Bad Discharge OTH? VA is hopefully fixing that.

[Buck52]

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/10/2020-14559/update-and-clarify-regulatory-bars-to-benefits-based-on-character-of-discharge

[Berta]

Thanks Buck- I might comment on that at the Fed Reg myself as the regulations are outdated and not as concise as this proposed regulation is.

 

Then again those who have received Bad Paper should be the ones commenting, as bad paper can follow a veteran throughout their whole life in many disparate ways.

I believe I have even read RO decisions that deem the Character of Discharge as worse than the Military deemed it and it will take time for me to find those decisions because that is definitely something that must be changed.

I have dealt with bad paper vets and one thing is for sure-they need to do a lot of leg work to get those situations resolved.

If they do not do the leg work-any no one else can really do it for them- they will never get an upgraded discharge.

When Jimmy  Carter was President, he learned that because the Army had exceeded their recruitment stats, the Army was getting rid of service men (maybe women too) with trumped up charges because there were no Mil open jobs the newer recruits could do.. I helped a vet use the  proclamation Carter made to get his undesirable discharge changed to an Honorable one.

But then again he had a previous period of Honorable Service. I read his Court Martial and it was a bunch of crap.

Cases of bad paper ( we have had some here at hadit) are often very difficult to deal with and change. This proposed regulation will put that onus onto the VA and maybe then more lawyers would be willing to help bad paper veterans.

I just hope all vet reps, VSOs, agents and vet lawyers are aware of the Hagel Memo and it's results.

Why should any combat veteran with PTSD inservice ( because you all got it,  the trauma, in service and it remained after (post) your discharge) be penalized by the Military,with a bad paper discharge,  if their military behavior and actions could be attributed to PTSD, directly from their service?

Thanks for the link.