Learn · Your records · you download them · we do not file
Where to download your medical records
Many doctors, hospitals, and telehealth apps let you download your own records. Here is where to look, grouped by type. Get every treatment record you can, then keep them in one place.
Add all of your treatment records
Add all of your treatment records, not just the ones you think help: VA, military, private doctors, specialists, hospitals, urgent care, telehealth, therapy and counseling, chiropractic and physical therapy, and pharmacy.
A full set makes it easier to find every page that mentions your condition, including ones you forgot. You, or an accredited representative, still decide what to send to VA. We do not file.
“If you’ve seen a non-VA healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment, you’ll need to upload copies of all medical records that can provide information about the disability you’re claiming.” VA.gov, Upload evidence
Jump to: VA health care · Military (DoD) care and service treatment records · Private doctors, specialists, and hospitals · Telehealth (video visits) · Therapy and mental health · Urgent care and retail clinics · Pharmacy history · Phone health apps
VA health care
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VA: Health and Benefits app · Quick look on your phone
Go to Health, then Medical records, to see lab and test results. For a full file you can save, use VA.gov.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: VA News: lab results in the VA mobile app -
VA facility Release of Information office · A complete copy of your VA record
Ask the Release of Information office at your VA facility, or send VA Form 10-5345a. VA says up to 30 days for records kept online and up to 60 days for paper records.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: VA.gov: Get your records from your VA health facility -
Community care (VA sent you to an outside doctor) · Visits VA paid for outside VA
Ask that outside office for your records too. Their notes may not show up in your VA record. VA's Inspector General found VA did not always get these records back from community providers.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: VA OIG: records from community care providers (2025)
Military (DoD) care and service treatment records
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MHS GENESIS Patient Portal · Care at a military hospital or clinic
Sign in at my.mhsgenesis.health.mil. You can view and download clinical notes, labs, radiology results, prescriptions, and more. It replaced the TRICARE Online Patient Portal. Sign in with DS Logon or a CAC; DoD is moving it to myAuth.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: TRICARE: View your health information in MHS GENESIS · DHA: MHS GENESIS Patient Portal sign-in (myAuth, DS Logon, CAC) · DHA: TRICARE Online Patient Portal shut down April 1, 2025 -
Service treatment records (STRs) · Care while you served
If you left service after Jan. 1, 2014, some scanned STRs may be in the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. Otherwise, request them through the National Archives (eVetRecs or SF-180) or milConnect.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: TRICARE: My military health records · VA.gov: Request your military service records -
Older military clinic records (TRICARE Online) · Records that were only in TRICARE Online
TRICARE Online shut down on April 1, 2025. Ask the records office at that military hospital or clinic for a copy.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: DHA: TRICARE Online Patient Portal shut down April 1, 2025
Private doctors, specialists, and hospitals
Most offices use one of these portals. Menu names can differ a little by office.
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MyChart (Epic) · Many hospitals and large practices
Open Your Menu, then Document Center, then Visit Records. Choose All Visits, then download. It comes as a .zip file with PDFs inside. If notes are missing, ask the office's medical records team for a full copy.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: MyChart steps (Austin Regional Clinic help page) -
Kaiser Permanente (kp.org) · Kaiser members
Select Download My Data (Blue Button) to get a health summary as a .zip with a PDF inside. Kaiser says a complete record is requested at a local Kaiser facility.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Kaiser Permanente: Help with downloading health summaries -
Oracle Health Patient Portal (Cerner) · Hospitals that use Oracle Health
In your health record, choose download, then all visits. Keep the PDF. The XML file is for other doctors' systems.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Oracle Health Patient Portal guide: Download or share a health record -
athenahealth Patient Portal · Many clinics and specialists
Select My Health, then the Health Records tab. Pick the dates and choose download.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: athenahealth Patient Portal FAQs -
NextGen Patient Portal · Practices that use NextGen
Select Health Records, check the visits (or Select all), then Download. Unzip it to get the PDFs. You see only what the office sent to the portal. You can use Request updated records.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: NextGen PxP Portal help: Access personal health records -
FollowMyHealth · Practices that use Veradigm
Go to My Health. Export your clinical summary documents, or use Export All My Data.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: FollowMyHealth user guide (My Health: export) -
healow app (eClinicalWorks) · Practices that use eClinicalWorks
Sign in with your patient portal login to see visit summaries, lab results, and your health record. If you can't save a full copy, ask the office for one.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: healow app FAQ (eClinicalWorks) -
Any office without a portal · Chiropractors, physical therapy, small practices, hospitals
Call or write the office, or the hospital's medical records (release of information) department. Ask for all records, all dates, as a PDF.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: HHS: Get it. Check it. Use it. (your right to your records)
Telehealth (video visits)
A video visit is still a treatment record. Get these too.
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Teladoc Health · Teladoc video or phone visits
Fill out Teladoc's HIPAA authorization form and email it to [email protected], or mail it to the address on the form.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: Teladoc Health HIPAA authorization form -
Amwell · Amwell visits
Download your record from your Amwell account after the visit, or ask Amwell for an electronic copy. Amwell says usually within 30 days. A reasonable fee may apply.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Amwell Notice of Privacy Practices -
MDLIVE · MDLIVE visits
Ask MDLIVE for copies of your records. MDLIVE says it may charge a small fee for copying and mailing.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: MDLIVE HIPAA privacy notice -
Doctor On Demand · Doctor On Demand visits
Sign in, open the My Health menu, and select Visits. View your visit notes and print them (choose Save as PDF).
