Change Date

September15, 2004, Change 4

33.  ·  This section has been changed to create subsection lettering.

34.  ·  Subsection a has been changed to correct the page number of the DD Form 214 that is needed for processing of a Certificate of Eligibility.

a. Discharged Veterans (Regular Military)

DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, will generally contain all the information needed for VA to make an eligibility determination for persons who served in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

VA will accept originals or legible copies of the DD Form 214.

Persons separated from military service after January 1, 1950 should have received DD Form 214.  Persons separated after October 1, 1979 should furnish Member 4 of DD Form 214 which includes character of service and separation reason. Persons separated from active duty before January 1, 1950 received documentation other than DD Form 214.  To be acceptable it should indicate:

35.                 

36.                ·   length of service, and

37.                ·   character of service.

b. Veterans Still on Active Duty

Veterans still on active duty must provide a current statement of service signed by, or by the direction of, the adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit or higher headquarters they are attached to. There is no one form used uniformly by the military for a statement of service.  While statements of service are typically on military letterhead, some may be computer generated. 

The statement of service must clearly show

38.                ·   veteran’s full name

39.                ·   Social Security Number (SSN)

40.                ·   date of birth

41.                ·   the entry date on active duty

42.                ·   the duration of lost time, if any, and

43.                ·   the name of the command providing the information.