Correction of Military Records
Important Note About Availability
Because our primary practice is VA disability claims and appeals, we accept an extremely limited number of correction and discharge upgrade cases each year.
If you are a U.S. Veteran and believe your military records contain errors or adverse information that is harming you, you may be able to request correction through your branch’s Discharge Review Board (DRB) or Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR). Having an experienced attorney can be invaluable in presenting the facts clearly, organizing the evidence, and telling your story in a way the board can act on.
While there are filing deadlines for certain applications, boards can sometimes consider late filings when justice requires it. We help ensure your side of the story is heard, supported, and properly documented.
Discharge Upgrade (Characterization of Service)
Your characterization of service can affect eligibility for important benefits, including:
Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill
VA Home Loan
VA disability compensation
and more
Service members are separated for a wide range of reasons—sometimes involving alleged misconduct, but also issues like performance, fitness, administrative separations, pregnancy/parenthood, and other circumstances. In some cases, the process is rushed or mishandled, and the outcome does not reflect the full context.
If your discharge is holding you back from benefits, employment, or future opportunities, a discharge upgrade may help remove those barriers.
Discharge Upgrade to Medical Separation or Medical Retirement
Were you experiencing a medical condition that interfered with your ability to perform duties at the time of separation? Should you have been referred into the MEB/PEB process, but were not?
In some cases, correction boards can change a discharge to a medical separation or medical retirement, which can significantly affect benefits for you and your family—and may create eligibility for retroactive benefits/back pay depending on the facts.
As a former MEB and PEB attorney, Cullen Elrod is uniquely familiar with the disability evaluation process and how these cases are built.
Other Military Record Corrections
We may also assist with requests such as:
Adding awards that should have been awarded (e.g., Purple Heart, CIB, CAB, etc.)
Home of record corrections (may impact state benefits such as the Hazlewood Act in Texas)
Corrections to name, SSN, or date of birth
Rank correction at separation/retirement
Removal of derogatory information (“bad paper,” such as certain reprimands)
Restoration of certain pay/bonus entitlements (when applicable)
Elrod Legal’s Approach
Before submitting an application, we typically start by obtaining your military personnel records so we can see what the board will see and identify the strongest path forward.
Which Form Do We Use?
DD Form 293 (Discharge Review): generally used for discharge upgrade requests within 15 years of separation.
DD Form 149 (BCMR): commonly used when the matter is older than 15 years or when the correction sought falls under BCMR authority.
Record Review vs. Personal Appearance
With discharge upgrade requests, there are typically three review options:
Records review (no personal appearance)
Personal appearance in the Washington, D.C. area
Personal appearance before a traveling board (if available)
Absent exigent circumstances, we often prefer to begin with a records review, which can be faster and allows the board to evaluate a well-organized submission. If a records review does not achieve the desired outcome, we can discuss whether a personal appearance request makes sense (bearing in mind boards often deny appearance requests, and the process can take substantial time).
Simple DD-214 Corrections (DD Form 215)
For straightforward administrative errors—such as a misspelling or transposed number—a DD Form 215 may be the appropriate tool to correct a DD-214. Examples include:
misspelled name / incorrect initials
reversed names
incorrect date of birth
transposed digits in SSN/service number
certain awards/medals documentation issues
Cost & Fee Structure
The most common question we receive is: “How much will this cost?” The answer depends on the complexity of your case and the amount of research, evidence collection, and drafting required.
In many cases we use flat-fee billing for discharge upgrades and correction requests. We can also bill hourly, but flat fees are often the more cost-effective option—and allow you to know the cost upfront.
We offer tiered fees, payment plans, and may offer discounted rates in cases of financial hardship. All fee options are discussed during the consultation.
At Elrod Legal, we take the time to understand your goal and help you determine the most effective path to pursue the outcome you’re seeking.