Frequently Asked Questions
Does my internet browser need special settings?Can I apply for a change in a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)?What kinds of discharge upgrade can I apply for?What administrative remedies are there?What should I do for the date fields?What is meant by Military Awards?What is meant by Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)?Why do I have to say "Yes" to fill out the form?Who is considered to be the Applicant?What should I do if I change my address?What is a Next of Kin?What is a Legal Representative?Who can be a Counselor and what can a Counselor do?Who can provide Counselors?What is an Other relationship?Do I need to provide anything to prove my relationship to the Applicant?If you request to appear before the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, does that mean you will get to appear before the Board?Can a court-martial directed discharge be corrected or changed?Can I change Medical Conditions in Military Medical Records?Do I need to provide copies of Medical Records and Veterans Affairs Records related to the application?If the VA gave the applicant a higher disability rating, does that mean that the military services disability rating at separation or retirement is wrong and should be corrected?What if it has been more than 3 years since the error or injustice was discovered or should have been discovered? What kinds of documents and evidence should or could be submitted?What do I need to justify a correction of records?What is a reconsideration?I have a mandatory separation date approaching. Can the ABCMR suspend this action while my application is under review?How long should it take to get an answer on my application?Who will know about my case?Who receives copies of the Board’s decision documents?How long will it take to get paid once the Board decision in my favor is approved? Can I receive compensation (damages) from the ABCMR based on a substantiated injustice I suffered?Removal of Unfavorable Information.Removal of Article 15 Can I appeal for a disability separation or a change in my disability separation? Does my internet browser need special settings? Please refer to browser requirements page located hereBack to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageCan I apply for a change in a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)? You may not use ACTS Online to apply for a change in your survivor Benefits Plan. Detailed information on Survivor Benefit Plan can be found on this Army web site, https://www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/sbp.asp . Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat kinds of discharge upgrade can I apply for? Request for Discharge Characterization Upgrade or Change of Discharge Reason. If you can provide evidence of error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge, you may request a discharge review. There is no automatic upgrade of a discharge after 6 months or any other time period. Changes or upgrades are only made if there is a proven error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge. If you are requesting the upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge on a discharge that occurred within the last 15 years, you may complete an online discharge review application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 293 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, Army Discharge Review Board application procedures, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. You must provide with your application evidence and supporting documents to show that there is an error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge. However, if you were discharged by a general court-marital order, are requesting a change to or of a medical discharge, or you were discharged more than 15 years ago , you must apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records(ABCMR) for consideration of an upgrade of your discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. If your request is denied by the ADRB you can apply to the ABCMR for consideration of upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. You may complete an online application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 149 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. As part of your evidence you need to provide copies of any correspondence you have had with other agencies to try and resolve your issue. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records can only address issues after all administrative recourse available to the applicant has been exhausted. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request. Request to change an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code on a Separation Document. The RE code (Reentry Eligibility code) is determined by the reason for separation, not the character of separation (Honorable, General, or Under Other than Honorable). The RE code is not changed or upgraded solely to allow enlistment (reentry into the service). Soldiers separated with an RE-3 or RE-4 code must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may not be possible. According to Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program), the Reentry Eligibility (RE) code can only be changed if an incorrect code was entered for the reason of separation. For this type of correction, please send a letter and a copy of your DD Form 214 to the following address requesting the correction: Commander US Army Human Resources Command Attention: Retention Branch (AHRC-EPF) 1600 Spearhead Division Drive, Dept 365 Fort Knox, KY 40121 If the Human Resources Command denies your request and you can provide evidence that the RE code is erroneous or unjust, you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for a correction of the RE code. If you were discharged within the last 15 years and can provide evidence that your reason for discharge is erroneous or unjust, you can apply to the Army Discharge Review Board requesting that your reason for separation be changed to the correct reason with corresponding RE code. To apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records or the Army Discharge Review Board, you may complete an online application at on this website and send the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or – you may print a blank DD Form from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat administrative remedies are there?You Must Exhaust Administrative Remedies Before You Apply to the ABCMR. You must exhaust other administrative remedies before appealing to the ABCMR. For example, if you have an issue on a performance evaluation report or a promotion, you must first appeal to the appropriate Department of the Army special review board or special selection board as specified in the related Army regulations. You must provide with your application to the ABCMR, a copy of all documentation showing that you have exhausted administrative remedies. The ABCMR will return your application to you if you have not first applied for relief through the appropriate administrative process. The ABCMR will consider your case only after you have exhausted all other available administrative appeals or remedy. The following paragraphs provide information on administrative remedy sources. a. Request for Discharge Characterization Upgrade or Change of Discharge Reason. If you are requesting the upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge on a discharge that occurred within the last 15 years, you must first submit a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States, to the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB). You may complete an online application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 293 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. If your request is denied by the ADRB, you can apply to the ABCMR on a DD Form 149 for consideration of upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. However, if you were discharged by a general court-marital order, are requesting a change to or of a medical discharge, or you were discharged more than 15 years ago, you must apply directly to the ABCMR on a DD Form 149 for consideration of an upgrade of your discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. b. Request to change an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code on a Separation Document. The RE code (Reentry Eligibility code) is determined by the reason for separation, not the character of separation (Honorable, General, or Under Other than Honorable). The RE code is not changed or upgraded solely to allow enlistment (reentry into the service). Soldiers separated with an RE-3 or RE-4 code must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may not be possible. According to Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program), the Reentry Eligibility (RE) code can only be changed if an incorrect code was entered for the reason of separation. For this type of correction, please send a letter and a copy of your DD Form 214 to the following address requesting the correction: Commander US Army Human Resources Command Attention: Retention Branch (AHRC-EPF) 1600 Spearhead Division Drive, Dept 365 Fort Knox, KY 40121 If the Human Resources Command denies your request and you can provide evidence that the RE code is erroneous or unjust, you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for a correction of the RE code. If you were discharged within the last 15 years and can provide evidence that your reason for discharge is erroneous or unjust, you can apply to the Army Discharge Review Board requesting that your reason for separation be changed to the correct reason with corresponding RE code. To apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records or the Army Discharge Review Board, you may complete an online application at on this website and send the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or – you may print a blank DD Form from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request. c. Changes to Courts-Martial. The ABCMR may not disturb the finality of a court-martial, including retrying elements of, or arguments presented before a court-martial, or appeals to a court-martial, or change the findings of a court-martial. The Board may only consider clemency on the court-marital sentence when adequate evidence is submitted to warrant such consideration. Clemency may allow a change in the character of the discharge or the sentence. d. A Higher VA Disability Rating Does Not Mean that the Army Discharge Disability Rating is Wrong. Title 38, United States Code, sections 1110 and 1131, permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation for disabilities which were incurred in or aggravated by active military service. However, an award of a higher VA rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those that are detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, it is not unusual for these two agencies of the Government, operating under different policies, to arrive at a different disability rating based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency’s examinations and findings. A common misconception is that veterans can receive both a military retirement for physical unfitness and a VA disability pension. Not all retirees with disabilities are entitled to payment of both military retired pay and veteran's disability compensation. By law, most veterans are compensated only from one source for a disability. If a veteran is receiving VA disability compensation, and the ABCMR corrects the records to show that a veteran was retired for physical unfitness, the veteran may have to choose between the VA compensation and the military retirement. Normally, the VA compensation is more advantageous for lower graded Soldiers and military retirement is more advantageous for higher graded Soldiers. You should consult with a Veterans Affairs counselor or veterans services counselor to assess your individual entitlements. e. Change of Name, Gender, or Social Security Number. If you have a name, gender, or Social Security Number (SSN) change after discharge from the military, even if it is court ordered, the name and gender on your military records will not be changed since they are historical documents that record facts during the time you served in the military. If you need a certificate to show your current name or gender and that you served in the military under another, you can request such from the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. f. Replacement Military Awards. For replacement medals, you may write to the National Personnel Records Center, to the attention of Customer Service to request replacement medals. Please provide them copies of your separation and discharge documents with your request. A request for a replacement military award can also be made on a Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center which can be found online at https://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/awards_and_decorations.html g. Requests for award of a military decoration not previously awarded - Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. Public Law, Title 10, United States Code, section 1130, permits you to: request that a decoration which you received be upgraded to a higher award; request award of a decoration you were submitted for, but did not receive; or request award of a decoration you believe you deserve but for which you were not recommended. