COD Determination
Veterans and families who believe a Character of Discharge (COD) may be preventing eligibility for burial or other VA benefits are encouraged to submit a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). When a veteran applies for VA benefits and the discharge characterization is Other Than Honorable or below, the VA will automatically initiate COD Determination to assess whether the veteran qualifies for VA benefits for VA purposes.
A VA COD Determination does not change or amend the official military discharge characterization recorded on the DD Form 214. Only the Department of Defense, through the appropriate Discharge Review Board (DRB) or Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR), has the authority to change a veteran’s military discharge characterization.
Requests to upgrade or change a military discharge must be submitted directly to the appropriate military review board. After a veteran’s death, discharge upgrade requests are generally not accepted unless a review was initiated while the veteran was alive, subject to limited statutory exceptions.
Records Corrections
The Warriors Remembrance & Research Foundation (WRRF) assists veterans and their families with identifying and correcting errors or omissions in official U.S. military records.
In many cases, record corrections result in the issuance of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). A DD Form 215 is used to amend a DD Form 214 when awards, decorations, periods of service, or other official entries were omitted or recorded incorrectly.
WRRF assists veterans, and in the case of deceased veterans, their eligible next-of-kin, with preparing and submitting a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552. These applications are reviewed by the appropriate service-specific Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR), which has sole authority to determine whether a correction is warranted and whether a DD Form 215 or reissued DD Form 214 will be issued.
Post Service Awards & Certificates
In addition to correcting official records, WRRF assists veterans and families in obtaining awards and recognitions created after a veteran’s service that they may still be entitled to. This includes items such as the Cold War Recognition Certificate and Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal, and other retroactive medals, campaign ribbons, or certificates authorized by Congress or the Department of Defense after a veteran separated from service. Many families are unaware of these honors, but they serve as meaningful symbols of a veteran’s contributions to our nation’s history. WRRF helps identify eligibility, gather required documentation, and submit requests so veterans and their families receive the recognition they have earned.