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Doctor On Demand FAQs (share visit notes)
Therapy and mental health
Ask for your therapy record in writing. HIPAA does not cover a therapist's separate psychotherapy notes, but your dates, diagnoses, and treatment plans are part of your record.
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Talkspace · Talkspace therapy or psychiatry
Go to Account, then Medical records. Pick the service and dates, then Request records. Some download right away; others are emailed within 30 days. Session transcripts are not part of the record. Couples and teen plans use a form sent to [email protected].
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Talkspace Help: How can I get a copy of my medical records? -
BetterHelp · BetterHelp therapy
Go to Menu, then My Account, then My Personal information, and request a copy of your data. For your health record, email [email protected]. BetterHelp says a reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: BetterHelp Privacy Policy (request a copy of my data) · BetterHelp Notice of Privacy Practices -
Your own counselor or therapist · Office or private practice therapy
Send a written request for your treatment record: dates of care, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: HHS: Your medical records (fees, psychotherapy notes)
Urgent care and retail clinics
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CVS MinuteClinic (Health Dashboard) · MinuteClinic in-person and Virtual Care visits
Sign in to your CVS Health Dashboard. You can see up to 5 years of MinuteClinic visits and download a PDF.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: CVS MinuteClinic: Health Dashboard -
Other urgent care clinics · Walk-in clinics and ERs
Many use the portals above. If not, ask the clinic for your visit notes as a PDF.
When it comes, add it to My Records · Source: HHS: Get it. Check it. Use it. (your right to your records)
Pharmacy history
Your fill history shows what you were treated with, and when.
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CVS Pharmacy (CVS.com) · Prescriptions filled at CVS
Sign in, select Pharmacy, then Prescription Center, then the Prescription History tab. Print it (choose Save as PDF).
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: CVS Help: View prescription history -
Walgreens · Prescriptions filled at Walgreens
In your Walgreens pharmacy account, open Prescriptions, then Records. Pick the dates and Print (choose Save as PDF). Online covers the last 18 months. For older records, Walgreens has a Custodian of Records form.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Walgreens Pharmacy Help: Prescription history and records
Phone health apps
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Apple Health app (Health Records) · iPhone users
In Health, tap your picture, then Health Records, then Get Started, and connect each patient portal. It shows which places have records on you. It does not make a PDF to upload. Download the PDF from each portal instead.
Download it, then add it to My Records · Source: Apple Support: Download health records on iPhone
Your right to copies
- HIPAA gives you the right to see and get copies of your health records from doctors, hospitals, and health plans.
- In most cases you can get a copy the way you want it, such as by email. The office normally has up to 30 days, and often sends it sooner.
- They can charge a reasonable fee for copies. They cannot refuse because you owe a bill.
- Ask for a PDF. It is the easiest file to save, read, and add here.
Source: HHS: Get it. Check it. Use it. (your right to your records) · HHS: Your medical records (fees, psychotherapy notes)
Add them to My Records
- My Records takes PDF, Word (.docx), photos (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP), and plain text.
- Scanned pages and phone photos are read by OCR on our server. Words read this way are marked “Read by OCR, check it” so you can compare with the page.
- If a download comes as a .zip, unzip it first and add the PDF files. Skip XML files; those are for other doctors' systems.
Questions
Should I add all of my treatment records, or only the ones about my condition?
Add all of them: VA, military, private doctors, specialists, hospitals, urgent care, telehealth, therapy, chiropractic and physical therapy, and pharmacy. Records you think don't matter can still mention your condition. You, or an accredited representative, decide what to send to VA.
Where do I download my VA medical records?
Sign in to VA.gov, open Medical records, and go to download your medical records reports. Pick the VA Blue Button report and save it as a PDF. For a complete copy, ask your VA facility's Release of Information office.
How do I download my records from MyChart?
In most MyChart sites: Your Menu, then Document Center, then Visit Records. Choose All Visits and download. It comes as a .zip with PDFs inside. Menu names can differ a little by health system.
Can I get records from telehealth visits like Teladoc or Talkspace?
Yes. A video visit is still a treatment record. Teladoc takes a signed HIPAA authorization form by email or mail. Talkspace members can request records under Account, then Medical records. See the full list on this page.
Can a doctor's office charge me for copies?
HHS says an office can charge a reasonable fee for copies. It cannot refuse to give you a copy because you have not paid a bill.
How long does an office have to send my records?
HHS says a doctor normally has up to 30 days, and often sends records sooner. VA says up to 30 days for VA records kept online and up to 60 days for paper records.
What file type should I ask for?
Ask for a PDF. My Records also takes Word files, photos, and plain text, and reads scanned pages with OCR. If a portal gives you a .zip, unzip it and add the PDFs.
Does Veterans Benefits AI get my records or send them to VA?
No. You download or request your records yourself, then add them to My Records to organize and read them. We do not request records and we do not file. If you want VA to ask a private doctor for records, VA uses VA Form 21-4142.
What this page is not
- Education and organization only. We do not request records, send records to VA, or file a claim.
- Apps change their menus. If a step here differs from the app, follow the app's own help page linked under each item.
- No app or record is a promise of any VA decision.
Steps checked against each app's own help page on 2026-10-10.
Claim checklist · Evidence for a VA claim · Your C-file · 60-second claim plan
Veterans Benefits AI · veteransbenefitsai.com · MAOMA Enterprises LLC. Veterans Benefits AI (veteransbenefitsai.com) is not affiliated with veteransbenefits.ai, any VA GPT or chatbot, or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.