Military Service Records: Searching for the Truth

In conducting Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations, one of the most significant sources of evidence supporting a veteran’s
claim for service connection are found in the veteran’s service medical records and service personnel records. Although specific
numbers are unknown, a majority of mental health providers who conduct C&P examinations are not veterans and have limited
knowledge and understanding of the records they are being asked to review. In cases of an initial posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) examination, the Federal Register requires C&P examiners to determine if the veteran’s claim is consistent with the
places, types, and circumstances of the veteran’s service. This article reviews specific data within personnel records to
help verify those elements. Additionally, perhaps one of the most difficult types of evaluations faced by any C&P examiner
is a PTSD claim for personal assault (e.g., military sexual trauma). This article reviews the types of information within
the records to help identify specific “Markers” associated with personal trauma.