You stayed in the service beyond your original ETS date, but you left the military with a discharge that was less than fully Honorable. You may still be able to get most VA benefits — without a discharge upgrade or a Character of Service Determination.

We offer complete instructions for ordering transcripts and investigative records, with sample letters you can use.

You probably have an idea of how the veteran’s life has been affected by military service. Here’s how to tell the VA what you’ve observed.