The DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the Department of Defense document that summarizes your military service. The VA uses it to confirm your service dates and character of discharge — two things nearly every disability claim depends on.
Why it matters for your claim
- •It establishes when and where you served.
- •It records your character of discharge, which affects benefit eligibility.
- •It lists decorations, training, and deployments that can support exposure and presumptive claims.
Get a clean, full copy
Make sure you have the Member-4 copy (the long version that includes the narrative reason and character of service) — it's the one the VA and most agencies want.
How to request it
- •Online through the National Archives' eVetRecs / milConnect for many veterans.
- •By mail using a records request to the National Personnel Records Center.
If your discharge isn't "Honorable"
A less-than-honorable discharge doesn't automatically end your eligibility. You may be able to pursue a discharge upgrade or a character-of-service determination — worth looking into before assuming you're barred.
Tip
Get your DD-214 squared away before you file. A missing or partial copy is a common, avoidable delay.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Put this to work
A step-by-step checklist for gathering every record you need — including your DD-214 — with the official request links.
Get Your RecordsWant free, personalized help?
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This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.