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/Section_1130_Title_10.htm Requests for award or upgrade of one of the above decorations must be submitted on a DA Form 638, Award Recommendation, with supporting documents and witness statements, through your Congressman for consideration by the Army Awards and Decorations Branch. The DA Form 638 should be filled out by a witness to the act but can be filled out by the applicant. A DA Form 638 can be obtained from a military Human Resource Office or online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a638.pdf. The address for the Army Decorations Board is: Commander, US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122. You may apply to the ABCMR for award or upgrade of a decoration ONLY AFTER the Army Decorations Branch has made a decision on the DA Form 638. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/inquiries_retired.htm h. Requests for Award of Service Medals, Badges, the Purple Heart, and Other Awards. You may request the record be corrected to show that you were awarded service medals, badges, the Purple Heart, and other awards not listed in paragraph g above by submitting a DD Form 149 to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records(ABCMR). You must include supporting documentation and evidence to justify the award. Award of the Purple Heart is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy. The wound or injury for which the award is made must have required treatment by medical personnel and records of medical treatment for the wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. You can view Army Regulations online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf. i. Advancement on the Retired List to the Highest Grade Held. Under the provisions of Title 10, United States Code section 3964 (10 USC §3964), if you are an enlisted (E-1 through E-9) or warrant officer (W-1 through W-5) retiree with less than thirty years of active service who previously held a higher grade, you can apply for advancement to that higher grade on the retired list. This applies to former members of the Regular Army, and reserve members of the Army who were serving on active duty at the time of regular retirement. In the case of members of the National Guard, full-time National Guard duty is considered active duty. Those who retired as a commissioned officer above a warrant grade (O-1 through O-10) are not eligible. In order to be advanced on the retired list to the highest grade held satisfactorily, you had to have actually held that higher grade. Simply stated, you must have been promoted to, paid in that grade, and served at that grade for the required statutory or regulatory time. Merely serving in, “acting as” or holding a position or job title authorized a higher grade is not sufficient. If you were an enlisted member or a warrant officer and also held a reserve commission, you may be eligible for advancement on the retired list if you served on active duty in that higher commissioned officer rank for the required statutory or regulatory period of time. For example, if a retired E-7 during his or her career on active duty also served on active duty in his or her reserve status for more than thirty consecutive days as a W-1 through W-5, or at least six months as an O-1 through O-4, or at least three years as an O-5 or above, then the retiree may be eligible for advancement on the retired list. However, a retired enlisted Soldier who held a reserve commission while serving on active duty in the Regular Army in an enlisted status (sometimes referred to as “dual status”), is not eligible for advancement [to the Reserve Officer grade unless they served in the officer grade on active duty] absent the required service on active duty in the officer status. When to Apply You should submit your application when you reach a total of 30 years time on active duty plus time on the retired list. Although Army Regulation 15-80 allows applications to be submitted prior to reaching the 30-year point when misconduct is not an issue, neither the Human Resources Command nor the Defense Finance and Accounting Service have a suspense system that can accommodate early applications. How to Apply If you qualify under 10 USC §3964, you should request a review by the AGDRB. A sample application letter can be found at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/agdrb-overview.cfm. Mail your application letter to the Army Review Boards Agency, AGDRB, 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531. The AGDRB, consisting of three field grade officers, will convene to determine the highest grade you served satisfactorily while on active duty. Since you are not entitled to appear in person before the AGDRB, you should attach a copy of any relevant documents you have. If the AGDRB decides to advance you on the retired list, your resulting increase in retired pay will be retroactive to the date you became eligible; that is, the thirty-year mark, not back to the date of retirement or the date of your application. The thirty-year mark is the date you accumulated thirty years of combined active duty service and time on the retired list. Active duty service does NOT include Section 1405 service. Non-Regular Retirees. For those who will be receiving non-regular retired pay based on service in a Reserve Component, AR 135-180 authorizes the US Army Human Resources Command to make final determinations on the highest grade served when reduction was not due to misconduct, inefficiency or for cause. If you will be receiving non-regular retired pay and you were reduced for other reasons, such as a down-grade of your position or a reduction in rank caused by a reduction in force or transfer between positions, you should write to: Commander; US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDR-RCR, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept 420, Ft. Knox, KY 40122-5402 when you apply for non-regular retired pay your letter should explain the circumstances surrounding your promotions and "demotions," the grade at which you retired, and the highest grade you held. You should also include a copy of any supporting documentation that you may have, such as promotion orders, reduction orders, and DD Forms 214. Please include your full name, social security number and if applicable, your service number. If you are receiving non-regular retired pay and you believe your retired pay should be based on a higher grade, you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for a correction. Information on the ABCMR is contained on this website. Grade Determination for Disability Separations and Retirements A Soldier separating for a physical disability receives severance or retired pay based on the highest of (1) the pay grade at time of separation, (2) the highest grade satisfactorily served, or (3) the grade to which the Soldier had been approved for promotion. If the Soldier is not serving in his or her highest grade or on an approved promotion list to what would have been the highest grade, the Physical Disability Agency forwards the disability case to the AGDRB for a determination of whether the Soldier served satisfactorily at a higher grade. If you were medically retired or separated in a lower grade without the benefit of a review by the AGDRB, then you should apply for correction of military records by completing a DD Form 149 and mailing it, along with a copy of any relevant documents you may have, to the address listed on the back of the form. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) has jurisdiction to correct errors or injustices, and can act in place of the AGDRB in these cases. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat should I do for the date fields? Please enter as much of the date information as you know accurately, with the year being the least amount of information that you will need to enter. If you know the year partially, enter the fields in the date that you know accurately, leave the fields in the date that you do not know blank, and check "Unsure". If you do not know any part of the date, leave it blank and check "Unsure". Please Note:If you enter a partial date, the system will enter a default value for the day and/or month. This information will be updated by ARBA analysts if the date in its entirely is accurately discovered through research. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is meant by Military Awards?Replacement Military Awards. For replacement medals, you may write to the National Personnel Records Center, to the attention of Customer Service to request replacement medals. Please provide them copies of your separation and discharge documents with your request. A request for a replacement military award can also be made on a Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center which can be found online at https://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/awards_and_decorations.html. Requests for award of the of a military decoration not previously awarded - Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. Public Law, Title 10, United States Code, section 1130, permits you to: request that a decoration which you received be upgraded to a higher award; request award of a decoration you were submitted for, but did not receive; or request award of a decoration you believe you deserve but for which you were not recommended. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/Section_1130_Title_10.htm Requests for award or upgrade of one of the above decorations must be submitted on a DA Form 638, Award Recommendation, with supporting documents and witness statements, through your Congressman for consideration by the Army Awards and Decorations Branch. The DA Form 638 should be filled out by a witness to the act but can be filled out by the applicant. A DA Form 638 can be obtained from a military Human Resource Office or online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a638.pdf . The address for the Army Decorations Board is: Commander, US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122. You may apply to the ABCMR for award or upgrade of a decoration ONLY AFTER the Army Awards and Decorations Branch has made a decision on the DA Form 638. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/inquiries_retired.htm . h. Requests for Award of Service Medals, Badges, the Purple Heart, and Other Awards. You may request the record be corrected to show that you were awarded service medals, badges, the Purple Heart, and other awards not listed in paragraph g above by submitting a DD Form 149 to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). You must include supporting documentation and evidence to justify the award. Award of the Purple Heart is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy. The wound or injury for which the award is made must have required treatment by medical personnel and records of medical treatment for the wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. You can view Army Regulations online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is meant by Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)? Detailed information on the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and an application for CRSC can be found on the following Army web sites. You must first apply to the CRSC Board for consideration before you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records on CRSC issues. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crscBack to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhy do I have to say "Yes" to fill out the form? You are required to provide your social security number in order to identify and retrieve your records. Your social security number and personal information will be protected under the privacy act and used only for the purposes stated. If you are not able to agree to these conditions, your application cannot be processed. