The Mayer Law Blog

Discharge Review Board Changes Since COVID

Posted March 15th, 2023

(Note: This article is current as of March 15, 2023. However, board processes may change in the future.) The various service discharge review boards have changed since 2020. Before COVID, veterans had to plan to travel to the Washington, DC area for personal appearance hearings. Some exceptions were made for video teleconferences, but the rule… Read More

Discharge Upgrade for Vets with PTSD

Posted August 7th, 2019

Since the Department of Defense announced several years ago that it would give different consideration to upgrading the discharges of veterans with PTSD, many people inaccurately assume that it is now extremely easy for any vet who claims to have PTSD to get a discharge upgrade. This assumption has become one more myth about the… Read More

Do You Really Want Your DD214 Online?

Posted June 10th, 2019

If you’ve been wanting to get your DD214 online instantly, without having to request your records and wait for the military to send you a copy, you might be interested to know that the Department of Defense is hoping to make the DD-214 form digital by 2024. As reported by Military Times, there are some… Read More

How To Request Your Military Records Online

Posted June 4th, 2019

One of the common questions we get through our website involves how to request military records. Many of these requests are from folks who don’t want to hire a lawyer for a military discharge upgrade; they just want to see their military personnel file. Sometimes they have misplaced their discharge paperwork or never received important… Read More

Good News – Army Discharge Upgrade

Posted June 4th, 2019

Last night was a good night. After a family event, I looked at my phone and saw that I missed a call from a client. In March, we presented his case to the Army Discharge Review Board and had not yet received results. For any discharge upgrade lawyer, this is an anxious period. Calling him… Read More

Discharge Upgrade Notes – 24 May 2019

Posted May 24th, 2019

Here are a couple of notes that popped in my mind today regarding discharge upgrades. This is especially important when post-service accomplishments are the main basis for an upgrade. You must impress the board. A well-rounded resume’ consists of achievements professionally, academically, personally, and in support of community service initiatives. Show consistency. Jumping jobs every… Read More

Discharge Upgrade Update

Posted April 24th, 2019

Based on a few trends in the field of discharge upgrades, I want to address a few things. First, PTSD can be a valid reason for upgrading a discharge. However, despite persistent rumors to the contrary, it is not a guarantee. If you have a characterization of “Other Than Honorable,” it is persuasive to argue… Read More

A Few Discharge Review Board Notes – June 2015

Posted June 18th, 2015

Here are a few thoughts after my last few trips to the various service discharge review boards: It can be difficult to argue that you were innocent of the acts that gave rise to a discharge. The board initially believes that an applicant is guilty, and the burden is on the applicant to prove otherwise…. Read More

Good News From the Navy Discharge Review Board

Posted February 11th, 2015

Another piece of good news recently arrived. A former Navy Sailor was upgraded from Other Than Honorable conditions to a General, Under Honorable Conditions. This veteran worked for several years in order to create a fantastic resume’ and became a valuable member of his community. This certainly helped to create a great case for a… Read More