The Appellant's character of discharge remains a bar to the receipt of VA benefits.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not show that compelling circumstances warranted the Appellant's prolonged unauthorized absence, and there has been no removal of any statutory bar to VA benefits by an upgrade to the Appellant's character of discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23000733
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.