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWho is considered to be the Applicant? Current and former members of the United States Army (including Army Reserve and Army National Guard) may apply for a correction of error or injustice in their Army military records. If the current or former service member is deceased or incompetent, the service member’s spouse, widow or widower, next of kin (mother, father, brother, sister, or children), legal representative, or other specified individual can apply for the service member. They must provide legal proof of the death (notarized copy of a death certificate) or incompetency of the service member and proof of their relationship (notarized copy of a birth certificate or marriage license) to the service member. Former spouses can apply on issues of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) benefits. Department of the Army civilian employees can apply in such cases as error or injustice in reports of survey or criminal titling, but not for civilian personnel or pay issues. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat should I do if I change my address? If you change your address, it is your responsibility to notify the Board so that we may provide you an answer to your application when a decision is made on your request. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is a Next of Kin? A next of kin is the applicant’s (soldier’s) mother, father, brother, sister, or children or decedents in the case of that none of these are still living. Next of kin relationship must be supported by a notarized copy of a birth certificate or marriage license. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is a Legal Representative? A legal representative is member of the legal profession to whom you have given power of attorney to represent you on this application. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWho can be a Counselor and what can a Counselor do? Most applicants represent themselves. You may also choose to have a counsel represent you. Many veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, or state veterans assistance offices, have staff members who can assist you or represent you in applying to the ABCMR. You may also hire a lawyer to represent you at your own expense. If you appoint a counsel, you should provide their name and address on the DD Form 149 or DD Form 293 or in the online application. If you name a counsel, the ABCMR may correspond with your counsel rather than directly with you. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWho can provide Counselors? Disabled American Veterans Washington Regional Office 1722 Eye Street, NW, Rm 210 Washington, DC 20421 (202) 554-3501http://www.dav.org The American Legion 1608 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 691-3185 http://www.legion.orgBack to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is an Other relationship? An "other" relationship is someone other than next of kin or legal representative such as a guardian or a parentis locos (a person who has acted as a parent for a majority of the applicant’s life). Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageDo I need to provide anything to prove my relationship to the Applicant? Yes. If you are not the applicant and submitting an application on behalf of the applicant, please provide the appropriate documentation supporting your relationship to the applicant (notarized true copy of birth certificate, marriage license, applicant’s death certificate if deceased, or power of attorney. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageIf you request to appear before the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, does that mean you will get to appear before the Board? You may request a personal appearance before the ABCMR by checking the appropriate box on DD Form 149. The ABCMR will decide whether a personal appearance is necessary to decide your case. The ABCMR grants very few personal appearances, so you should try to fully present your case in writing. If your request for a personal appearance is granted, the ABCMR will provide you with the necessary details. All expenses for your appearance are your responsibility and not at government expense. The ABCMR conducts personal appearance boards in the Washington, D.C. area. You may appear by yourself, with your counsel, or have your counsel appear on your behalf. You may also provide witnesses at your expense. If you are not granted a personal appearance, your case will be reviewed by the ABCMR based solely on the documents you submitted with your application and on your military records. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageCan a court-martial directed discharge be corrected or changed? The ABCMR may not disturb the finality of a court-martial, including retrying elements of, or arguments presented before a court-martial, or appeals to a court-martial, or change the findings of a court-martial. The Board may only consider clemency on the court-marital sentence when adequate evidence is submitted to warrant such consideration. Clemency may allow a change in the character of the discharge or the sentence. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageCan I change Medical Conditions in Military Medical Records? Medical Conditions in Military Medical Records are historical and not subject to change but can be annotated. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageDo I need to provide copies of Medical Records and Veterans Affairs Records related to the application? The Boards do no have Veterans Affairs (VA) records or your military medical records if you have applied to the VA for medical services or compensation. Please provide copies of all such documents that relate to your application. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageIf the VA gave the applicant a higher disability rating, does that mean that the military services disability rating at separation or retirement is wrong and should be corrected?A Higher VA Disability Rating Does Not Mean that the Army Discharge Disability Rating is Wrong. Title 38, United States Code, sections 1110 and 1131, permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation for disabilities which were incurred in or aggravated by active military service. However, an award of a higher VA rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those that are detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, it is not unusual for these two agencies of the Government, operating under different policies, to arrive at a different disability rating based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency’s examinations and findings. A common misconception is that veterans can receive both a military retirement for physical unfitness and a VA disability pension. Not all retirees with disabilities are entitled to payment of both military retired pay and veteran's disability compensation. By law, most veterans are compensated only from one source for a disability. If a veteran is receiving VA disability compensation, and the ABCMR corrects the records to show that a veteran was retired for physical unfitness, the veteran may have to choose between the VA compensation and the military retirement. Normally, the VA compensation is more advantageous for lower graded Soldiers and military retirement is more advantageous for higher graded Soldiers. You should consult with a Veterans Affairs counselor or veterans services counselor to assess your individual entitlements. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat if it has been more than 3 years since the error or injustice was discovered or should have been discovered? The public law requires that you submit your request for correction of military records within 3 years after the error or injustice occurs, or within 3 years after you discover the error or injustice. As an example, you should apply within 3 years after the event occurred that caused the error or injustice or within 3 years after your discharge. The ABCMR will review the merits of untimely applications. If you provide justification for exceeding this 3-year statute of limitation and if the request is found to be meritorious, the timeliness may be waived by the ABCMR in the interest of justice. You should not assume, however, that a waiver would be granted. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat kinds of documents and evidence should or could be submitted? It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence with the DD Form 149 to support the request for correction of an error or injustice. Please do not send original documents. Do send clear, legible copies. Send a copy of your discharge or separation certificates such as the DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or WD AGO Form 53-55 (WWII). Include the bottom section of the discharge or separation certificate that shows the reason for separation and character of separation. Send with your application a copy of any military documents and orders that you have which are related to your request. Do not assume that all of your military documents and orders are in your military record. Birth certificates and marriage licenses must be notarized with a raised seal imprinted by the issuing records custodian certifying that they are true copies. If you need to send proof of your Social Security Number (SSN), a photocopy of your social security card is not sufficient. You must obtain a letter from the Social Security Administration verifying your Social Security Number. Witness statements should be signed by the witness and notarized. It is not enough to provide just the names of witnesses. The ABCMR will not contact your witnesses to obtain statements. The best witness statements are from persons who have direct knowledge or involvement. Character references from community leaders and others who know you are helpful if you are requesting clemency based on post-service activities and accomplishments. You must decide what evidence will best support your case. The ABCMR will review available official military records, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence to support their contention of error or injustice. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat do I need to justify a correction of records? Your own statements on the application are very important. Identify exactly what error or injustice you want corrected in the record. Explain what happened and why you believe the record is in error or unjust. Give the date, unit or organization, and location when the error or injustice occurred. You may continue your statements on the back of the form or on plain paper attached to the form. You need to provide as much detail as possible as to why your record should be corrected. Provide copies of relevant military documents, witness statements, and other related documentation to support your request. The ABCMR will review available official military records, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence to support their contention of error or injustice. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWhat is a reconsideration? You may request reconsideration of the a Board decision on your case within one year of receipt of the original decision if you can present new relevant evidence or argument that was not considered by the Board when it denied your original application. Re-argument of the same evidence will not get your case reconsidered. Reconsideration is initiated by completing a new DD Form 149. Paragraph 2-15, Army Regulation 15-185, gives the rules for reconsideration. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageI have a mandatory separation date approaching. Can the ABCMR suspend this action while my application is under review? No! While every effort will be made to process an application involving a retirement/separation, the fact an application has been submitted does not provide a basis to suspend the action. According to Regulation and Law, other personnel actions are not delayed or suspended when an application is submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration. However, it is your responsibility to ensure the ABCMR is aware of a pending retirement/separation date. If the Board approves a correction that will affect a decision that was made during that period, a new application must be submitted to request subsequent correction to the record. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageHow long should it take to get an answer on my application? The Board reviews applications in the order in which they are received out of fairness to all. Due to the number of applications already on hand (over 20,000 annually) and the complexity of many of the cases, it may be as long as 12 months from the date we receive your application before you receive notification of the decision on your request. Be assured that the Board will consider your application as soon as possible and will notify you by mail as soon as a decision is made. Please notify us if your mailing address changes during this time. According to Regulation and Law, other personnel actions are not delayed or suspended when an application is submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration. If the Board approves a correction that will affect a decision that was made during that period, a new application must be submitted to request subsequent correction to the record. