[OldManTime]

I accepted the story 20 years ago, when i was told by a the VA that my records burned in a St. Louis fire. I even went to my congressman, got the same story. so i never received any compensation for my minor disability. I had two hospital stays, one at Walter Reed in around 1956.
With all the news reports , now about big bonuses to top VA admin, and long appointment delays, how can i trust what I am being told.
I had some testing done a couple of weeks ago, and the VA employee said "They" have not received a raise in 4 years, shameful…he was a Vet himself.

signed,
One frustrated Vet

[Bizdoc]

The fire at the St Louis National Archives was very real - a lot of folks lost service and medical records.

[villagetinker]

This happened to my father also, found out after he died, and mother applied for VA benefits. Someone gave me a tip (after going to the local VA office in PA and getting the run around) to go on the VA website with as much information as possible and they will work to get the documents with the RED seal you will need for benefits.

Now I am not a veteran, but I found it amazing that I had to do this when the local VA office already had the information, but they could not talk to the VA office at the other end on the website, unbelievable!!!

I hope this info helps. My wife just went to the VA for benefits for her mother, and the gentleman at the office in Pinellas Plaza was very pleasant and very helpful, maybe he could help.

[MikeV]

Same story with my WWII Veteran father. Could not find his DD214 and his records were lost in the fire. When I had to take over his affairs I went to pay his taxes at the county assessors office. As I was paying I casually asked the clerk if my father was receiving any veteran discounts on his taxes. He was so I asked if they had a copy of his DD214 and they did from way back 30 years ago. When he died he got a military funeral and I got the ceremonial flag.