According to a recent series of NPR reports, more than 100,000 troops have been discharged from the armed services under other than honorable conditions – so-called “bad paper” that bars them from accessing assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), disability compensation, and other benefits reserved for vets with an honorable discharge. Reasons for this type of discharge vary, but may include breaking military rules or committing serious crimes.
Injuries sustained while serving in the military, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, may cause changes in behavior. For this reason, commanders struggle with the decision to pursue a bad discharge, according to Gen. Peter Chiarelli, former vice chief of the Army, interviewed in the article. Bad paper not only results in denied benefits, but may also hinder a job search, as some employers consider it a red flag.
The VA may independently assess a veteran’s character of service, and they encourage veterans who have bad discharges to file a claim to have their discharge upgraded.
