The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) successfully argued a claim before the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR), a body responsible for correcting errors or injustices in Navy and Marine Corps records, seeking a fully Honorable conditions discharge for a Navy veteran. M-VETS filed a brief and argued on behalf of the veteran in 2024 and recently secured a fully Honorable conditions discharge.
The veteran served honorably in the active Navy from 2005 through 2006. The veteran was discharged for being a single parent who was unable to secure a family care plan due to serving thousands of miles away from her immediate family. Through no fault of her own, the veteran was separated from the Navy with a General, Under Honorable Conditions discharge characterization. This discharge characterization did not accurately reflect her honorable service.
In issuing their decision, the BCNR declared, “the Board noted that, under the authority and reason for which Petitioner was discharged, barring exceptional circumstances, she should have been issued a characterization consistent type warranted by service record. In that regard, the Board found that Petitioner’s record, to include her favorable performance evaluations and lack of documented misconduct, clearly reflected honorable service.”
M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur stated: “Thankfully, the veteran reached out to M-VETS for assistance, and we are glad we could correct this injustice. Unfortunately, the separation authority made a clear error in judgment regarding the discharge characterization. Since 2006, due to the inaccurate discharge characterization, the veteran has carried the stigma of a discharge with less than fully honorable conditions. The stigma has been removed, and the veteran now has documented proof of her fully honorable service.”
“I appreciate all of your help and am super grateful!” said the veteran.
MacArthur continued: “Our client served honorably in the Navy, and to correct this injustice was a fantastic result.” MacArthur emphasized the contributions of the student advisors who worked on this matter, Mr. Alden Campo and Ms. Sarah Barker. “Throughout M-VETS’s representation, student advisors Alden Campo and Sarah Barker assisted with the client’s matter. Both student advisors truly believed in this veteran’s cause, and they were able to see this matter through to the end. I appreciate the time and effort they put into this case,” MacArthur said. “Alden and Sarah did an incredible job, and their hard work paid off!”
M-VETS assists veterans, Servicemembers, and their dependents in a variety of matters, including military and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits matters, including MEB/PEBs, Discharge Upgrades, Boards for Correction of Military Records, and DVA disability compensation and educational appeals.