Vets discharged from the military for misconduct or after a special court-martial can now qualify for VA benefits

WASHINGTON — