According to regulations, what must the VA do to obtain federal medical evidence?

The requirement that the VA must continue attempts until records are obtained or deemed nonexistent stems from the obligation to ensure that veterans receive the full range of evidence necessary to support their claims. This process includes making diligent efforts to acquire medical evidence from federal agencies, which is essential for accurately assessing the claims of veterans.

Continuing attempts to gather records reflects the VA’s commitment to exhaust all possible avenues to secure necessary documentation on a veteran's health history, treatment received, and other relevant medical data. This thorough approach acknowledges the potential complexities involved in accessing medical records—such as changes in record-keeping processes, administrative delays, or complications in verifying veteran identification—and aligns with the VA's mission to provide veterans with the benefits they deserve.

In contrast, simply requesting records once, stopping after a single attempt, or limiting efforts to electronic records could undermine a veteran's claim and result in incomplete or insufficient evidence. Therefore, the regulation emphasizes persistence in obtaining records, ensuring that veterans' claims are adequately supported by available medical evidence.