Issued by General Court-Martial only. ALL federal VA benefits barred.
A Dishonorable Discharge is the most severe punitive separation, issued ONLY by a General Court-Martial. All federal VA benefits are barred. The veteran is treated as a non-veteran for federal-benefit purposes, though some emergency-care exceptions exist.
MST-related care under SOME circumstances (case-by-case review)
✗ NOT Eligible for
ANY VA disability compensation
ANY VA healthcare (general)
GI Bill education benefits
VA home loan
VA pension
All state veteran benefits
Federal hiring preference
Burial in a national cemetery
Notes
Dishonorable discharge bars federal benefits but does not bar state-level benefits in every case — check your state's specific rules. Most states defer to the federal characterization but a few have separate review processes.
Upgrade path:
File DD Form 149 with the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) — only the BCMR can review GCM-issued discharges. The DRB cannot. Upgrade success rates are LOW (typically <10%) unless there's clear evidence of legal error or new evidence of mitigating circumstances. Engage a VA-accredited attorney.
In crisis? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 confidential, federally-operated. Important: Crisis services are FREE regardless of discharge characterization. Vet Centers offer free MST and combat counseling for ALL discharges including OTH and BCD.
VA benefit eligibility by discharge characterization is established in federal law (38 USC §5303 and related). Always verify the most current rules at va.gov before filing. Free claim help available from VSOs (American Legion, VFW, DAV) and CVSOs in every U.S. county.