BENEFITKARMA
    Free review

    Free C-File Review for Veterans

    Want to know what's in your VA file? A VA-accredited attorney requests your full C-File, we review it, and you get a plain-language summary with possible next steps. It usually takes 2–4 weeks.

    BenefitKarma is an independent service. We are not part of, affiliated with, or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

    Free · Free account required · Private · About 5 minutes

    Free VA Records Review (C-File) illustration

    How it works

    1. 1

      Answer a few questions

      Tell us who you are and about your service. It takes about 5 minutes.

    2. 2

      E-sign your permission

      You sign VA Form 21-22a so a VA-accredited attorney can request your file. Their help is limited to this request.

    3. 3

      Get your summary

      We review your file and send a plain-language summary with possible next steps.

    What you get

    • Your full VA Claims File (C-File), requested for you
    • A review of what is in it, and what may be missing
    • A plain-language summary you can keep
    • Possible next steps, such as an appeal or a new claim, to think about

    Why is this free?

    The C-File review costs you nothing, and you are never charged for it. BenefitKarma is a free resource for Veterans. After your review, if you choose to, we can introduce you to a screened third-party professional who may be able to help with an appeal or a new claim. Those introductions are optional, and some providers may compensate BenefitKarma for them. You are under no obligation, and your free review is the same either way.

    Who requests your file, and what you sign

    Your attorney: Susan M. Fox, VA-accredited attorney (VA accreditation #50713).

    Sue is an independent attorney contracted by BenefitKarma for this service. She is not employed by or affiliated with the VA, and BenefitKarma is not a law firm.

    Verify her accreditation on VA's official search

    Sue Fox, a VA-accredited attorney contracted by BenefitKarma, requests your file. You will see the attorney's name and VA accreditation number on the form before you sign anything.

    You e-sign VA Form 21-22a. It names that attorney as your representative and lets the VA send them your records. You also sign a short agreement that limits the attorney's help to one thing: getting your C-File. It is free.

    Once your file is delivered, the attorney sends the VA a notice to stop being your representative. Any later help with a claim or appeal is separate, optional and never required.

    What this tool does

    • • Requests your full C-File through a VA-accredited attorney, with your written permission, for this request only
    • • Reviews your file and points out possible errors or missing records
    • • Explains what it found in plain language

    What this tool does not do

    • • Does not file a claim or appeal for you
    • • Does not keep the attorney as your representative after your file is delivered
    • • Does not promise any rating, decision or back pay
    • • Is not run by, linked to or endorsed by the VA

    What we'll ask for

    To request your file, the attorney needs identifying details so the VA can find your record: your full name, email address, phone number, mailing address, branch of service, date of birth, Social Security number and your e-signatures on VA Form 21-22a and the limited-scope agreement. We use this information only to request your C-File and to deliver your summary, and we handle it under our Privacy Policy.

    If you are asking for a Veteran's file on their behalf, we also ask for your name, your relationship to the Veteran, your Social Security number, address, phone number, email (optional) and the Veteran's VA file number (if known).

    What is a VA C-File, and why see it?

    Your C-File, or Claims File, is the complete record the VA used to decide your disability claims. It can include your service treatment records, VA and private medical records, C&P exam reports, rating decisions, appeals and letters between you and the VA.

    Seeing your file helps you understand why the VA decided the way it did. C-Files can be incomplete. A missing record, a weak exam report or a wrong date may affect your rating, and you can only spot these if you see the file.

    You can ask the VA for your file yourself with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act request, but it often takes months, and the file can run hundreds of pages. With this free service, a VA-accredited attorney requests it for you and we turn it into a short, plain-language summary.

    Common questions

    Yes. The review costs you nothing and you are never charged for it. If you choose to speak with a screened third-party professional afterward, some providers may compensate BenefitKarma for the introduction. That is always optional.

    No. BenefitKarma is an independent service. We are not part of, affiliated with, or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Sue Fox is a VA-accredited attorney contracted by BenefitKarma. You e-sign VA Form 21-22a, which lets her request your C-File, and a short agreement limiting her help to that one request. Once your file is delivered, she sends the VA a notice that she is no longer your representative.

    A VA C-File is your Claims File, the full record the VA used to decide your disability claims. It can include service treatment records, VA and private medical records, C&P exam reports, rating decisions, appeals and letters between you and the VA. It shows what evidence the VA had when it decided.

    You should see your C-File because it shows what the VA based its decisions on. C-Files are sometimes incomplete or contain errors. Reviewing yours may help you spot missing records, weak exam reports or wrong dates before you file a new claim or an appeal.

    The free VA records review works in three steps. You answer a few questions and e-sign a VA form that lets a VA-accredited attorney request your file. The attorney requests your full C-File. We review it and send you a plain-language summary with possible next steps.

    Getting your C-File through this free service usually takes about 2–4 weeks. A request you send to the VA on your own, such as a FOIA request, can often take three to six months or more. Timing can vary with the VA's workload.

    An attorney needs a signed VA form because the VA only shares your file with someone you have given written permission to. The VA form names a VA-accredited attorney as your representative for this request, so they can ask the VA for your records on your behalf.

    Yes, you can request your C-File yourself. You can send a FOIA or Privacy Act request to the VA with your name, date of birth and Social Security or VA file number. It is free, but it can take months, and you would need to review the pages on your own.

    No, a records review does not file a claim or appeal for you. It gets your file and explains what is in it. You decide what to do next. If you want help with a claim or appeal, you can work with a VSO, a VA-accredited attorney or a claims agent.

    The difference between your VA medical records and your C-File is scope. Your VA medical records are only one part of the file. The full C-File also holds your claim decisions, C&P exams, appeals and letters with the VA, so it shows the whole claim history.

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    Words to know

    Last updated October 2026. For general information only, not legal or medical advice.

    Sources: VA: Request your VA records · VA: Accredited representatives

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