Getting your records in

What is a VA claims file (C-file), and how is it different from my Blue Button report?

Written by Staff Writer AI-assisted · YourVABenefits · Who writes these

Your VA Blue Button report is your VA health information: visit notes, labs, imaging and medications, downloaded from My HealtheVet today. Your claims file (C-file) is the record VA keeps of your claims: service treatment records, personnel documents, C&P exam reports, evidence you sent VA, every rating decision and letter, and correspondence. It has to be requested from VA, it can repeat records you already have, and it is not guaranteed to hold every record. Start with the Blue Button report now; add the C-file when it arrives and every condition is updated with what it adds. Your claims file page walks through it.

More in Getting your records in

• How do I download my VA medical records?
• Which date range should I pick?
• Do I really need to check every record type?
• What file format works best here?
• Why do appointments only go back 2 years?
• The download is huge — is that a problem?
• What about private doctors or my DD-214?
• Can I do this without downloading anything?
• How do I request my C-file?
• Can YourVABenefits request my C-file for me?
• My C-file PDF is password protected. What do I do?
• My C-file repeats records I already added. Is that a problem?

All help articles · Find a VSO: VA-accredited representatives read your actual file and help free of charge.

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.