The Playbook › Step 2 of 7: Build your evidence
Your claims file, usually called a C-file, is the complete record VA holds on your disability claims. Raters decide your claim from what is in it. If you have ever been denied or rated lower than you expected, the reason is almost certainly sitting in that file.
Reading it is the single best way to stop guessing.
The short version
- The C-file holds your service records, claim forms, medical evidence, C&P exam reports, and past decisions.
- You have a legal right to a copy, free of charge.
- Request it with VA Form 20-10206.
- It can take months to arrive, so request it early.
- The most valuable pages are usually the C&P exam reports.
On this page
What is in a C-file
- Your DD214 and service personnel records
- Service treatment records
- Every claim form you have filed
- VA and private medical records VA collected
- C&P exam reports and Disability Benefits Questionnaires
- Rating decisions and the notes behind them
- Letters VA sent you and anything you sent VA
- Statements from you and your witnesses
Most files are now electronic. A long claims history can run to thousands of pages.
Who should request one
- Anyone who has been denied and wants to know exactly why
- Anyone preparing a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal
- Anyone who suspects a C&P exam got something wrong
- Anyone whose service treatment records they have never seen
- Anyone checking whether an earlier claim was left undecided
If you are filing for the very first time and have never dealt with VA, there may be little in the C-file yet. Start with the evidence checklist instead.
How to request it
- Fill out VA Form 20-10206, the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request form. Check the box asking for your C-file.
- Submit it. The quickest way is online: VA.gov lets you send this request without filling in the paper form (search VA.gov for “Form 20-10206”). You can also mail the paper form to the VA Evidence Intake Center, hand it in at a VA regional office, or have your accredited representative submit it.
- Keep proof. Keep a copy of the form and the date you sent it.
- Follow up. If you have heard nothing after a couple of months, call 800-827-1000 and ask for the status of your Privacy Act request.
A faster route. If you have appointed an accredited Veterans Service Officer, they can often view your electronic file directly and tell you what is in it the same day. Ask them to read you the C&P exam findings.
How long it takes
There is no guaranteed timeline. Some veterans receive the C-file in a few weeks. Many wait several months. Request it as soon as you think you will need it, and do not let the wait cause you to miss a deadline. If your one-year window after a decision is close, file your review request on time and add evidence afterward where the rules allow.
What to look for when it arrives
The C&P exam reports
Read these first. Check:
- Did the examiner record your symptoms the way you described them?
- Did they say they reviewed your C-file?
- What did they write for the medical opinion, and did they give a reason?
- Are the measurements, such as range of motion, recorded correctly?
An exam that ignores evidence, or gives an opinion with no explanation, can be challenged. See C&P exam tips.
The rating decision and code sheet
The code sheet lists every condition, its diagnostic code, rating, and effective date. Compare it with what you claimed. See reading your decision letter.
What is missing
- Private records you sent that never made it in
- Service treatment records with gaps
- Statements that were not considered in the decision
- A condition you claimed that was never decided
Missing or overlooked evidence is one of the most common reasons a decision gets changed on review.
Old decisions
Look at earlier ratings for effective dates that seem wrong and claims that were never finally decided. These can sometimes lead to back pay, though they are complicated and worth showing to an accredited attorney or agent.
Common questions about the C-file
Is the C-file the same as my medical records? No. Your VA medical records, which you can see in My HealtheVet, are your health care records. The C-file is your claims record. It contains copies of medical evidence, but also your claim forms, exam reports, decisions and letters.
Can I see my C-file on VA.gov? Not the whole file. VA.gov shows your claim status, decision letters and some documents, but the full C-file comes through a records request. An accredited representative can often view it electronically.
Does it cost anything? No. You are entitled to a copy of your own records.
Why did I get a letter from the VA Evidence Intake Center? The Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, is where VA receives and scans mail for claims. Many VA letters give it as the address for your reply, so it can look as if the letter came from there. The letter itself usually confirms that something arrived or asks you for information. Read it carefully, and respond by any deadline it gives.
Keep it safe
Your C-file contains your Social Security number and your full medical history. Store it securely. Do not hand the whole thing to anyone who is not an accredited representative.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.