In a significant move to provide better support for former service members, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its regulations regarding the character of discharge determinations. This change means that veterans who have received a discharge other than honorable or engaged in immoral conduct, as judged by a special court-martial, will now be eligible for VA care. This update marks a substantial shift in how the VA evaluates eligibility for benefits, aiming to extend services to those who have faced significant challenges in the military.

The new regulations include a meticulous review of records for former service members with discharges other than honorable and discharges of bad conduct. This thorough process ensures that the VA can extend its services to deserving individuals who may have faced discrimination, survived sexual assault or harassment, struggled with mental or physical health issues, or encountered other hardships. One notable change involves the regulatory bar regarding “homosexual acts that involve aggravating circumstances or other factors that affect the performance of duty.” While the VA had already taken steps to ensure equitable access for those discharged based on homosexual conduct, gender identity, or HIV status, this move further solidifies the VA’s commitment to reducing disparities for these groups.

In a significant move to provide better support for former service members, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its regulations regarding the character of discharge determinations. This change means that veterans who have received a discharge other than honorable or engaged in immoral conduct, as judged by a special court-martial, will now be eligible for VA care. This update marks a substantial shift in how the VA evaluates eligibility for benefits, aiming to extend services to those who have faced significant challenges in the military.

The new regulations include a meticulous review of records for former service members with discharges other than honorable and discharges of bad conduct. This thorough process ensures that the VA can extend its services to deserving individuals who may have faced discrimination, survived sexual assault or harassment, struggled with mental or physical health issues, or encountered other hardships. One notable change involves the regulatory bar regarding “homosexual acts that involve aggravating circumstances or other factors that affect the performance of duty.” While the VA had already taken steps to ensure equitable access for those discharged based on homosexual conduct, gender identity, or HIV status, this move further solidifies the VA’s commitment to reducing disparities for these groups.