How do I upgrade an Other Than Honorable Discharge to a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions?

2019-02-13T12:33:25-05:00

I was discharged in 1994 with a RE-4 reenlistment code. Frequent involvement with military authorities. I waived a board at discharge and now I would like to upgrade to a discharge that will allow me use of the VA benefits as if I had an Honorable Discharge. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 and I was given a psych evaluation in the Marine Corps by a military doctor and results were found to be, a personality disorder.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 12:42 PM

2019-02-13T12:42:00-05:00

Start here:

https://www.va.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions/

How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade

Get step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a military discharge upgrade or correction. If your discharge is upgraded, you'll be eligible for VA benefits you earned while serving.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 13 at 2019 12:51 PM

2019-02-13T12:51:13-05:00

https://www.va.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions/

Here's a good starting point.

Normally you would go through the Discharge Review Board / Board of Correction for Naval Records (dd149), however I "believe" you have timed out of that (15 years)

https://www.dd214.us/reference/DischargeUpgrade_Memo.pdf

How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade

Get step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a military discharge upgrade or correction. If your discharge is upgraded, you'll be eligible for VA benefits you earned while serving.

Response by CPL Randy Beagley made Feb 13 at 2019 1:50 PM

2019-02-13T13:50:13-05:00

Go to VA.gov and there is a link on one of the drop downs. It will walk you through the process

Response by SPC Edward Carpenter made Feb 13 at 2019 2:32 PM

2019-02-13T14:32:32-05:00

Get a lawyer with UCMJ training/endorsement

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 7:00 PM

2019-02-13T19:00:54-05:00

Go into this understanding that your chances of succeeding are equal to percentage of the amount of impurities in Ivory soap.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 10:22 AM

2019-02-14T10:22:48-05:00

Congress passed the Fairness for Veterans Act, requiring military boards to consider evidence from a veteran’s health care provider when deciding upgrades. Later that month, the Defense Department announced a review of its policies for upgrading discharges.
http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0149.pdf

dd0149.pdf

Response by SGT Archie Jackson made Feb 14 at 2019 1:26 PM

2019-02-14T13:26:17-05:00

I would join DAV online and talk with an NSO check out the website at http://www.dav.org.

DAV.org - Disabled American Veterans Charity

We invite everyone, veterans and civilian, men and women, young and old, to join us. Find a DAV Office or Volunteer to Help Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans Charity.

Response by 1SG Jason Rose made Feb 15 at 2019 8:02 AM

2019-02-15T08:02:04-05:00

I’ll be the bad guy. You were the can’t get right Marine that probably made your leaderships job harder than it had to be, probably weren’t psychologically qualified but managed to enlist, and now want benefits? In my opinion benefits are earned and I don’t believe you have earned them through your service. Your RE-4 code says so.

Response by SSG Cecil Stroud Jr. made Apr 4 at 2019 12:19 PM

2019-04-04T12:19:09-04:00

To get an upgrade, you have to show that your chain of command erred. If you have any UCMJ actions then you are dead in the water. If you have an OTH you can still get treated at a VA facility. You have oblowme to thank for that.

Response by LCpl Larry Duncan made Jun 3 at 2019 10:36 PM

2019-06-03T22:36:12-04:00

Hello to you as, as I to was issued a oth condiction discharge ,is this would help but I received most my benefits as I was in 75 to 76 or say 15 months 56 days was before Vietnam closed.But since I was out I collected compensation got my go bill ,certificate of elgibility and my health care but my reasons for my 4F was troop movement in which I took sick .

Response by LCpl Larry Duncan made Jun 3 at 2019 10:40 PM

2019-06-03T22:40:43-04:00

And by the way Donald my last rank given was lance corporal and I was eighteen at the time and I am now some a state retired vet but going on till 70.

Response by SFC Jimmy Arocho made Jun 4 at 2019 9:01 AM

2019-06-04T09:01:21-04:00

Dear Mr. Auge, the Department of the Navy has a process that may also assist you in discovering any eligibility to VA benefits. The below listed link guides the applicant through a Q & A process to help you narrow in on the answers that you seek.

The United States Navy's Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) is committed to providing current and former Navy and Marine Corps members the highest level of administrative review within the Navy to correct errors or injustices to their records.

Are you a veteran requesting an upgrade to your discharge?
In an joint effort, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense partnered to provide step-by-step instructions on how to request a discharge upgrade. Simply click the following link to step through a series of questions which will lead you to the appropriate form and provide instructions on how to apply to the proper board to request a discharge upgrade. http://www.vets.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions.

https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/bcnr/Pages/default.aspx

How To Apply For A Discharge Upgrade

Want to apply for a military discharge upgrade or correction? Get step-by-step instructions depending on your specific situation. If your discharge is upgraded, you'll be eligible for VA benefits you earned while serving.

Response by CPT William Jones made Aug 16 at 2021 6:32 PM

2021-08-16T18:32:26-04:00

You do not upfrade a discharge. You apply to the military fill out fors give evidence why it should be change then maybe it will be changed.