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWho will know about my case? Submission of an application is a private matter between the applicant and the Board/Board staff. Only the applicant and those that the applicant authorizes in writing, such as counsel, will know about the case. However, some application information may be shared if the Board or Board staff requests an advisory opinion from other agencies that may possess relevant information or if any official agency that has a need to know requests information on individual cases. Under all circumstances, further release of information will be governed by the Privacy Act to protect the applicant’s information. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageWho receives copies of the Board’s decision documents? Copies of the Board decision document and the Record of Proceedings are furnished to the applicant or the applicant's counsel. If a correction to military records is approved, the decision from the Board will be furnished to the appropriate agency to make the necessary corrections. A copy of the decision is placed in the restricted section of the applicant’s official military personnel record. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageHow long will it take to get paid once the Board decision in my favor is approved? When the ABCMR determines that a correction is justified, it directs that the responsible agency make the necessary changes to the Army record. Once those changes have been made, that agency will notify the Defense Finance and Accounting System (DFAS) to make the necessary pay adjustments, if any. The ABCMR also notifies DFAS of the pending change so it can suspense any necessary pay adjustments. These actions normally take 3-4 months to complete after the Board’s decision is published, depending on the number of agencies that must make corrections and the work load of the affected agencies and DFAS. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageCan I receive compensation (damages) from the ABCMR based on a substantiated injustice I suffered? No, claims against the Government for damages or compensation must be presented to the Army Claims Service or appropriate Federal court. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageRemoval of Unfavorable Information. Before you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration for removal of unfavorable information from your file, such as a letter of reprimand, you must exhaust administrative remedy (appeal process) defined in AR 600-37, Unfavorable Information, Chapter 7. The mailing address for the DA Suitability Evaluation Board to which you would apply is: 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531. If after exhausting administrative remedy, you still feel that there is an error or injustice in your record, you may apply to the ABCMR. Please provide a copy of documents showing that you have exhausted all administrative remedy. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home pageRemoval of Article 15 Please consult: Army Regulation 27-10, Military Justice; paragraph 3-37 & 4-41; Table 3-2 (Removal of Records of Non-judicial Punishment form Military Personnel Files). Army Regulation 600-8-104, Military Personnel Information Management/Records, Table 2-1 (under numbered form 2627 (DA)). Army Regulation 600-37, Unfavorable Information, Chapter 7. The mailing address for the DA Suitability Evaluation Board to which you would apply is: 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531. Back to the top|Back to ACTS Online home page Can I appeal for a disability separation or a change in my disability separation? Avenues of Review for Physical Disability Ratings The Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA) has several Boards which may be able to grant you a disability separation or retirement, or change the disability percentage the Army gave you. • Army Board for Correction of Military Records (10 U.S.C. 1552) • Army Physical Disability Review Board - Officer (10 U.S.C. 1554) • Army Disability Rating Review Board (AR 635-40, Chapter 4) The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) The ABCMR is the highest level of administrative review in the Army and exists to correct errors or remove injustices from a Soldier’s military records. In other words, the Board may consider granting your request for a disability separation or retirement, or a change to your disability rating, if an error exists in your record or as a matter of fairness (equity) even if an error does not exist. However, an award of a higher Veterans Affairs (VA) rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the Soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those conditions detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, these two Government agencies may arrive at different disability ratings based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency's examinations and findings. To learn more and for application procedures, visit the ABCMR page on this site or link to it by clicking here: https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/abcmr-overview.cfm The Army Physical Disability Review Board – Officer (APDRB) If you are an officer who was separated or retired from active duty without pay for physical disability, you may be eligible to apply for this Board. The APDRB reviews decisions made by a prior board. It has the same powers as the Board (retiring Board, medical Board, other disposition Board) that originally reviewed but denied your disability claim. As a result, the APDRB has the ability to grant you disability separation pay or a disability retirement. About the APDRB: • You may appear before the APDRB in person or with counsel provided at your expense. An accredited representative of an organization recognized by the Veterans Administration under Chapter 59 of Title 38, United States Code, may also appear on your behalf. • The Board will consider your Army records along with any evidence you present to the Board. • Witnesses may present evidence to the Board in person or by affidavit. • The Board consists of five Army officers, two of whom must be from the Army Medical Corps. • You must submit your request for review within 15 years of the date of your retirement or separation. How to Apply to the APDRB: Submit a letter requesting a review to the APDRB to: Army Review Boards Agency ATTN: Army Physical Disability Review Board 251 18th Street South, Suite 385 Arlington, VA 22202-3531 Include in the letter your full name, rank, social security number, and your contact information. Also state the reasons why you believe the Army should have granted you a disability separation or retirement. Include as attachments to your letter: • A copy of your DD-214 • Any evidence (to include medical records) you wish the Board to consider • Contact information for your representative (if any) and any witnesses you desire to call. Once this information is received, a representative of the APDRB will contact you to establish a Board date. Army Disability Rating Review Board (ADRRB) If you were retired with a disability rating, the ADRRB may consider your request to review the percentage of your rated disability. This Board is established by Army regulation. Who can apply to the ADRRB: If you are a Soldier with a fully executed retirement order and seek higher disability percentage, you may apply if the reason is: • Your original retirement order was based on fraud or a mistake of law; • You were not granted a full and fair hearing when you made a timely demand for such a hearing; or • You have substantial new evidence which, by due diligence, could not have been presented before the retirement decision and which would have warranted a higher percentage of disability. About the ADRRB: • You, your legal representative, or any informed Army authority may ask the Board to grant relief; • You are not entitled to a personal appearance before the Board; • Your request for relief must be filed within 5 years from the effective date of your retirement; • The ADRRB will consider your Army records and any information or evidence you submit in reviewing the case. How to Apply to the ADRRB: Submit a letter requesting a review to the ADRRB to: Army Review Boards Agency ATTN: Army Disability Rating Review Board 251 18th Street South, Suite 385 Arlington, VA 22202-3531 No special form for the letter is required. However, you should include the Soldier’s full name, rank, social security number, and your contact information. Also state the reasons for requesting relief and the relief desired. Provide as an enclosure any evidence you wish the Board to consider. Can the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) grant me a disability separation or retirement? The short answer is the ADRB may not change your discharge for nondisability reasons to a disability separation or retirement. If you received a disability separation or retirement from the Army, the ADRB may not change your disability percentage to increase your separation pay or make you eligible for a disability retirement. However, if you were administratively separated with less than an honorable discharge or received a Bad Conduct Discharge at a Special Court-Martial, it may be to your benefit to request ADRB review of your discharge before requesting review from the ABCMR. The ADRB has the authority to change the reason for your discharge (e.g. from misconduct to Secretarial Authority) and your service characterization (e.g. Under Other than Honorable Conditions to Honorable). The ADRB could consider your disability in determining, as a matter of fairness, whether to grant a change to the reason for separation or upgrade your service characterization. If the ADRB granted either form of relief, you may be better positioned before the ABCMR in requesting your discharge be changed to a disability separation or retirement. Further information about this ADRB is available by clicking on this link: https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/adrb-overview.cfm Changes Related to Disability Ratings The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181) changed the way that the Department of Defense (DoD) rates certain medical conditions, by requiring it to apply the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). Prior to the NDAA’s enactment, DoD’s disability rating guidelines relating to pain, decreased range of motion, and certain other issues differed from the VASRD. More Soldiers and Veterans are now eligible for placement on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) and permanent disability retirement, instead of medical separations with severance pay. Application of the New Law Although the NDAA did not become effective until January 28, 2008, the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) will apply the VASRD—as it existed at the time of the applicant’s discharge (which may differ from the most current version)—in all cases in which the applicant was discharged between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009, with an overall disability rating of 20% or less. The Secretary of Defense also directed, as a matter of policy, that the PDBR and ABCMR will apply VASRD section 4.129 to PTSD unfitting conditions for applicants discharged on or after September 11, 2001. This means that a Soldier who was separated on or after September 11, 2001, at least in part due to PTSD, is entitled to placement on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) for six months with a disability rating of 50%, although that rating is subject to re-evaluation at the end of that six-month period. Although not required by law, the ABCMR will consider the VASRD as it existed at the time of the applicant’s discharge in all cases in which the applicant was discharged on or after September 11, 2001. This approach is adopted as a matter of policy and equity. What Does This Mean to Me? If you were discharged on or after September 11, 2001, and your PEB relied upon DoD or Army guidelines that conflicted with the VASRD, you may be entitled to a higher disability rating and possibly medical retirement. If you believe you are entitled to a higher disability rating, you may apply to the ABCMR or the PDBR. The PDBR website has information on PDBR eligibility and the differences between the Boards. https://www.health.mil/About_MHS/Organizations/MHS_Offices_and_Programs/PDBR.aspxBack to the top|Back to ACTS Online home page
Please refer to browser requirements page located here
You may not use ACTS Online to apply for a change in your survivor Benefits Plan. Detailed information on Survivor Benefit Plan can be found on this Army web site, https://www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/sbp.asp .
