Discharge upgrades
A record can be reopened, even years later
Veterans can ask a discharge review board, or a board for correction of military records, to change a characterization of service, a narrative reason or a separation code.
Many requests come from veterans whose discharge followed an injury, a mental-health condition or a policy that has since changed, and the boards are directed to look closely at those circumstances. We build the file that lets them.
What we file
Discharge review boards
Boards for correction of military records
Narrative reasons and separation codes
Records requests
Personal appearance hearings
Reconsideration after a denial
Pieces of a strong application
The service record
We request your records and read them for what the board will see first.
Medical and mental-health evidence
Diagnoses, treatment records and statements that connect what happened to why you left.
Statements
From people who served with you, and from people who have known you since.
The argument
A clear request that names the change you want and the reasons the board can act on.
Time may not have run out
Each board has its own time limits, and some can be waived. If you were discharged long ago, ask before you assume it’s too late.
We can read your discharge papers and tell you which board fits, what it can change and what it can’t.
Questions about upgrades
Does an upgrade change my benefits?
It can open benefits that depend on the character of your discharge. The effect depends on the upgrade and the benefit, so we explain what to expect before you apply.
Do I need a lawyer to apply?
No, anyone can file. A lawyer helps most when the case turns on medical evidence, a long gap or an earlier denial.
Can a family member apply for someone who has died?
Often a next of kin can. The board will ask for proof of the relationship.