Discharge upgrade requests are handled outside the VA disability claims system. They go through either a Discharge Review Board (DRB), using DD Form 293, or a Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records (BCMR/BCNR), using DD Form 149, depending on how long ago you separated and what kind of change you are requesting. Each branch runs its own board — for example, the Army Review Boards Agency, the Air Force Discharge Review Board, and the Board for Correction of Naval Records for Navy and Marine Corps veterans.
There is no fixed, guaranteed timeline for these boards. Processing times vary widely depending on the branch, the complexity of the case, whether a personal appearance hearing is requested, the volume of pending applications, and whether additional records or clarification are needed from the applicant. It is common for cases to take well over a year, and timelines that stretch past 12-18 months are not unusual, especially for boards handling backlogs. An acknowledgment letter confirming receipt, as many applicants get, does not indicate how close a decision is — it only confirms the file is in the queue.
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 want a status update, the most reliable step is to contact the specific board handling your case directly rather than guessing based on elapsed time. Each board has a case status inquiry line or email, and some allow you to check status online if you have your case number. When you contact them, have your full name, service number or last four of your SSN, and the date you submitted your application ready, since that is what they use to locate your file.
It is also worth keeping copies of everything you submitted and any correspondence you received, including the acknowledgment email, in case the board requests resubmission or there is a records mismatch. If your discharge upgrade is tied to a VA disability claim — for example, you are waiting on the upgrade before filing or appealing a VA claim — know that the VA claim and the discharge board review are separate processes running on separate timelines, and one does not automatically expedite the other.
The concrete next step is to contact the discharge review board or correction board for your specific branch directly, using your case number and submission date, to request a current status update rather than estimating based on how much time has passed.
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