When your discharge status changes, the VA does not automatically know about it. You need to proactively submit your new DD214 so your character of service is corrected in VA systems, since eligibility for GI Bill and other benefits (Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill, VR&E, etc.) is tied to having a discharge that is not dishonorable.
The most direct route is to upload the new DD214 through your VA.gov account under the documents or education benefits section, or to submit it directly to the VA Regional Office handling your claim or education case. If you already have an existing claim or education file, you can also upload it through the VA's online claim status tool or mail it to the address on any prior correspondence you received from the VA. Keep multiple certified copies, since different VA offices (education, disability compensation, records) may each need their own copy on file.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →If you are applying for the GI Bill for the first time, file VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits) through VA.gov, and attach or reference the new DD214 showing the upgraded discharge. The regional processing office (often referred to as a RPO) reviews the discharge characterization as part of eligibility determination. If your discharge upgrade came from a Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records, include the board's decision letter along with the new DD214, since that documentation can speed up verification.
If you had a prior VA claim denied specifically because of your former discharge status, you may need to request that the VA make a formal Character of Discharge determination under 38 CFR 3.12, especially if your service characterization was previously listed as under other than honorable conditions. This determination is separate from the military's own discharge upgrade and is sometimes required before VA benefits eligibility is fully restored, though many straightforward upgrades to honorable are processed without a lengthy separate VA review.
Processing times and exactly how much additional documentation is required can vary by regional office and by benefit type, so do not assume all offices will move at the same pace or need the same information.
As a next step, log into your VA.gov account, upload the new DD214 to your profile and to any open education benefits application, and separately call the VA education call center or your VA Regional Office to confirm they have received and processed the updated discharge status before you submit or resubmit your education benefits application.
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