Getting a discharge that isn’t fully honorable can feel like a permanent roadblock. Many veterans believe it disqualifies them from all VA benefits forever. The truth? While a less than honorable discharge can block access to some benefits, there’s an important exception that keeps the door open for VA health care.

This guide will explain exactly how this exception works, what conditions apply, and how you can still secure health care coverage for service-connected conditions—even if your discharge was less than honorable.

The Big Exception: Health Care for Service-Connected Disabilities

Under VA regulations, veterans with a General, Other Than Honorable (OTH), or similar discharge may still qualify for VA health care—if they can show their disability was incurred or aggravated during active service.

This means:

  • Even if you can’t access VA pension or compensation,

  • You can still get treatment, medication, and services for service-connected conditions.

Example:
A veteran with an OTH discharge after a single misconduct incident can still receive VA treatment for a back injury sustained in combat.

Key Points to Understand

Service-Connected Conditions Only

  • The exception applies only to disabilities linked to your service.

  • You need medical evidence (e.g., service treatment records, hospital reports, buddy statements) showing the condition was caused or worsened during active duty.

Bad Conduct Discharges Are Different

  • This exception does not apply to periods of service ending with a Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD).

  • A BCD comes from a court-martial (punitive, not administrative), often for serious offenses.

  • If the condition was incurred during the BCD period, it’s barred.

Example:

  • Veteran with an Honorable first enlistment and BCD second enlistment: the VA will cover conditions from the first period but not from the second.

Multiple Periods of Service

  • The VA reviews each service period separately.

  • An OTH for one period doesn’t erase your honorable service in another.

Example:

  • Enlistment #1: Honorable → benefits intact.

  • Enlistment #2: OTH → barred for that service period only.

How to Apply the Exception

Here’s how veterans can make use of this critical rule:

  1. Gather Documentation

    • Service treatment records showing your condition.

    • Medical records from during or shortly after service.

    • Statements from doctors, fellow servicemembers, or family.

  2. Submit Your Claim for Health Care

    • Even if your compensation claim is denied due to your discharge, ask for VA health care coverage under this exception.

  3. VA Review

    • The VA determines whether the condition is service-connected.

    • If approved, you receive ongoing health care for that condition.

  4. Know the Limits

    • This exception only applies to health care.

    • You will not get VA disability compensation or pension unless you win a Character of Discharge upgrade or favorable review.

Why This Exception Matters

Many veterans with less than honorable discharges avoid the VA entirely, thinking nothing is available. That’s simply not true. This health care exception ensures that even if your discharge status cuts off compensation or pensions, you still receive treatment for injuries and illnesses that came from your service.

It’s a recognition that your service—and your health—still matter.

The Next Step: Pursuing a Discharge Upgrade

While this health care exception is a lifeline, it doesn’t fix the bigger problem: your discharge status still limits access to full VA benefits, including disability compensation, pensions, home loans, education benefits, and more.

That’s why many veterans use the health care exception as a first step while pursuing a discharge upgrade.

Why pursue an upgrade?

  • An upgrade can turn partial benefits into full eligibility for all VA programs.

  • Upgrades are possible for reasons like:

    • PTSD, TBI, or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) not recognized at the time.

    • Misconduct that was minor compared to overall service.

    • Changes in VA or DoD policy.

Example:

  • A veteran with an OTH discharge for a single drug-related incident later proves PTSD from combat was the root cause.

  • The Board for Correction upgrades to General (Honorable), unlocking monthly compensation, GI Bill education benefits, and survivor protections—on top of the health care already received under the exception.

Explore our full guide on discharge upgrades here — it’s one of the most powerful ways to restore the benefits you’ve earned.

WHY NSLF

At National Security Law Firm, we know how crushing discharge issues can feel. But we also know the pathways that still exist to protect your health and financial stability.

  • We’ve been there ourselves. Founder Brett O’Brien is a U.S. Army veteran and cancer survivor who was personally denied by the VA.

  • Our team is made up of disabled veterans. We’ve lived this process—we’re not outsiders reading a rulebook.

  • 4.9⭐ Google reviews from veterans nationwide (see them here).

Our mission is simple: maximize your benefits, in the shortest time, while making the process easy to understand.

Do You Need a Lawyer for This?

Technically, you don’t need an attorney to request the health care exception. But here’s the reality:

  • Many veterans get denied because their records aren’t strong enough.

  • A skilled attorney knows how to document service-connection, prepare persuasive evidence, and frame your case so it’s hard for the VA to say no.

Example of Value:
A veteran with an OTH discharge applies for PTSD treatment. VA denies, claiming “insufficient evidence.” With legal help, the case is resubmitted with service records, expert medical opinion, and buddy statements → VA approves → the veteran now has lifelong access to free PTSD care.

That’s not just paperwork—it’s life-saving.

See our full guide on representation options for VA appeals here.

VA Disability Education & Legal Strategy Center

This guide is part of our VA Disability Education & Legal Strategy Center — a hub created to give you:

  • Step-by-step claim guides.

  • Strategies to speed up appeals.

  • Insider tips from former VA adjudicators.

Whether you fight your case yourself, with a VSO, or with our team, this hub is built to put the power back in your hands.

Pricing

  • You only pay if we win.

  • Most VA attorneys charge 20%–30% of back pay.

  • No upfront fees. No hidden costs.

  • Full details on our VA pricing page.

Ready to Take Back Control?

If you’ve been told your discharge status shuts you out of VA benefits, don’t stop there. You may still qualify for health care under this critical exception—and with the right help, you may be able to upgrade your discharge and unlock full VA benefits.

👉 Reach out here. We’ll make the process easier, fight to get your health care approved, and guide you toward the bigger win: restoring the benefits and recognition you earned through service.