Request for Discharge Characterization Upgrade or Change of Discharge Reason. If you can provide evidence of error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge, you may request a discharge review. There is no automatic upgrade of a discharge after 6 months or any other time period. Changes or upgrades are only made if there is a proven error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge. If you are requesting the upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge on a discharge that occurred within the last 15 years, you may complete an online discharge review application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 293 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, Army Discharge Review Board application procedures, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. You must provide with your application evidence and supporting documents to show that there is an error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge. However, if you were discharged by a general court-marital order, are requesting a change to or of a medical discharge, or you were discharged more than 15 years ago , you must apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records(ABCMR) for consideration of an upgrade of your discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. If your request is denied by the ADRB you can apply to the ABCMR for consideration of upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. You may complete an online application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 149 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. As part of your evidence you need to provide copies of any correspondence you have had with other agencies to try and resolve your issue. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records can only address issues after all administrative recourse available to the applicant has been exhausted. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request. Request to change an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code on a Separation Document. The RE code (Reentry Eligibility code) is determined by the reason for separation, not the character of separation (Honorable, General, or Under Other than Honorable). The RE code is not changed or upgraded solely to allow enlistment (reentry into the service). Soldiers separated with an RE-3 or RE-4 code must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may not be possible. According to Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program), the Reentry Eligibility (RE) code can only be changed if an incorrect code was entered for the reason of separation. For this type of correction, please send a letter and a copy of your DD Form 214 to the following address requesting the correction: Commander US Army Human Resources Command Attention: Retention Branch (AHRC-EPF) 1600 Spearhead Division Drive, Dept 365 Fort Knox, KY 40121 If the Human Resources Command denies your request and you can provide evidence that the RE code is erroneous or unjust, you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for a correction of the RE code. If you were discharged within the last 15 years and can provide evidence that your reason for discharge is erroneous or unjust, you can apply to the Army Discharge Review Board requesting that your reason for separation be changed to the correct reason with corresponding RE code. To apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records or the Army Discharge Review Board, you may complete an online application at on this website and send the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or – you may print a blank DD Form from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request.
If you can provide evidence of error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge, you may request a discharge review. There is no automatic upgrade of a discharge after 6 months or any other time period. Changes or upgrades are only made if there is a proven error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge.
If you are requesting the upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge on a discharge that occurred within the last 15 years, you may complete an online discharge review application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 293 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, Army Discharge Review Board application procedures, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. You must provide with your application evidence and supporting documents to show that there is an error, injustice, or inequity in your discharge.
However, if you were discharged by a general court-marital order, are requesting a change to or of a medical discharge, or you were discharged more than 15 years ago , you must apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records(ABCMR) for consideration of an upgrade of your discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. If your request is denied by the ADRB you can apply to the ABCMR for consideration of upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. You may complete an online application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 149 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. As part of your evidence you need to provide copies of any correspondence you have had with other agencies to try and resolve your issue. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records can only address issues after all administrative recourse available to the applicant has been exhausted. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request.
The RE code is not changed or upgraded solely to allow enlistment (reentry into the service). Soldiers separated with an RE-3 or RE-4 code must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may not be possible.
According to Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program), the Reentry Eligibility (RE) code can only be changed if an incorrect code was entered for the reason of separation. For this type of correction, please send a letter and a copy of your DD Form 214 to the following address requesting the correction:
Commander US Army Human Resources Command Attention: Retention Branch (AHRC-EPF) 1600 Spearhead Division Drive, Dept 365 Fort Knox, KY 40121
If the Human Resources Command denies your request and you can provide evidence that the RE code is erroneous or unjust, you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for a correction of the RE code.
If you were discharged within the last 15 years and can provide evidence that your reason for discharge is erroneous or unjust, you can apply to the Army Discharge Review Board requesting that your reason for separation be changed to the correct reason with corresponding RE code.
To apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records or the Army Discharge Review Board, you may complete an online application at on this website and send the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or – you may print a blank DD Form from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request.
You Must Exhaust Administrative Remedies Before You Apply to the ABCMR. You must exhaust other administrative remedies before appealing to the ABCMR. For example, if you have an issue on a performance evaluation report or a promotion, you must first appeal to the appropriate Department of the Army special review board or special selection board as specified in the related Army regulations. You must provide with your application to the ABCMR, a copy of all documentation showing that you have exhausted administrative remedies. The ABCMR will return your application to you if you have not first applied for relief through the appropriate administrative process. The ABCMR will consider your case only after you have exhausted all other available administrative appeals or remedy. The following paragraphs provide information on administrative remedy sources. a. Request for Discharge Characterization Upgrade or Change of Discharge Reason. If you are requesting the upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge on a discharge that occurred within the last 15 years, you must first submit a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States, to the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB). You may complete an online application on this website and mail the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or - you may print a blank DD Form 293 from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/, fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. If your request is denied by the ADRB, you can apply to the ABCMR on a DD Form 149 for consideration of upgrade of a discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. However, if you were discharged by a general court-marital order, are requesting a change to or of a medical discharge, or you were discharged more than 15 years ago, you must apply directly to the ABCMR on a DD Form 149 for consideration of an upgrade of your discharge characterization or a change of a reason for discharge. b. Request to change an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code on a Separation Document. The RE code (Reentry Eligibility code) is determined by the reason for separation, not the character of separation (Honorable, General, or Under Other than Honorable). The RE code is not changed or upgraded solely to allow enlistment (reentry into the service). Soldiers separated with an RE-3 or RE-4 code must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may not be possible. According to Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program), the Reentry Eligibility (RE) code can only be changed if an incorrect code was entered for the reason of separation. For this type of correction, please send a letter and a copy of your DD Form 214 to the following address requesting the correction: Commander US Army Human Resources Command Attention: Retention Branch (AHRC-EPF) 1600 Spearhead Division Drive, Dept 365 Fort Knox, KY 40121 If the Human Resources Command denies your request and you can provide evidence that the RE code is erroneous or unjust, you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for a correction of the RE code. If you were discharged within the last 15 years and can provide evidence that your reason for discharge is erroneous or unjust, you can apply to the Army Discharge Review Board requesting that your reason for separation be changed to the correct reason with corresponding RE code. To apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records or the Army Discharge Review Board, you may complete an online application at on this website and send the signature page and evidence as instructed by the online program – or – you may print a blank DD Form from the Army Review Boards Agency website at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ fill in the requested information, and mail it to the address shown on the reverse of the form. Please provide copies of all relevant military records in your possession and any evidence to support your request. c. Changes to Courts-Martial. The ABCMR may not disturb the finality of a court-martial, including retrying elements of, or arguments presented before a court-martial, or appeals to a court-martial, or change the findings of a court-martial. The Board may only consider clemency on the court-marital sentence when adequate evidence is submitted to warrant such consideration. Clemency may allow a change in the character of the discharge or the sentence. d. A Higher VA Disability Rating Does Not Mean that the Army Discharge Disability Rating is Wrong. Title 38, United States Code, sections 1110 and 1131, permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation for disabilities which were incurred in or aggravated by active military service. However, an award of a higher VA rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those that are detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, it is not unusual for these two agencies of the Government, operating under different policies, to arrive at a different disability rating based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency’s examinations and findings. A common misconception is that veterans can receive both a military retirement for physical unfitness and a VA disability pension. Not all retirees with disabilities are entitled to payment of both military retired pay and veteran's disability compensation. By law, most veterans are compensated only from one source for a disability. If a veteran is receiving VA disability compensation, and the ABCMR corrects the records to show that a veteran was retired for physical unfitness, the veteran may have to choose between the VA compensation and the military retirement. Normally, the VA compensation is more advantageous for lower graded Soldiers and military retirement is more advantageous for higher graded Soldiers. You should consult with a Veterans Affairs counselor or veterans services counselor to assess your individual entitlements. e. Change of Name, Gender, or Social Security Number. If you have a name, gender, or Social Security Number (SSN) change after discharge from the military, even if it is court ordered, the name and gender on your military records will not be changed since they are historical documents that record facts during the time you served in the military. If you need a certificate to show your current name or gender and that you served in the military under another, you can request such from the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. f. Replacement Military Awards. For replacement medals, you may write to the National Personnel Records Center, to the attention of Customer Service to request replacement medals. Please provide them copies of your separation and discharge documents with your request. A request for a replacement military award can also be made on a Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center which can be found online at https://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/awards_and_decorations.html g. Requests for award of a military decoration not previously awarded - Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. Public Law, Title 10, United States Code, section 1130, permits you to: request that a decoration which you received be upgraded to a higher award; request award of a decoration you were submitted for, but did not receive; or request award of a decoration you believe you deserve but for which you were not recommended. