA requires proof of death, such as a death certificate, funeral-home letter, or published obituary. An authorized third-party requester also needs the required consent and proof of death. [\[4\]](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access)

Keep that route distinct from HIPAA personal-representative rules. Under 45 CFR 164.502(g)(4), a covered entity must recognize a person with the right legal authority to act for the deceased. This can be an executor, administrator, or other person under applicable law. The rule covers health information relevant to that role. HIPAA protection generally continues for 50 years after death under section 164.502(f). [\[10\]](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.502)

Military personnel records generally become archival and open to the public 62 years after separation. That is a different clock from HIPAA's period after death; do not apply the personnel-file rule to every medical record. [\[6\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records) [\[10\]](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.502)

Mental health treatment records and psychotherapy notes also need care. HIPAA generally requires consent to release psychotherapy notes, with limited exceptions. A release for those notes may only be combined with another release for psychotherapy notes. Check the request scope with the records office. [\[8\]](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.508)

## Track each request without promising a return date

Keep a log of the custodian, record scope, signed release, submission date, confirmation, and next action. Use that log to separate a missing hospital search from a request still awaiting a response.

NARA says response time depends on the request's complexity, record availability, and workload. Its service-record page says not to send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed. Doing so may cause further delay. Use the status tool rather than sending duplicate requests. [\[6\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records)

For a VA benefits claim, veterans do not need to request their service health record from NPRC themselves. NARA says VA obtains it after the claim is filed. Keep that benefits process distinct from a law firm's request for case records. [\[1\]](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html)

## What to do next

Before submitting, confirm the custodian, treatment scope, recipient, and current form. For help planning a broader medical record retrieval workflow, [book a demo](https://www.tavrn.ai/demo). Confirm the route for any military or federal records during the discussion rather than assuming a standard provider request covers them.

## Sources

1. [Veterans' Medical and Health Records](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) — National Archives and Records Administration
2. [Military Health Records](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords) — Defense Health Agency / TRICARE, 2026-09-30
3. [Request Military Personnel Records Using Standard Form 180](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html) — National Archives and Records Administration
4. [Access to Clinical and Medical Treatment Records by the Veteran, Next-of-Kin, or Person of Record](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access) — National Archives and Records Administration
5. [How to get your medical records from your VA health facility](https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-get-your-medical-records-from-your-va-health-facility/) — US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026-07-09
6. [Request Military Service Records](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records) — National Archives and Records Administration
7. [VA Form 10-5345](https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-5345/) — US Department of Veterans Affairs
8. [45 CFR 164.508 — Uses and disclosures requiring authorization](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.508) — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Current through 2026-11-03; accessed 2026-11-05
9. [Court Order Requirements](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/court-order) — National Archives and Records Administration
10. [45 CFR 164.502 — General rules for uses and disclosures](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.502) — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Current through 2026-11-03; accessed 2026-11-05

## How do I request military medical records online?

Registered patients can view and download personal health information in MHS GENESIS; missing records should be requested from the military hospital or clinic. [2](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords) Veterans and next of kin can start eligible National Archives requests through eVetRecs, which requires identity verification through ID.me. [6](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records)

## How do I make an active-duty medical records request?

Contact the records office at the military hospital or clinic where treatment took place and follow that facility's instructions. TRICARE directs patients to DD Form 2870 when giving an attorney or other person access to their military health records. [2](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords)

## What form should I use to request military medical records?

Use SF 180 and its routing table for military service records; NPRC recommends NA Form 13042 to locate clinical and medical treatment records. [3](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html) [4](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/medical-records-veterans-access) VA Form 10-5345 authorizes third-party release of VA health information, while DD Form 2870 is the military health-record release form identified by TRICARE. [7](https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-5345/) [2](https://www.tricare.mil/PatientResources/MedicalRecords/MilitaryHealthRecords)

## How do I request Marine Corps medical records after separation?

For Marine Corps health records, NARA lists the VA Records Management Center for separations from May 1, 1994, through December 31, 2013, and BUMED Navy Medicine Records Activity for separations on or after January 1, 2014. [1](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html) Check the current SF 180 routing table for the specific record type and service dates before sending the request. [3](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html)