I served over forty years ago and I’ve never been to the VA.
My husband served in the AF for 8 years (1954-1962), and has never been to the VA... He did use the GI Bill for college and used it for his ATP rating in aviation after obtaining all of his other ratings and certificates on his own dime. He will be 80 this year and still has his “military jacket” with all his orders neatly filed and safely locked away along with his DD214.
Ironic that veterans after a lot of years still have a better handle on their records than the government does.