VA Health Record FAQs
VA Health Summary
What information is in my VA Health Summary?
The VA Health Summary a summary of your VA health information. Your VA Health Summary contains essential health and medical care information from your VA Electronic Health Record.
The VA Health Summary was designed to allow you to share a summary of your VA health information with a non-VA health care system or provider. You can get your VA Health Summary information in two file formats:
Please be aware: anytime you open/download a PDF file, you create a temporary file on the computer you are using. Your VA CCD can be visible to other users of this computer. Learn more about protecting your personal health information.
*Some computer applications are not able to open a document that is in an .xml format. You may want to use our XML Style Sheet to read the information in your VA Health Summary.
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Adobe PDF file format: download your information in Adobe PDF format (.pdf) which is easy to read and print. You will be able to view and print it before saving the file. If needed, you can obtain a free copy of the Adobe Reader for PDF files at the VA Viewer Software page.
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XML file format: download your information in an XML file format (.xml). To view your VA Health Summary .xml file, you may also need to download the XML Style Sheet*, and place both files in the same folder on your computer.
Because a growing number of non-VA health care systems have applications that can read a CCD, it is good to download and save your VA Health Summary to a thumb drive and/or CD. This way you have it available, should you want to share it.
What are the requirements to download my VA Health Summary?
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Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
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Have a My HealtheVet Premium account
Does my VA Health Summary include my complete medical record?
No, it is not intended to be a complete medical history. The document does include essential information necessary for the safe and effective continuation of your care, such as your known allergies on record with VA, and a list of your medications on record (both VA medications and non-VA medications reported to your health care team).
How soon will my VA health information be available to view in my VA Health Summary?
Some information that comes from your VA health record may not be presented right away in My HealtheVet or your VA Health Summary. This is because your information may first need to be reviewed by a member of your VA health care team. The information below gives you the length of time until your VA information is available for display in the VA Health Summary.
| Health Summary Section | When Available |
| Problems | Available thirty-six (36) hours after entry |
| Lab Results | Available thirty-six (36) hours after laboratory analysis is finalized, except for COVID-19 results, which are available within 2-7 days. |
| Radiology Reports | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completed |
| Pathology Reports | Available thirty-six (36) hours after being completed |
| Outpatient Encounter Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completion. The Compensation and Pension exam notes will be available 30 calendar days after completion. |
| Consult Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completion. The Compensation and Pension exam notes will be available 30 calendar days after completion. |
| History & Physical (H&P) Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completed |
| Discharge Summary Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completed |
| Surgical Procedure Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completed |
| Clinical Procedure Notes | Available thirty-six (36) hours after completed. |
NOTE: A previously generated VA Health Summary is available for up to two years.
How will a non-VA provider or health care system get access to this information?
For a non-VA provider or health care system to access information in your VA Health Summary you must share it with them. You can do this by saving a copy of your VA Health Summary to a thumb drive and/or CD. You should NOT send your personal health information using email, since this is not secure. Visit Protecting Your Personal Health Information to learn more.
What if I have questions about the VA Health Summary?
If you have questions, please use the Contact tab at the top of any page on My HealtheVet. You may also contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your local VA Medical Center.
Updated August 26, 2020