Lock In Your Diagnosis Date: Request Imaging Reports from Base Hospitals
Your X-rays from 2005 could be worth thousands in backpay. Most vets don't know military hospitals keep imaging reports separate from medical records—and these reports often contain the earliest diagnosis dates VA needs for service connection. Call your old base hospital's radiology department directly, request copies of ALL imaging reports (X-rays, MRIs, CTs) from your service dates, and submit them with a supplemental claim. These reports frequently show conditions years before they appear in your regular records, potentially moving your effective date back significantly.
