Gather your service records before you need them

6 min read · Written for: Anyone within two years of separation, or anyone who has lost paperwork.

One folder with your discharge paperwork, medical notes, and duty history removes weeks of delay from every application you will ever file.

1. Step 1

   Start a single folder — paper and digital

   Scan every page to one cloud folder named with your last name and the year, and keep the originals in a waterproof envelope. Most denied or delayed applications are missing a document the veteran already owns.

2. Step 2

   Request replacements for what is missing

   Written requests for replacement separation and medical records are free. Ask a nonprofit caseworker to review your request letter before you send it so you request the full file, not a summary.

3. Step 3

   Build a one-page service summary

   List service dates, branch, unit, duty titles, deployments, and any documented injuries or exposures. Every advocate, landlord, and employer will ask a version of these questions.

4. Step 4

   Bring it to an accredited advocate

   Nonprofit service organizations review claims and applications at no charge. Never pay a percentage of a future award — that arrangement is a red flag, not a service.