Change Date May 18, 2015 a. Definition: (STRs) are the in-service health records that Service treatment records STRs service departments collect for each service member. (For many they were referred to as service medical records (SMRs)). Original, paper versions of STRs in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) possession belong to the Department of Defense (DoD) and are only on loan to VA. They are subject to recall by entities within DoD, to include Reserve and National Guard units. STRs are typically recalled when a Veteran Note: returns to active duty, or begins actively serving in a Reserve or National Guard unit. For more information about handling requests for the return of Reference: original STRs, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 2.A.7.a. b. Types of The table below contains a list of the types of records that are and are not Records included in a service member’s STRs. Included in STRs STRs include STRs do include not … … physical examination reports, including inpatient treatment records reports from entrance and discharge (clinical records) physical examinations, if performed finance records the service member’s medical history mental health records, or all dental examination reports and records the Military Personnel clinical record cover sheets and summaries Record Jacket (MPRJ), outpatient medical and dental treatment may contain physical records profiles and medical board physical profiles proceedings medical proceedings, and prescriptions for eyeglasses and orthopedic footwear If a service member obtains treatment at a civilian facility, Note: “off-base” any medical or mental health records created during the course of treatment are automatically associated with the service member’s STRs. not Furthermore, these records are never forwarded for long-term storage to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Rather, they are destroyed after a period of inactivity (five years for mental health records). For more information on References:
Change Date May 18, 2015 a. Definition: STRs Service treatment records (STRs) are the in-service health records that service departments collect for each service member. (For many they were referred to as service medical records (SMRs)). Original, paper versions of STRs in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) possession belong to the Department of Defense (DoD) and are only on loan to VA. They are subject to recall by entities within DoD, to include Reserve and National Guard units. Note: STRs are typically recalled when a Veteran returns to active duty, or begins actively serving in a Reserve or National Guard unit. Reference: For more information about handling requests for the return of original STRs, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 2.A.7.a. b. Types of Records Included in STRs The table below contains a list of the types of records that are and are not included in a service member’s STRs. STRs include … STRs do not include … physical examination reports, including reports from entrance and discharge physical examinations, if performed the service member’s medical history all dental examination reports and records clinical record cover sheets and summaries outpatient medical and dental treatment records physical profiles medical proceedings, and prescriptions for eyeglasses and orthopedic footwear inpatient treatment records (clinical records) finance records mental health records, or the Military Personnel Record Jacket (MPRJ), may contain physical profiles and medical board proceedings Note: If a service member obtains treatment “off-base” at a civilian facility, any medical or mental health records created during the course of treatment are not automatically associated with the service member’s STRs. Furthermore, these records are never forwarded for long-term storage to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Rather, they are destroyed after a period of inactivity (five years for mental health records). References: For more information on
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