Having discharge changed or corrected requires review

Having discharge changed or corrected requires review

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jan/15/paul-hiott-having-discharge-changed-or-corrected/

By Paul Hiott
Posted January 15, 2010

If you are a veteran in need of a change, correction or modification
of your discharge, there are steps you can take to apply for a review
of discharge and possibly have it changed.

Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with
authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals ­ as
long as they were not issued by a sentence of a general court
martial. The board has no authority to address medical discharges.
The veteran or ­ if deceased or incompetent ­ the surviving spouse,
next of kin or legal representative may apply for a review of
discharge by writing to the military department concerned.

Service discharge review boards conduct hearings in Washington, D.C.
Traveling review boards also visit selected cities to hear cases. In
addition, the Army sends teams to locations to videotape the
testimony of applicants for later review by a board in Washington.

One important reason to apply for a review regards medical benefits.
Discharges awarded as a result of unauthorized absence in excess of
180 days make persons ineligible for VA benefits regardless of action
taken by discharge review boards, unless VA determines there were
compelling circumstances for the absences. Veterans with disabilities
incurred or aggravated during active military service may qualify for
medical or related benefits regardless of separation and
characterization of service. Veterans separated administratively
under other than honorable conditions may require their discharge be
reviewed for possible recharacterization, provided they file their
appeal within 15 years of the date of separation.

Questions regarding the review of a discharge may be addressed to the
appropriate discharge review board at the following addresses: Army:
Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB), Attention: SFMR-RBB, 1901 S. Bell
St., 2nd Floor, Arlington, VA 22202-4508; Navy and USMC: Navy
Discharge Review Board, 801 N. Randolph St., Suite 905, Arlington, VA
22203; Air Force: Air Force Military Personnel Center, Attention:
DPMDOA1, Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-6001; Coast Guard: Attention:
GPE1, Washington, D.C. 20593.
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Paul J. Hiott is the Veterans Services director for St. Lucie County.
Numbers to call for transportation and other veteran services are:
St. Lucie County, 337-5670; Martin County, 2885450 for transportation
or 2885448 for benefit information; Indian River County, 5678000, ext. 1499.

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