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/Section_1130_Title_10.htm Requests for award or upgrade of one of the above decorations must be submitted on a DA Form 638, Award Recommendation, with supporting documents and witness statements, through your Congressman for consideration by the Army Awards and Decorations Branch. The DA Form 638 should be filled out by a witness to the act but can be filled out by the applicant. A DA Form 638 can be obtained from a military Human Resource Office or online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a638.pdf. The address for the Army Decorations Board is: Commander, US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122. You may apply to the ABCMR for award or upgrade of a decoration ONLY AFTER the Army Decorations Branch has made a decision on the DA Form 638. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/inquiries_retired.htm h. Requests for Award of Service Medals, Badges, the Purple Heart, and Other Awards. You may request the record be corrected to show that you were awarded service medals, badges, the Purple Heart, and other awards not listed in paragraph g above by submitting a DD Form 149 to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records(ABCMR). You must include supporting documentation and evidence to justify the award. Award of the Purple Heart is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy. The wound or injury for which the award is made must have required treatment by medical personnel and records of medical treatment for the wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. You can view Army Regulations online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf. i. Advancement on the Retired List to the Highest Grade Held. Under the provisions of Title 10, United States Code section 3964 (10 USC §3964), if you are an enlisted (E-1 through E-9) or warrant officer (W-1 through W-5) retiree with less than thirty years of active service who previously held a higher grade, you can apply for advancement to that higher grade on the retired list. This applies to former members of the Regular Army, and reserve members of the Army who were serving on active duty at the time of regular retirement. In the case of members of the National Guard, full-time National Guard duty is considered active duty. Those who retired as a commissioned officer above a warrant grade (O-1 through O-10) are not eligible. In order to be advanced on the retired list to the highest grade held satisfactorily, you had to have actually held that higher grade. Simply stated, you must have been promoted to, paid in that grade, and served at that grade for the required statutory or regulatory time. Merely serving in, “acting as” or holding a position or job title authorized a higher grade is not sufficient. If you were an enlisted member or a warrant officer and also held a reserve commission, you may be eligible for advancement on the retired list if you served on active duty in that higher commissioned officer rank for the required statutory or regulatory period of time. For example, if a retired E-7 during his or her career on active duty also served on active duty in his or her reserve status for more than thirty consecutive days as a W-1 through W-5, or at least six months as an O-1 through O-4, or at least three years as an O-5 or above, then the retiree may be eligible for advancement on the retired list. However, a retired enlisted Soldier who held a reserve commission while serving on active duty in the Regular Army in an enlisted status (sometimes referred to as “dual status”), is not eligible for advancement [to the Reserve Officer grade unless they served in the officer grade on active duty] absent the required service on active duty in the officer status. When to Apply You should submit your application when you reach a total of 30 years time on active duty plus time on the retired list. Although Army Regulation 15-80 allows applications to be submitted prior to reaching the 30-year point when misconduct is not an issue, neither the Human Resources Command nor the Defense Finance and Accounting Service have a suspense system that can accommodate early applications. How to Apply If you qualify under 10 USC §3964, you should request a review by the AGDRB. A sample application letter can be found at https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/agdrb-overview.cfm. Mail your application letter to the Army Review Boards Agency, AGDRB, 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531. The AGDRB, consisting of three field grade officers, will convene to determine the highest grade you served satisfactorily while on active duty. Since you are not entitled to appear in person before the AGDRB, you should attach a copy of any relevant documents you have. If the AGDRB decides to advance you on the retired list, your resulting increase in retired pay will be retroactive to the date you became eligible; that is, the thirty-year mark, not back to the date of retirement or the date of your application. The thirty-year mark is the date you accumulated thirty years of combined active duty service and time on the retired list. Active duty service does NOT include Section 1405 service. Non-Regular Retirees. For those who will be receiving non-regular retired pay based on service in a Reserve Component, AR 135-180 authorizes the US Army Human Resources Command to make final determinations on the highest grade served when reduction was not due to misconduct, inefficiency or for cause. If you will be receiving non-regular retired pay and you were reduced for other reasons, such as a down-grade of your position or a reduction in rank caused by a reduction in force or transfer between positions, you should write to: Commander; US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDR-RCR, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept 420, Ft. Knox, KY 40122-5402 when you apply for non-regular retired pay your letter should explain the circumstances surrounding your promotions and "demotions," the grade at which you retired, and the highest grade you held. You should also include a copy of any supporting documentation that you may have, such as promotion orders, reduction orders, and DD Forms 214. Please include your full name, social security number and if applicable, your service number. If you are receiving non-regular retired pay and you believe your retired pay should be based on a higher grade, you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for a correction. Information on the ABCMR is contained on this website. Grade Determination for Disability Separations and Retirements A Soldier separating for a physical disability receives severance or retired pay based on the highest of (1) the pay grade at time of separation, (2) the highest grade satisfactorily served, or (3) the grade to which the Soldier had been approved for promotion. If the Soldier is not serving in his or her highest grade or on an approved promotion list to what would have been the highest grade, the Physical Disability Agency forwards the disability case to the AGDRB for a determination of whether the Soldier served satisfactorily at a higher grade. If you were medically retired or separated in a lower grade without the benefit of a review by the AGDRB, then you should apply for correction of military records by completing a DD Form 149 and mailing it, along with a copy of any relevant documents you may have, to the address listed on the back of the form. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) has jurisdiction to correct errors or injustices, and can act in place of the AGDRB in these cases.
Please enter as much of the date information as you know accurately, with the year being the least amount of information that you will need to enter. If you know the year partially, enter the fields in the date that you know accurately, leave the fields in the date that you do not know blank, and check "Unsure". If you do not know any part of the date, leave it blank and check "Unsure". Please Note:If you enter a partial date, the system will enter a default value for the day and/or month. This information will be updated by ARBA analysts if the date in its entirely is accurately discovered through research.
Replacement Military Awards. For replacement medals, you may write to the National Personnel Records Center, to the attention of Customer Service to request replacement medals. Please provide them copies of your separation and discharge documents with your request. A request for a replacement military award can also be made on a Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center which can be found online at https://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/awards_and_decorations.html. Requests for award of the of a military decoration not previously awarded - Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. Public Law, Title 10, United States Code, section 1130, permits you to: request that a decoration which you received be upgraded to a higher award; request award of a decoration you were submitted for, but did not receive; or request award of a decoration you believe you deserve but for which you were not recommended. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/Section_1130_Title_10.htm Requests for award or upgrade of one of the above decorations must be submitted on a DA Form 638, Award Recommendation, with supporting documents and witness statements, through your Congressman for consideration by the Army Awards and Decorations Branch. The DA Form 638 should be filled out by a witness to the act but can be filled out by the applicant. A DA Form 638 can be obtained from a military Human Resource Office or online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a638.pdf . The address for the Army Decorations Board is: Commander, US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122. You may apply to the ABCMR for award or upgrade of a decoration ONLY AFTER the Army Awards and Decorations Branch has made a decision on the DA Form 638. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Contacts/inquiries_retired.htm . h. Requests for Award of Service Medals, Badges, the Purple Heart, and Other Awards. You may request the record be corrected to show that you were awarded service medals, badges, the Purple Heart, and other awards not listed in paragraph g above by submitting a DD Form 149 to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). You must include supporting documentation and evidence to justify the award. Award of the Purple Heart is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy. The wound or injury for which the award is made must have required treatment by medical personnel and records of medical treatment for the wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. You can view Army Regulations online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf.
