Veterans' Eligibility for VA Benefits by Type of Military Discharge

After service members leave the military, their time spent on active duty is "characterized" according to how the veteran behaved during their service time. The type of "character of service" you receive will play a large role in determining what VA benefits you can qualify for after your separation from service. (You can find your character of service on your DD Form 214, Certificate of Discharge from Active Duty.)

Veterans and their dependents often rely on VA health care, disability compensation, and educational benefits during the transition back into civilian life. It's important to understand how military discharge types affect what benefits you're eligible for—and what benefits might not be available based on your character of service—so you can plan accordingly.

Types of Military Discharges

There are five major types of discharge from military service: honorable discharge, general discharge under honorable conditions, other than honorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, and dishonorable discharge. Of these five types, honorable and general discharge are considered "good paper," while other than honorable, bad conduct, and dishonorable discharges are considered "bad paper." Generally, veterans with "good paper" can receive most kinds of VA benefits, while vets with "bad paper" may be eligible to receive certain benefits on a case-by-case basis (unless they are statutorily barred from getting any benefits whatsoever).

Honorable Discharge

Honorable discharge is the highest type of discharge a veteran can receive. If you've been honorably discharged from the military, it means that you met the military standards of appropriate conduct and performance of duty. Reaching the end of your enlistment or being separated from service due to a disability are a few reasons why you might receive an honorable discharge.

General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions

General discharge under honorable conditions (or simply "general discharge") means that the positive aspects of your conduct and duty outweigh the negatives. Many veterans who engaged in minor misconduct during their time in service may receive a general discharge. Keep in mind that although general discharge is described as "under honorable conditions," it is not the same as an honorable discharge.

Other Than Honorable Discharge

Other than honorable discharge is the "least worst" type of discharge that still constitutes "bad paper." Veterans with other than honorable discharges have displayed a pattern of behavior that was a significant departure from the conduct expected of service members. This can include actions that would be considered misdemeanors as a civilian, like drug use or assault.

Bad Conduct Discharge

A bad conduct discharge means you've been convicted of one or more significant offenses, such as a DUI/DWI, by a general or special court-martial. Bad conduct discharges are considered "punitive" (intended as a disciplinary measure) rather than "administrative" discharges. For offenses resulting in jail time, bad conduct discharges are often issued following the period of incarceration, including any appeals process.

Dishonorable Discharge

Dishonorable discharge is the worst type of discharge you can get. They are issued following a conviction by a general court-martial of one or more felonies (or other offenses requiring severe punishment). As with bad conduct discharges, dishonorable discharges usually accompany imprisonment.

Military Discharge Benefits Chart

Figuring out who is eligible for what from the VA can be confusing to both veterans and civilians alike. You can use the below chart to help figure out what benefits you may be entitled to based on your character of service.

If you don't know or can't remember what your character of service is, you can obtain your military personnel file—which should include a copy of your DD Form 214 or other separation documents— so you can find out. You can submit your request electronically using the National Archives eVetRecs tool. Alternatively, you can download VA Form SF180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, and mail the completed form to the address corresponding with the appropriate code number for the records you're seeking.

What Benefits Can Honorably Discharged Veterans Get?

All of them. Having received the highest form of discharge, honorably discharged veterans are entitled to the full spectrum of VA benefits, including:

• disability compensation
• health care
• education assistance (for example, the GI Bill)
• life insurance policies
• home loans, and
• vocational training and employment opportunities, such as federal hiring preferences.

Furthermore, some states provide more benefits for veterans in addition to those offered by the federal government, such as property tax exemptions or discounts on state services.

Are VA Benefits Available With a General Under Honorable Conditions Discharge?

Veterans who've received a general discharge might not be thrilled having that service characterization on their resume, but they usually will qualify for almost all benefits available for veterans who've been honorably discharged—health care, disability compensation, home loans and the like. However, they won't be eligible for education assistance under the GI or Post-9/11 Bills.

Does the VA Give Benefits for Other Than Honorable Discharge?

It depends. You can apply for VA benefits with an other than honorable discharge, but the agency won't automatically allow or deny your claim based on your character of service. Instead, the agency will review your records to decide whether you're eligible to receive the requested benefits or health care on an individual basis.

