Why upgrade matters
Your discharge characterization affects access to:
- VA healthcare and disability compensation
- GI Bill education benefits
- VA home loans
- Burial benefits
- Federal jobs and security clearances
- State veteran benefits (property tax exemption, license plates, etc.)
- How you describe your service to civilian employers
Two boards, two routes
Discharge Review Board (DRB) — the easier route
Each branch has a DRB. Apply with DD Form 293. The DRB can change a discharge to honorable, general, or any other characterization (except a court-martial).
- Filing window: 15 years from discharge
- Best for: administrative discharges, OTH
- Hearing: optional (in-person or video) or paper review
Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR/BCNR) — for everything else
If you're past 15 years, or if your case involves complex factual disputes, file with the BCMR using DD Form 149. There is no statute of limitations, but you must explain why you didn't file earlier.
When boards have to grant relief — Hagel/Kurta/Wilkie memos
DoD has issued binding guidance to discharge boards: liberal consideration must be given when discharge involves:
- PTSD or TBI related to service (Hagel memo, 2014)
- Mental health conditions (Kurta memo, 2017)
- Sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual orientation (Wilkie memo, 2018)
If your discharge can be tied to any of these, your odds of upgrade increase dramatically. The Veterans Pro Bono Project and other free legal help focus on these cases.
VA Character of Discharge — separate path to benefits
Even without an upgrade, the VA can make its own Character of Discharge determination for benefits eligibility. The VA may classify your service as honorable for VA purposes even when DoD calls it OTH. File VA Form 21-0781 with the regional office or work through a VSO.
What the application needs
- Personal statement explaining your service and why an upgrade is justified
- Service medical records (especially anything mental health, TBI, or assault-related)
- VA medical records if available
- Letters from doctors, therapists, employers, family — character evidence
- Evidence of post-service rehabilitation (employment, education, sobriety, community involvement)
Get help — for free
You should not pay for this. Many specialized veteran legal projects handle discharge upgrades pro bono:
Veterans Pro Bono Project
Free legal help for discharge upgrades, especially Hagel/Kurta/Wilkie cases.
vetsprobono.org →Swords to Plowshares
Decades of experience. Strong on PTSD/MST cases.
swords-to-plowshares.org →NVLSP — Lawyers Serving Warriors
National Veterans Legal Services Program. Pro bono representation for discharge upgrades and VA appeals.
nvlsp.org →Accredited VSO / VA agent
Many DAV, VFW, and American Legion service officers handle DRB filings.
Find one →