Upgrade Discharges
What is it?
Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals not issued by a sentence of general court-martial. The board has no authority to address medical discharges.
Who qualifies?
A veteran or, in the case of a veteran being deceased or judged incompetent, the surviving spouse, next of kin or legal representative, may apply for a review of discharge provided:
- the date of separation has NOT exceeded 15 years or
- the discharge date is beyond 15 years and the applying entity has been granted a waiver via petition to the appropriate Service’s Board for Correction of Military Records.
It is also noteworthy that discharges awarded as the result of a continuous period of unauthorized absence in excess of 180 days make persons ineligible for VA benefits regardless of action taken by discharge review boards, unless VA determines there were compelling circumstances for the absence. Boards for the Correction of Military Records also may consider such cases.
How to get it?
In all instances a veteran, the surviving spouse, next of kin or legal representative may contact the local Texas Veterans Commission office for assistance.
Should an individual or qualified entity wish to “Self Represent” they may do so by:
- writing the military department concerned (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, etc.), using DD Form 293 -- "Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States" when the time to separation has NOT exceeded the fifteen year constraint or,
- filing a petition to the appropriate Service’s Board for Correction of Military Records using DD Form 149 -- "Application for Correction of Military Records Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552" when the time to separation HAS exceeded the fifteen year constraint. In such a case the discharge review will be conducted by Service Board’s initial review of an applicant’s record. In certain cases an applicant may be requested to attend a hearing before the board.