This is from DAV:
10.17.19
A core mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to provide
health care to veterans, especially those who have disabilities related
to their service. Recently, DAV leaders have heard that some veterans
are not even being allowed to apply for VA health care and instead are
being turned away by the VA because of their final other than honorable
discharge characterizations such as general discharge, other than
honorable conditions or entry level separation. Each type of
characterization has a unique set of circumstances for each discharged
veteran, and even if not characterized as honorable service, the
characterization that is assigned is not necessarily a ban to receive
medical care at the VA or to qualify for other state or federal
benefits.
Recognizing that many veterans with other than honorable discharges
served in combat or under hardship conditions and may have incurred
physical and mental wounds because of that service, Congress and the
secretary of veterans affairs expanded access to VA health care for
these veterans.
According to a 2017 Government Accountability Office
report, approximately two-thirds of service members separated for
misconduct had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder,
traumatic brain injury or another mental health condition, and
government leaders acknowledge that in many instances those conditions
contributed to the circumstances that led to the other than honorable
discharge.
“We are troubled to hear that the VA might be turning away veterans
from getting needed care,” said Washington Headquarters Executive
Director Randy Reese. “These veterans may be eligible for some health
care services, and at the very least, they have the right to apply and
get a decision.”
The VA estimates that there are about 500,000 veterans currently
living with other than honorable discharges. In part due to the
discharge status itself and the prevalence of service-related mental
health conditions, other than honorably discharged veterans are at twice
the risk of suicide, are more likely to be homeless and face barriers
to stable employment. While they can apply to the military review boards
for a discharge upgrade, those boards have long wait times and low
grant rates.
“Congress gave the VA the independent authority and responsibility to
decide whether an individual veteran with an other than honorable
discharge should receive access to VA health care and other benefits,”
said Reese. “We at DAV are working to ensure that no veteran is denied
the right simply to apply.”
A veteran with an other than honorable discharge may be eligible for
VA health care and benefits like compensation, pension and vocational
rehabilitation if the VA finds that the veteran’s service was honorable
for VA purposes. Veterans with other than honorable discharges who are
interested in applying for VA benefits have a right to submit an
application and receive a written decision. DAV national service
officers can help veterans fill out an application and assist them
through the VA’s character of discharge determination process.
We want to hear from you
DAV, in partnership with the Veterans Legal Clinic of Harvard Law
School, is interested in hearing from veterans who have other than
honorable discharges and were turned away from receiving health care at
the VA. If you are or know such a veteran, please fill out and mail the
response card in this magazine. You can also respond by emailing servicepublic@dav.org or by speaking to a DAV national service officer. To find the service officer nearest you, visit DAV.org, hover on the “Veterans” tab and click “Find Your Local Office.”
