Proposed VA program to help veterans upgrade discharge status

The Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed establishing a first-of-its-kind grant program that would increase access to its programs and benefits.

The proposed program would fund entities that provide legal support to help veterans and former service members access VA programs, improve their military discharge status or characterization of service, and seek a review of a military record before a board of correction for military or naval records.

The proposed program also aims to increase access to VA programs and benefits — including compensation and pension, education, health care, loans, national cemetery matters, and VA character of discharge determinations.

“We encourage former service members with other than honorable discharges to apply for VA care and benefits today. Although VA cannot change your discharge status, we want to provide you with any health care or benefits we can — and we will work with you every step of the way to do exactly that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement. “We also know that the process to navigate the review boards and determination process can be daunting — but access to legal support can make all the difference, and we believe this new grant program will help fill that gap.”

Earlier this year, VA amended its regulations on the character of discharge determinations to ensure the department can provide services to deserving former service members, including certain individuals who faced discrimination, survived sexual assault or harassment, struggled with their mental or physical health, or faced other challenges while serving in the military. That opened the door for former service members who had previously been found ineligible to reapply for VA care and benefits.

VA has conducted extensive outreach to these former service members in recent years, increasing the number who applied for VA care or benefits. Over the past 10 years, VA has granted eligibility to 75 percent of former service members with other-than-honorable discharge status, equating to over 57,000 individuals.

In certain circumstances, individuals with an other-than-honorable discharge status can qualify for VA programs and services if they receive a favorable outcome through a military service discharge review board, a board for correction of military or naval records, or VA’s character of discharge determination. Key to this new proposed program would be providing former service members the legal assistance they need to navigate these processes.

The rulemaking can be viewed in the Federal Register under public inspection . VA anticipates a notice of funding opportunity for this grant program to be published following the final rule's publication.

Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .