Veterans who have been discharged from military service may find it hard to understand benefits they can receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, what happens to your benefit after you are discharged is largely dependent on the discharge type you received and other factors related to your service.
What defines a Veteran?
A veteran is someone who has served actively in the military such as in naval, or air service and was discharged or dismissed from service under honorable conditions. However, here are the criteria you are expected to meet by the VA during service:
- Active service: You must have served actively within a certain time frame. This does not include training or reserve duty.
- Discharge status: Your discharge circumstances must not be dishonorable – has to be honorable or general under honorable conditions.
- Service duration: You may need to have served for a given duration which is different for each individual based on when and where you served.
Types of military discharges and their impact on veteran status
The type of discharge you receive is used to determine your eligibility for various benefits from the VA. Here are the different kinds of discharge and their meaning.
- Honorable discharge: This is the most favorable type of discharge that veterans can get and is granted when you meet or exceed certain standards of performance and conduct while you are in service. If you were discharged under honorable conditions then you are eligible to receive VA benefits including health care, loans and education.
- General discharge under honorable conditions: This is the discharge you get for satisfactory service but with some minor issues in performance or conduct. You will be allowed to receive certain benefits but not as much as those honorably discharged.
- Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge: If you were discharged under the OTH. The VA will review your OTH discharge on a case-by-case basis to determine if you can receive benefits. The VA will check your service records and the reason you were discharged.
- Bad conduct discharge (BCD): If you committed a serious crime or you were discharged on the grounds of BCD then you will not be eligible to receive these benefits.
- Dishonorable Discharge: This is the most severe form of discharge you can get and is given by a court-martial if you committed a serious offense while in service. If your discharge is under this category then you will not be considered for any benefits by the VA.
What happens to VA benefits after discharge?
The type of discharge you receive directly affects your access to VA benefits. Here’s how the different discharges can affect common benefits:
- Healthcare benefits: If you were discharged under honorable conditions then you qualify for VA healthcare benefits. For those whose discharge under OTH, your benefits will be limited.
- Disability compensation: If you were discharged as a result of a service connected disability then you are eligible to receive VA benefits.
- Education Benefits (GI Bill): You can receive this kind of benefits if you were discharged under honorable or general discharge conditions. You may also receive these benefits if you were discharged under OTH but you may be limited to some programs.
- Burial Benefits: Burial benefits are available for you if you were discharged under honorable and general discharges.
Steps to take if you have an other than honorable or worse discharge
If you have received an OTH, BCD, or dishonorable discharge and you believe it was unjust, these are the options you have to improve your VA benefits eligibility:
- Request a discharge upgrade: You can apply to the Discharge Review Board or the Board for Correction of Military Records to get a discharge upgrade. You may be required to submit necessary documents related to your service.
- Seek a character of discharge determination: You can request for a character of discharge determination. This will allow the VA to collect and evaluate all your records while in service and the reason you were discharged. If after evaluation you are found worthy then you may start receiving benefits from the VA.
- Legal and veterans service assistance: You can seek help from a veterans service organization or legal assistance to improve your chances of getting a VA benefit. When you are set, you can apply for your benefits from the VA.
