Your VA C-File: What It Holds and When to Request It
Your C-file is VA's claims file: the service records, C&P exams, evidence and decisions behind your VA claims. Request it with VA Form 20-10206 online, by mail or by fax. First-time filers don't need it; it helps most after a denial or before seeking a higher rating.
Written by Staff Writer AI-assisted · YourVABenefits · Last updated October 2, 2026 · Who writes these
Last reviewed: October 2026. Based on VA Form 20-10206, VA's Privacy Act request page and the National Archives' medical records page.
Your C-file is the folder VA keeps on you as a claimant. It holds what VA looked at when it decided your claims. You do not need it to file a first claim. It matters most after a denial or a low rating, because it shows exactly what VA saw. YourVABenefits is independent and is not part of VA; you request the file from VA yourself.
What is a VA C-file?
C-file is short for claims file. It is VA's record of your benefit claims, kept under your name and file number. VA treats it as a Privacy Act record, so you have a right to ask for a copy. The instructions on VA Form 20-10206 name "personal Claims Files (C-File)" as an example of these records.
What is in a C-file?
Every file is different, but a C-file often includes:
- Service treatment records VA collected for your claims
- Personnel records and your DD-214
- Compensation and pension (C&P) exam reports and medical opinions
- Evidence you or others sent in, such as private records and buddy statements
- Rating decisions, decision letters, and other mail between you and VA
A C-file is not guaranteed to hold every record that exists about you. If a record never reached VA, it will not be there.
Is my Blue Button report the same as my C-file?
No. Your Blue Button download is your VA health record: lab results, care notes, allergies, and medicines from VA clinics, which you can get online today on My HealtheVet. Your C-file is your claims record, from the benefits side of VA. It has to be requested separately and does not arrive instantly.
When is it worth requesting your C-file?
You do not need your C-file to file your first claim. VA gets your service records itself. Request it when seeing VA's evidence would change what you do next:
- After a denial. The decision letter says what VA weighed. The C-file shows the actual exam report and the records behind it. That helps you pick the right review lane and spot missing evidence.
- Before asking for a higher rating. You can see what the last exam measured and what the rating was based on.
- When adding a new or secondary condition. Your old exam reports and service records may already document symptoms that support the new claim.
- If you left service between about 1992 and 2013. For most separations in that window, the military sent service treatment records to VA instead of the National Archives. In that case, VA may be the place that holds them.
Who holds service treatment records from 1992 to 2013?
The National Archives lists these dates for when each branch sent service treatment records to the VA Records Management Center. If you separated inside your branch's window, ask VA, not the Archives.
| Branch | Records sent to VA for separations from | Through |
|---|---|---|
| Army | October 16, 1992 | December 31, 2013 |
| Navy | January 31, 1994 | December 31, 2013 |
| Air Force and Space Force | May 1, 1994 | December 31, 2013 |
| Marine Corps | May 1, 1994 | December 31, 2013 |
| Coast Guard | April 1, 1998 | September 30, 2014 |
Source: National Archives, veterans' medical and health records.
Step 1 — Get VA Form 20-10206
Use VA Form 20-10206, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) Request. You can fill it out online on VA.gov while signed in, or download the PDF and fill it out by hand.
Step 2 — Fill in your details and check "Claims File (C-File)"
Give your full name, date of birth, place of birth, current mailing address, and Social Security or VA file number. In Section III, check Claims File (C-File). You can also check service treatment records, C&P exams, or the DD-214 in the same request. The paper form needs your signature in ink.
Step 3 — Send it to VA
Submit online, or mail or fax the paper form to the address printed on it:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Fax: 844-531-7818.
Keep a copy of what you sent and the date. If you have questions about your request, VA's Privacy Act page lists 800-827-1000.
Step 4 — Keep your claim moving while you wait
VA does not publish an official processing time for C-file requests, so plan for a wait. Do not let a deadline wait on it. If the one-year window on a decision letter is running, talk to an accredited representative now; once you appoint them, they can usually view your electronic file. If you have not filed yet, an Intent to File protects your start date.
Can a VSO see my C-file?
Yes, if they represent you. VA gives accredited representatives access to the electronic records of the claimants they represent, under 38 CFR 1.600. That access starts once you appoint them with VA Form 21-22 (for a Veterans Service Organization) or 21-22a (for an individual, such as an attorney or claims agent). An accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) helps for free. Find one with our VSO finder.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my C-file to file my first VA claim? No. VA gathers your service records itself when you file. The C-file is most useful after VA has decided something, so you can see the evidence behind the decision.
How long does it take to get a C-file? VA does not publish an official processing time for these requests. Submit as early as you can, keep a copy of your request, and do not let a filing deadline wait on it.
Can I request my C-file online? Yes. VA Form 20-10206 can be submitted online on VA.gov while you are signed in. You can also mail or fax the paper form to the Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Is the C-file the same as my VA medical records? No. Your VA medical records (the Blue Button download on My HealtheVet) cover your care at VA clinics. The C-file covers your benefit claims: exams for claims, evidence, and decisions.
Can someone else request my C-file for me? The paper form lets a third party sign only if a valid VA Form 21-0845 (authorization to disclose to a third party) is on record or attached. A representative with power of attorney signs in a separate section and needs a VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a on record.
YourVABenefits does not file claims or represent veterans. For advice on your own case, talk to an accredited VSO.
YourVABenefits is software you run on your own records. It is not part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and does not file claims. You file on VA.gov, or an accredited representative files for you at no charge.