VA Form 21-4142 (Authorization to Disclose Information to the VA) gives the VA your permission to request your records directly from a private provider — a non-VA doctor, hospital, or clinic. It's how private medical evidence gets into your claim without you having to chase every record yourself.
Why it matters
Private and civilian medical records are often the backbone of a strong claim. Many winning claims rest primarily on private evidence connected by a nexus. This form lets the VA go get those records for you.
The two forms work together
- •21-4142 — your signed authorization to release information to the VA.
- •21-4142a (General Release for Medical Provider Information) — lists which providers, the conditions treated, and the approximate dates.
Submit them together so the VA knows exactly who to contact and for what.
Faster alternative
You can also request your records yourself and upload them directly — that's often faster than waiting on the VA to collect them, and it puts you in control of what's in the file. Either path works; the 4142 just authorizes the VA to do the collecting.
Tip
Be complete on the provider list and date ranges. Gaps here are a common reason evidence is missed.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Put this to work
A step-by-step checklist for gathering every record — private, VA, service, and C-File — with the official links.
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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.