On May 18, 2023 the Connecticut General Assembly approved the Honorable Ned Lamont, Governor of the State of Connecticut’s nomination of Brigadier General (Ret.) Ronald P. Welch to serve as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs. Please join the Department of Veterans Affairs in congratulating Commissioner Welch on his appointment.

Office of Advocacy and Assistance

OTH Qualifying Condition Verification

Effective October 1, 2018, Public Act 18-47 extends certain state and municipal benefits that are currently available to veterans honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from active service in the armed forces, to veterans who received an Other than Honorable (OTH) discharge characterization.

 

To be eligible for such benefits, a veteran with an Other than Honorable (OTH) discharge must be diagnosed with one or more of three “Qualifying Conditions” which are:

    - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from military service
    - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from military service
    - Military sexual trauma (MST) as described in 38 U.S.C. § 1720D. 

The diagnosis/determination must be made by an individual licensed “to provide health care services at a United States Department of Veterans Affairs facility” which includes the following licensed persons: Physicians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Psychologists and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, who will complete the CT DVA OTH Form 1.

 

The veteran applying for State or municipal benefits must submit, along with the completed CT DVA OTH Form 1, all other required documentation (e.g. Discharge Form DD-214, relevant agency application, etc...) to the agency or municipality administering the benefit for which the veteran is applying.  The administering agency or municipality will then determine the veteran’s eligibility for the benefit.  

A Veteran with a “Bad Conduct” or “Dishonorable” discharge is NOT eligible for Veteran’s benefits under this new law.