Detailed information on the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and an application for CRSC can be found on the following Army web sites. You must first apply to the CRSC Board for consideration before you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records on CRSC issues. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc
You are required to provide your social security number in order to identify and retrieve your records. Your social security number and personal information will be protected under the privacy act and used only for the purposes stated. If you are not able to agree to these conditions, your application cannot be processed.
Current and former members of the United States Army (including Army Reserve and Army National Guard) may apply for a correction of error or injustice in their Army military records. If the current or former service member is deceased or incompetent, the service member’s spouse, widow or widower, next of kin (mother, father, brother, sister, or children), legal representative, or other specified individual can apply for the service member. They must provide legal proof of the death (notarized copy of a death certificate) or incompetency of the service member and proof of their relationship (notarized copy of a birth certificate or marriage license) to the service member. Former spouses can apply on issues of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) benefits. Department of the Army civilian employees can apply in such cases as error or injustice in reports of survey or criminal titling, but not for civilian personnel or pay issues.
If you change your address, it is your responsibility to notify the Board so that we may provide you an answer to your application when a decision is made on your request.
A next of kin is the applicant’s (soldier’s) mother, father, brother, sister, or children or decedents in the case of that none of these are still living. Next of kin relationship must be supported by a notarized copy of a birth certificate or marriage license.
A legal representative is member of the legal profession to whom you have given power of attorney to represent you on this application.
Most applicants represent themselves. You may also choose to have a counsel represent you. Many veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, or state veterans assistance offices, have staff members who can assist you or represent you in applying to the ABCMR. You may also hire a lawyer to represent you at your own expense. If you appoint a counsel, you should provide their name and address on the DD Form 149 or DD Form 293 or in the online application. If you name a counsel, the ABCMR may correspond with your counsel rather than directly with you.
Disabled American Veterans Washington Regional Office 1722 Eye Street, NW, Rm 210 Washington, DC 20421 (202) 554-3501http://www.dav.org The American Legion 1608 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 691-3185 http://www.legion.org
An "other" relationship is someone other than next of kin or legal representative such as a guardian or a parentis locos (a person who has acted as a parent for a majority of the applicant’s life).
Yes. If you are not the applicant and submitting an application on behalf of the applicant, please provide the appropriate documentation supporting your relationship to the applicant (notarized true copy of birth certificate, marriage license, applicant’s death certificate if deceased, or power of attorney.
You may request a personal appearance before the ABCMR by checking the appropriate box on DD Form 149. The ABCMR will decide whether a personal appearance is necessary to decide your case. The ABCMR grants very few personal appearances, so you should try to fully present your case in writing. If your request for a personal appearance is granted, the ABCMR will provide you with the necessary details. All expenses for your appearance are your responsibility and not at government expense. The ABCMR conducts personal appearance boards in the Washington, D.C. area. You may appear by yourself, with your counsel, or have your counsel appear on your behalf. You may also provide witnesses at your expense. If you are not granted a personal appearance, your case will be reviewed by the ABCMR based solely on the documents you submitted with your application and on your military records.
The ABCMR may not disturb the finality of a court-martial, including retrying elements of, or arguments presented before a court-martial, or appeals to a court-martial, or change the findings of a court-martial. The Board may only consider clemency on the court-marital sentence when adequate evidence is submitted to warrant such consideration. Clemency may allow a change in the character of the discharge or the sentence.
Medical Conditions in Military Medical Records are historical and not subject to change but can be annotated.
The Boards do no have Veterans Affairs (VA) records or your military medical records if you have applied to the VA for medical services or compensation. Please provide copies of all such documents that relate to your application.
A Higher VA Disability Rating Does Not Mean that the Army Discharge Disability Rating is Wrong. Title 38, United States Code, sections 1110 and 1131, permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation for disabilities which were incurred in or aggravated by active military service. However, an award of a higher VA rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those that are detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, it is not unusual for these two agencies of the Government, operating under different policies, to arrive at a different disability rating based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency’s examinations and findings. A common misconception is that veterans can receive both a military retirement for physical unfitness and a VA disability pension. Not all retirees with disabilities are entitled to payment of both military retired pay and veteran's disability compensation. By law, most veterans are compensated only from one source for a disability. If a veteran is receiving VA disability compensation, and the ABCMR corrects the records to show that a veteran was retired for physical unfitness, the veteran may have to choose between the VA compensation and the military retirement. Normally, the VA compensation is more advantageous for lower graded Soldiers and military retirement is more advantageous for higher graded Soldiers. You should consult with a Veterans Affairs counselor or veterans services counselor to assess your individual entitlements.
The public law requires that you submit your request for correction of military records within 3 years after the error or injustice occurs, or within 3 years after you discover the error or injustice. As an example, you should apply within 3 years after the event occurred that caused the error or injustice or within 3 years after your discharge. The ABCMR will review the merits of untimely applications. If you provide justification for exceeding this 3-year statute of limitation and if the request is found to be meritorious, the timeliness may be waived by the ABCMR in the interest of justice. You should not assume, however, that a waiver would be granted.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence with the DD Form 149 to support the request for correction of an error or injustice. Please do not send original documents. Do send clear, legible copies. Send a copy of your discharge or separation certificates such as the DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or WD AGO Form 53-55 (WWII). Include the bottom section of the discharge or separation certificate that shows the reason for separation and character of separation. Send with your application a copy of any military documents and orders that you have which are related to your request. Do not assume that all of your military documents and orders are in your military record. Birth certificates and marriage licenses must be notarized with a raised seal imprinted by the issuing records custodian certifying that they are true copies. If you need to send proof of your Social Security Number (SSN), a photocopy of your social security card is not sufficient. You must obtain a letter from the Social Security Administration verifying your Social Security Number. Witness statements should be signed by the witness and notarized. It is not enough to provide just the names of witnesses. The ABCMR will not contact your witnesses to obtain statements. The best witness statements are from persons who have direct knowledge or involvement. Character references from community leaders and others who know you are helpful if you are requesting clemency based on post-service activities and accomplishments. You must decide what evidence will best support your case. The ABCMR will review available official military records, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence to support their contention of error or injustice.
Your own statements on the application are very important. Identify exactly what error or injustice you want corrected in the record. Explain what happened and why you believe the record is in error or unjust. Give the date, unit or organization, and location when the error or injustice occurred. You may continue your statements on the back of the form or on plain paper attached to the form. You need to provide as much detail as possible as to why your record should be corrected. Provide copies of relevant military documents, witness statements, and other related documentation to support your request. The ABCMR will review available official military records, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documents and evidence to support their contention of error or injustice.
You may request reconsideration of the a Board decision on your case within one year of receipt of the original decision if you can present new relevant evidence or argument that was not considered by the Board when it denied your original application. Re-argument of the same evidence will not get your case reconsidered. Reconsideration is initiated by completing a new DD Form 149. Paragraph 2-15, Army Regulation 15-185, gives the rules for reconsideration.
No! While every effort will be made to process an application involving a retirement/separation, the fact an application has been submitted does not provide a basis to suspend the action. According to Regulation and Law, other personnel actions are not delayed or suspended when an application is submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration. However, it is your responsibility to ensure the ABCMR is aware of a pending retirement/separation date. If the Board approves a correction that will affect a decision that was made during that period, a new application must be submitted to request subsequent correction to the record.
The Board reviews applications in the order in which they are received out of fairness to all. Due to the number of applications already on hand (over 20,000 annually) and the complexity of many of the cases, it may be as long as 12 months from the date we receive your application before you receive notification of the decision on your request. Be assured that the Board will consider your application as soon as possible and will notify you by mail as soon as a decision is made. Please notify us if your mailing address changes during this time. According to Regulation and Law, other personnel actions are not delayed or suspended when an application is submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration. If the Board approves a correction that will affect a decision that was made during that period, a new application must be submitted to request subsequent correction to the record.
Submission of an application is a private matter between the applicant and the Board/Board staff. Only the applicant and those that the applicant authorizes in writing, such as counsel, will know about the case. However, some application information may be shared if the Board or Board staff requests an advisory opinion from other agencies that may possess relevant information or if any official agency that has a need to know requests information on individual cases. Under all circumstances, further release of information will be governed by the Privacy Act to protect the applicant’s information.
