For veterans
Discharge upgrades and records corrections
A discharge that doesn't fit your service can close doors to benefits, jobs and school. The services' review boards exist to fix that.
Which board hears your request depends on when you left and what you are asking for. A discharge review board asks whether the discharge was fair. A board for correction of military records can change what your file says. We collect your service record, tell your story with documents and evidence, and write the application so the board can say yes.
Applications we prepare
Upgrades to the characterization of discharge
Changes to the stated reason for separation
Corrections to a service record
Requests tied to PTSD, brain injury or military sexual trauma
Reconsideration after a denial
The application
What goes into one that works
Boards read a lot of paper. These four things are what we build each application around.
- 01
Your service record
Orders, evaluations, medical notes and the paperwork behind the discharge, gathered before anything is argued.
- 02
Evidence that explains
Statements, treatment records and anything that shows what was going on when it happened.
- 03
Your own words
A short, honest statement written with you, in your voice, about what happened and who you are now.
- 04
The right board and the right argument
The deadline, the board and the standard of review differ by branch and by date. We choose among them.
Questions
What veterans ask first
How long does an upgrade take?
Boards work slowly: many months, and sometimes more than a year. We tell you what to expect for your branch and your kind of request.
Is there a time limit?
Yes, and it depends on the board. Some will hear a request long after discharge when there is good reason. Bring your date of discharge.
Will an upgrade change my benefits?
It can open benefits that depend on discharge status, but each benefit has its own rules and the VA decides eligibility. We tell you where an upgrade helps and where it does not.
Can I apply on my own?
Yes. The forms are free. People call us after a denial, when the story is complicated or when records are missing.
What if my discharge came from a court-martial?
A court-martial sentence is reviewed through different channels than an administrative discharge. Describe it to us and we will say which path applies.
Start with your discharge papers
Bring the document you were given when you left, and tell us what you want it to say.
Please don't send confidential details by email or form; we will ask for them on the call.