It is important for providers who serve veterans to understand the various forms of paperwork that are needed when applying for the multiple state and federal benefits to which they are entitled. . These include DD-214 discharge papers, all military medical records (health and dental), and all military service records (in-service personnel records).
Military Discharges
People who have been in the military are entitled to a range of benefits. Depending on their category of discharge from the military, they may have access to retirement, disability, healthcare, and education benefits. In addition, the type of military discharge a veteran receives when they exit the armed forces can influence their eligibility to receive VA healthcare.
Honorable Discharge
- Most veterans receive an honorable discharge.
- This discharge means the veteran met or exceeded the conduct and performance standards of the military.
- They are eligible for all VA benefits(Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill education benefits require honorable discharge).
General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions
- This is the second-best type of discharge.
- This discharge means performance was satisfactory.
- They are eligible for most VA benefits(excluding GI Bill educational benefits).
Other Than Honorable Discharge
- This indicates the veteran may have had some serious departures from the expected performance during service, including the following:
- Security violations,
- Serious misconduct, endangering other service members
- Use of deliberate force to hurt another - The VA determines whether the veteran is eligible for benefits.
Bad Conduct Discharge
- This is a punitive discharge, imposed by a court martial (criminal trial conducted by the military).
- The VA determines whether the veteran is eligible for benefits.
- In some cases, a veteran may lose entitlement to VA benefits – “bad paper.”
Dishonorable Discharge
- This is the worst type of discharge ¾ reserved for those who committed and were convicted of the equivalent of a felony.
- A dishonorable discharge is the least common.
- No VA benefits are available to individuals with a dishonorable discharge.
It is possible for the veteran to apply to upgrade a military discharge or change the reasoning for their discharge, which may improve access to VA healthcare benefits, if approved. See our[self-help guides; titles are changing] for more information on how to upgrade a discharge.
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