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Miscellaneous

Discharge Upgrade and Records Correction

Asks the service branch’s Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction to upgrade a discharge, with liberal consideration for PTSD, TBI, sexual assault or harassment, and the repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

Also called: discharge upgrade, DRB, BCMR, BCNR, other than honorable, bad paper, DD Form 293, DD Form 149, character of discharge.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Applies in states and territories.

A veteran can ask the military to change the character of, or the reason for, a discharge. The branch's Discharge Review Board hears requests within 15 years of discharge on DD Form 293. After that, or for any other correction, the Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records hears requests on DD Form 149; it has a three-year filing rule that boards routinely waive in the interest of justice. Under the Defense Department's Hagel, Kurta and Wilkie memoranda, the boards give liberal consideration to a request based on PTSD, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or sexual harassment, and must reconsider discharges under Don't Ask, Don't Tell and its predecessor policies. VA makes its own character of discharge decision for VA benefits, separate from the military's. A veteran with an other than honorable discharge may still be found eligible for some VA benefits, and can get mental health care regardless. VA's online tool walks through which board to use and what to send.

Thresholds

No rating or income gate is recorded. Read the detail and the official source.

Sources

Updated

Last updated .

What changed then:

  • First published.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.