For example, the VA recently (as of June 25, 2024) created a "compelling circumstances exception" for former servicemembers who received an other than honorable discharge for "willful and persistent misconduct" or "offenses involving moral turpitude." Under this exception, the VA will now consider several factors when determining if you qualify for a requested benefit:

• the length and character of your service
• whether you have any mental and cognitive impairments
• your physical health
• any combat-related hardship you experienced, and
• whether you are a survivor of sexual abuse, assault, or discrimination.

Other factors not listed above may also qualify as compelling circumstances, and the VA is encouraging service members who were previously ineligible for benefits under the old rules to reapply, so it doesn't hurt to submit a new claim. If you experienced military sexual trauma while on active duty or need mental health services related to conditions (such as PTSD) linked to your service, you may receive VA care immediately.

Are There Any Benefits for a Bad Conduct Discharge?

As with other than honorable discharge, benefit options for former service members with a bad conduct discharge are limited, but not nonexistent. Much depends on the type of court-martial that issued the bad conduct discharge. If you received this character of service from a special court-martial, you may be able to qualify for certain benefits—similar to having an other than honorable discharge. But if you received a bad conduct discharge from a general court-martial, you aren't allowed to get benefits. (38 U.S.C. § 5303).

Can You Get VA Benefits With a Dishonorable Discharge?

No. If you're discharged dishonorably, you are statutorily barred from receiving all VA benefits and, in fact, are not legally considered to be a veteran. (38 U.S.C. § 101(2)). The only exception is if you were determined to be insane at the time you committed the offense resulting in dishonorable discharge.

Can I Change My Type of Discharge to Get Benefits?

Yes, in certain circumstances. You may be able to get a discharge upgrade if you can show that your discharge was "improper" (factually incorrect) or "inequitable" (legally inconsistent). For example, a veteran who had otherwise served honorably but had a single bad incident or was self-medicating with alcohol to deal with PTSD symptoms would likely qualify for an upgrade.

Alternatively, you can ask for a correction to your military records. Corrections and upgrades are handled by boards under the Department of Defense, not the VA, but the VA does provide an online screening questionnaire to help veterans decide their eligibility and give them information on next steps.

If you aren't able to have your discharge upgraded, you can request a character of service determination from the VA. A character of service determination doesn't always change your type of discharge, but it may allow you to receive benefits anyway provided that your service was "honorable for VA purposes." You can ask for a character of service determination while applying for a discharge upgrade at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you're still having trouble figuring out which benefits you can receive, check out the answers to some frequently asked questions addressed below.

FAQ: What Are the Types of Honorable Discharges?

The terminology used by the VA—particularly when it comes to which discharges are considered "honorable"— often results in confusion for veterans trying to determine what benefits they're eligible for. "Honorable discharge" and "general discharge under honorable conditions" (or "general discharge") are both considered types of honorable discharge.

Complicating things further is the fact that "honorable discharge" and "general discharge under honorable conditions" are two different characterizations of service. Honorable discharge gives you access to all the VA benefits you're eligible for. General discharge lets you qualify for most, but not all, VA benefits—a notable exception being the GI Bill.

FAQ: What if I Have Multiple Discharges?

Veterans who've been enlisted for multiple periods may have both "good" and "bad" paper. You can use an honorable service characterization to establish your eligibility for most VA benefits even if you later received a less than honorable discharge. (When applying for benefits, make sure you specifically mention the period in which you served honorably.)

There is one important exception, however—disability compensation. You can only receive VA disability benefits for illness, injuries, or disorders that occurred during a period of honorable service. You won't be able to use an honorable discharge from one period of service to get compensation for a disability from a different period of service.

FAQ: Are There Other Educational Benefits for Veterans Discharged With General Under Honorable Conditions?

Veterans who separate from service with a general discharge are often disappointed to learn that they can't take advantage of the educational assistance offered under the GI and Post-9/11 Bills. However, you may be able to get a discharge upgrade to honorable discharge, which would qualify you for these helpful benefits.

Keep in mind that if you have multiple periods of service under your belt and one of them resulted in honorable discharge, you can apply for educational benefits using that honorable characterization. Veterans who have only a general discharge but also have a service-connected disability may be eligible for the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program, which can include vocational training.

Applying for VA Benefits

There are many ways to apply for VA benefits. Many veterans find it easy to apply online through the VA website. You can choose to work with an accredited representative or attorney through the Veterans Service Organization to help you through the application process, or you can file independently. Hiring an experienced lawyer can be helpful if you need to appeal a denial of benefits or upgrade your discharge status.