An Other Than Honorable (OTH), General Under Honorable Conditions, or Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) does not have to be permanent. Thousands of veterans have successfully upgraded their discharge characterization through formal legal processes — restoring access to VA benefits, federal employment preference, and in some cases, military honors. This guide explains the process.
Discharge upgrade success rates have improved significantly since a 2016 DoD policy memo directing boards to give "liberal consideration" to applications from veterans with mental health diagnoses (including PTSD), MST, and TBI. If your discharge was related to any of these conditions, your chances of upgrade are substantially higher than they were before 2016.
Which Board to Apply To
Reviews discharges within 15 years of separation. Can upgrade OTH and General discharges. Cannot upgrade BCD or Dishonorable (those require BCMR). No cost to apply. Application: DD Form 293. Processing time: 12-24 months.
Can review any discharge at any time (no 15-year limit). Can change discharge characterization, reason for separation, and reenlistment codes. Also handles BCD cases. Application: DD Form 149. Processing time: 18-36 months.
Grounds for Upgrade
- Mental health conditions (PTSD, TBI, MST): The strongest ground under post-2016 DoD guidance. If your misconduct was related to a diagnosed or diagnosable mental health condition, boards must give liberal consideration to your application
- Equity: Your discharge was disproportionately harsh compared to similarly situated service members
- Error: Your separation process contained procedural errors or violations of your rights
- Injustice: Your discharge was otherwise unjust based on the totality of your service
What You Need for a Strong Application
Free Legal Resources
nvlsp.org — Provides free legal representation for discharge upgrade cases. Strong track record especially for PTSD and MST cases.
Freeswords-to-plowshares.org — California-based but national impact. Specializes in discharge upgrade and veterans benefits cases.
FreeAccredited claims agents can assist with discharge upgrade applications and navigate the process at no cost to the veteran.
FreeKnow Your Benefits — Regardless of Current Discharge Status
Some VA benefits are available even with a General or OTH discharge. Understand what you can access now while pursuing an upgrade.
View Benefits Checklist