Copies of the Board decision document and the Record of Proceedings are furnished to the applicant or the applicant's counsel. If a correction to military records is approved, the decision from the Board will be furnished to the appropriate agency to make the necessary corrections. A copy of the decision is placed in the restricted section of the applicant’s official military personnel record.
When the ABCMR determines that a correction is justified, it directs that the responsible agency make the necessary changes to the Army record. Once those changes have been made, that agency will notify the Defense Finance and Accounting System (DFAS) to make the necessary pay adjustments, if any. The ABCMR also notifies DFAS of the pending change so it can suspense any necessary pay adjustments. These actions normally take 3-4 months to complete after the Board’s decision is published, depending on the number of agencies that must make corrections and the work load of the affected agencies and DFAS.
No, claims against the Government for damages or compensation must be presented to the Army Claims Service or appropriate Federal court.
Before you can apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records for consideration for removal of unfavorable information from your file, such as a letter of reprimand, you must exhaust administrative remedy (appeal process) defined in AR 600-37, Unfavorable Information, Chapter 7. The mailing address for the DA Suitability Evaluation Board to which you would apply is: 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531. If after exhausting administrative remedy, you still feel that there is an error or injustice in your record, you may apply to the ABCMR. Please provide a copy of documents showing that you have exhausted all administrative remedy.
Please consult: Army Regulation 27-10, Military Justice; paragraph 3-37 & 4-41; Table 3-2 (Removal of Records of Non-judicial Punishment form Military Personnel Files). Army Regulation 600-8-104, Military Personnel Information Management/Records, Table 2-1 (under numbered form 2627 (DA)). Army Regulation 600-37, Unfavorable Information, Chapter 7. The mailing address for the DA Suitability Evaluation Board to which you would apply is: 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington, VA 22202-3531.
Avenues of Review for Physical Disability Ratings The Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA) has several Boards which may be able to grant you a disability separation or retirement, or change the disability percentage the Army gave you. • Army Board for Correction of Military Records (10 U.S.C. 1552) • Army Physical Disability Review Board - Officer (10 U.S.C. 1554) • Army Disability Rating Review Board (AR 635-40, Chapter 4) The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) The ABCMR is the highest level of administrative review in the Army and exists to correct errors or remove injustices from a Soldier’s military records. In other words, the Board may consider granting your request for a disability separation or retirement, or a change to your disability rating, if an error exists in your record or as a matter of fairness (equity) even if an error does not exist. However, an award of a higher Veterans Affairs (VA) rating does not establish error or injustice in the Army rating. The Army rates only conditions determined to be physically unfitting at the time of discharge which disqualify the Soldier from further military service. The Army disability rating is to compensate the individual for the loss of a military career. The VA does not have authority or responsibility for determining physical fitness for military service. The VA awards disability ratings to veterans for service-connected conditions, including those conditions detected after discharge, to compensate the individual for loss of civilian employability. As a result, these two Government agencies may arrive at different disability ratings based on the same impairment. Unlike the Army, the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency's examinations and findings. To learn more and for application procedures, visit the ABCMR page on this site or link to it by clicking here: https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/abcmr-overview.cfm The Army Physical Disability Review Board – Officer (APDRB) If you are an officer who was separated or retired from active duty without pay for physical disability, you may be eligible to apply for this Board. The APDRB reviews decisions made by a prior board. It has the same powers as the Board (retiring Board, medical Board, other disposition Board) that originally reviewed but denied your disability claim. As a result, the APDRB has the ability to grant you disability separation pay or a disability retirement. About the APDRB: • You may appear before the APDRB in person or with counsel provided at your expense. An accredited representative of an organization recognized by the Veterans Administration under Chapter 59 of Title 38, United States Code, may also appear on your behalf. • The Board will consider your Army records along with any evidence you present to the Board. • Witnesses may present evidence to the Board in person or by affidavit. • The Board consists of five Army officers, two of whom must be from the Army Medical Corps. • You must submit your request for review within 15 years of the date of your retirement or separation. How to Apply to the APDRB: Submit a letter requesting a review to the APDRB to: Army Review Boards Agency ATTN: Army Physical Disability Review Board 251 18th Street South, Suite 385 Arlington, VA 22202-3531 Include in the letter your full name, rank, social security number, and your contact information. Also state the reasons why you believe the Army should have granted you a disability separation or retirement. Include as attachments to your letter: • A copy of your DD-214 • Any evidence (to include medical records) you wish the Board to consider • Contact information for your representative (if any) and any witnesses you desire to call. Once this information is received, a representative of the APDRB will contact you to establish a Board date. Army Disability Rating Review Board (ADRRB) If you were retired with a disability rating, the ADRRB may consider your request to review the percentage of your rated disability. This Board is established by Army regulation. Who can apply to the ADRRB: If you are a Soldier with a fully executed retirement order and seek higher disability percentage, you may apply if the reason is: • Your original retirement order was based on fraud or a mistake of law; • You were not granted a full and fair hearing when you made a timely demand for such a hearing; or • You have substantial new evidence which, by due diligence, could not have been presented before the retirement decision and which would have warranted a higher percentage of disability. About the ADRRB: • You, your legal representative, or any informed Army authority may ask the Board to grant relief; • You are not entitled to a personal appearance before the Board; • Your request for relief must be filed within 5 years from the effective date of your retirement; • The ADRRB will consider your Army records and any information or evidence you submit in reviewing the case. How to Apply to the ADRRB: Submit a letter requesting a review to the ADRRB to: Army Review Boards Agency ATTN: Army Disability Rating Review Board 251 18th Street South, Suite 385 Arlington, VA 22202-3531 No special form for the letter is required. However, you should include the Soldier’s full name, rank, social security number, and your contact information. Also state the reasons for requesting relief and the relief desired. Provide as an enclosure any evidence you wish the Board to consider. Can the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) grant me a disability separation or retirement? The short answer is the ADRB may not change your discharge for nondisability reasons to a disability separation or retirement. If you received a disability separation or retirement from the Army, the ADRB may not change your disability percentage to increase your separation pay or make you eligible for a disability retirement. However, if you were administratively separated with less than an honorable discharge or received a Bad Conduct Discharge at a Special Court-Martial, it may be to your benefit to request ADRB review of your discharge before requesting review from the ABCMR. The ADRB has the authority to change the reason for your discharge (e.g. from misconduct to Secretarial Authority) and your service characterization (e.g. Under Other than Honorable Conditions to Honorable). The ADRB could consider your disability in determining, as a matter of fairness, whether to grant a change to the reason for separation or upgrade your service characterization. If the ADRB granted either form of relief, you may be better positioned before the ABCMR in requesting your discharge be changed to a disability separation or retirement. Further information about this ADRB is available by clicking on this link: https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/adrb-overview.cfm Changes Related to Disability Ratings The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181) changed the way that the Department of Defense (DoD) rates certain medical conditions, by requiring it to apply the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). Prior to the NDAA’s enactment, DoD’s disability rating guidelines relating to pain, decreased range of motion, and certain other issues differed from the VASRD. More Soldiers and Veterans are now eligible for placement on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) and permanent disability retirement, instead of medical separations with severance pay. Application of the New Law Although the NDAA did not become effective until January 28, 2008, the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) will apply the VASRD—as it existed at the time of the applicant’s discharge (which may differ from the most current version)—in all cases in which the applicant was discharged between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009, with an overall disability rating of 20% or less. The Secretary of Defense also directed, as a matter of policy, that the PDBR and ABCMR will apply VASRD section 4.129 to PTSD unfitting conditions for applicants discharged on or after September 11, 2001. This means that a Soldier who was separated on or after September 11, 2001, at least in part due to PTSD, is entitled to placement on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) for six months with a disability rating of 50%, although that rating is subject to re-evaluation at the end of that six-month period. Although not required by law, the ABCMR will consider the VASRD as it existed at the time of the applicant’s discharge in all cases in which the applicant was discharged on or after September 11, 2001. This approach is adopted as a matter of policy and equity. What Does This Mean to Me? If you were discharged on or after September 11, 2001, and your PEB relied upon DoD or Army guidelines that conflicted with the VASRD, you may be entitled to a higher disability rating and possibly medical retirement. If you believe you are entitled to a higher disability rating, you may apply to the ABCMR or the PDBR. The PDBR website has information on PDBR eligibility and the differences between the Boards. https://www.health.mil/About_MHS/Organizations/MHS_Offices_and_Programs/PDBR.aspx
