Taking Your VA Appeal to the Board? Here’s What You Need to Know
Brad Cummings • May 8, 2025
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Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you got out of the military with a discharge that’s been holding you back, you’re not alone. We talk to veterans all the time who received General or Other Than Honorable discharges. It’s been costing them jobs, VA benefits, and peace of mind for years. The truth is, you can do something about it. At RMVAP, we’ve helped hundreds of veterans from all branches upgrade their discharges. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force—we’ve seen it all. Some had combat trauma that was never treated. Some got caught in outdated policies. Others made one mistake that’s followed them ever since. Whatever your story is, we can help you tell it. What’s a Discharge Upgrade? A discharge upgrade is a formal request to change the way your separation from the military is listed. If it’s successful, you could go from Other Than Honorable to General, or General to Honorable. That one change can open the door to VA healthcare, disability pay, housing programs, and more. It’s not an easy process, and it takes time, but it’s possible. And we know what works. You Might Qualify If: You were dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or another mental health issue You experienced military sexual trauma or harassment You were discharged because of your sexual orientation or gender identity You made a mistake under stress, and it doesn’t reflect your whole service You’ve changed since leaving the military and want your record to reflect that What the Process Looks Like When you come to RMVAP, here’s what we do: We help you get your full military records We work with you to write a personal statement that tells your story in your own words We gather support materials like buddy letters, medical records, and evaluations We file the application and stay involved the whole way You don’t need to figure out which board to send it to. If it’s been under fifteen years, we send it to the Discharge Review Board. If it’s been longer, we go to the Board for Correction of Military Records. Either way, we’ll handle it. Why This Matters This isn’t just about getting into the VA system, even though that’s a big part of it. It’s about fixing a record that never told the full story. A discharge upgrade can give you access to health care, financial support, job opportunities, and maybe most important of all, the recognition you’ve earned. You served. Let’s make sure your record shows that. We’re Ready When You Are We’ve helped veterans across the country fix their discharges and get the benefits they were promised. We can help you too. Apply now at www.rmvap.org Email: clientservices@rmvap.org Call: (720) 253 0963 You’ve carried that paperwork long enough. Let’s fix it.
It’s one of the hardest things we hear from veterans. They walk into a VA hospital, looking for help, and get told they’re not eligible. It doesn’t matter that they were in combat, or that they’ve got PTSD, or that they’re struggling. The discharge says they’re not entitled to benefits, and that’s the end of the conversation. Except it’s not. At RMVAP, we’ve helped hundreds of veterans change that conversation. If your discharge is keeping you from getting care or compensation, a discharge upgrade can open that door. Why the VA Denies Benefits The VA looks at your discharge status when you apply for benefits. If you didn’t get an Honorable discharge, they might deny you access to: Medical care through the VA Monthly disability compensation Home loan benefits or housing programs GI Bill or Vocational Rehab Burial and survivor benefits That one box on your DD-214 can block you from the very help you need. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. What a Discharge Upgrade Unlocks If you’re approved for a discharge upgrade, here’s what changes: You’ll be able to use VA hospitals and mental health services You’ll be eligible for monthly, tax-free compensation for service-connected conditions You can access VA home loan programs and housing grants You may be able to go back to school using the GI Bill You’ll finally be seen as the veteran you are A Real Example We worked with a former Marine who was discharged after a one-time drug incident. What the paperwork didn’t say was that he had untreated PTSD from combat tours. After we helped him put his story together, his discharge was upgraded. He’s now in therapy, receiving disability payments, and rebuilding his life. None of that would’ve happened if we hadn’t fixed the record first. What We’ll Do for You Review your military and VA records Help you write a statement that explains your full story Collect supporting evidence like buddy letters, medical files, or psychological evaluations File the application and stick with it until there’s a result Once your upgrade is approved, we can also help file your VA claim. That way, you’re not starting over with someone new. You Deserve Access You wore the uniform. You served your country. That should count for something. If your discharge is keeping you from getting the benefits you need, we’re here to help you fix it. We’ve done this for veterans in every branch. Combat vets. MST survivors. People who made mistakes. People who were forgotten. You’re not alone in this. Apply now at www.rmvap.org Email us at clientservices@rmvap.org Call: (720) 253 0963 It’s your record. Let’s set it right.
