VA Health Records Release
VA Health Records Release Authorization (VA Form 10-5345)
Give the VA permission to share your health records with a doctor, lawyer, employer, or anyone else you choose.
What is Form 38-U used for?
VA Form 10-5345 is the official HIPAA authorization that lets the Department of Veterans Affairs release your medical records to another person or organization. You control which records are released, who receives them, and when the authorization expires.
Help Veterans quickly and correctly authorize release of exactly the health records they need, without oversharing sensitive diagnoses or leaving the form legally incomplete.
Do not sign a blank or partially completed form. Be specific about which records and date ranges you need — VA can only release what you explicitly authorize.
Time, difficulty & who this form is for
Average time
10-15 minutes
Difficulty
moderate
Best for
Veterans who need to share their VA health records with a health care provider, attorney, insurance company, employer, or for personal use
What do I need before I start?
- The name and location of the VA facility that holds your records
- The full name and address of the person or organization receiving your records
- The specific record types or date ranges you need
- If signing on behalf of a patient: your legal relationship to that person
How the walkthrough is organized
Patient Identity
Name, date of birth, and mailing address of the Veteran whose records will be released.
Who Receives the Records
Name and address of the person or organization VA will send your records to.
Why You Need the Records
The purpose or purposes for the release — required by HIPAA and determines whether page 2 applies.
Which Records to Release
Check every category of record you need — VA will only release what you specifically authorize.
Sensitive Diagnoses
For non-treatment releases only: your separate authorization to share drug abuse, alcohol, HIV, or sickle cell anemia records.
When This Authorization Expires
One of three required expiration options: after one use, on a specific date, or when a condition is met.
Signature and Certification
Ink signature (patient or legal representative) and the date signed — makes the release legally valid.
What happens after I complete it?
Answer the questions, review your document, then follow its official signing and delivery instructions. Downloading does not submit the form.
Start va-health-information-release-10-5345 walkthrough