DD Form 214

The DD Form 214 is the document issued when a service member separates from active duty. It records the service itself: the dates, the branch, the character of the separation, and the assignments, decorations, and training the military recorded for that period. It is a service document rather than a medical one, and it contains no treatment information.

VA claims use it as proof of service. Where a benefit depends on having served, on when, or on the character of the discharge, the DD Form 214 is the record that establishes those facts, which is why it sits near the front of most claims files. It says nothing about any condition, so it carries none of the diagnostic or severity weight that treatment records carry.

Veterans who no longer have a copy can request one. Military service records, including separation documents, are requested from the National Archives with Standard Form 180, and records from recent separations are often retrievable through the VA or through milConnect. A copy of the VA claims file will also show whether the VA already holds one.