VA Form 21-4142 is officially known as the “Authorization to Disclose Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.” In plain English, this document acts as a permission slip that allows the VA to request your private medical records from non-VA doctors and hospitals on your behalf. Without this signed authorization, the VA cannot legally access the outside evidence needed to support your disability claim, often leading to delays or decisions made on incomplete information.
When to Use VA Form 21-4142
- Requesting Private Treatment Records: Use this when you have received care from a private physician, specialist, or civilian hospital and want the VA to retrieve those records for your claim file.
- Supporting Claims for Increase: If your service-connected disability has worsened and the medical proof of that deterioration is held by a private doctor rather than a VA facility.
- Reopening Claims with New Evidence: When filing a Supplemental Claim based on new medical evidence that originated outside of the military or VA healthcare systems.
- Authorizing Social Security Record Release: When you need the VA to access your records held by the Social Security Administration (SSA), often required for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) claims.
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