At Last, VA Electronic Access to All Your Military Records

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Defense bill calls for electronic access starting Jan. 1.

Language in the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the House and Senate calls for the Defense Department to provide the Veterans Affairs Department with electronic access to all military records as of Jan. 1, 2014.

This requirement covers personnel files, some records already in electronic format, such as health records, and -- equally important -- “relevant unit records,” key to supporting a disability claim.

The bill – which stands a good chance of passage – requires the Pentagon to provide all these records to VA within 90 days of discharge.

I plan to check if this works next March.