The Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for disability compensation and other benefits for veterans with less-than-honorable discharges through a character of discharge (COD) determination. The VA recently published a final rule making major amendments to its regulation governing COD determinations that goes into effect on June 25, 2024. This webinar will help veterans service officers learn how to navigate COD issues for their clients and become more comfortable handling cases involving COD determinations under the revised regulation.

This 90-minute webinar covers the following and more:

• The legal requirements for establishing eligibility for VA benefits for veterans with less-than-honorable discharges
• The recent changes to the VA’s COD regulation—38 C.F.R. § 3.12
• How the VA is handling cases involving prior or pending COD determinations and how to argue for earlier effective dates for benefits under the prior regulation
• Advocacy advice regarding evidence and arguments that will help achieve a positive COD determination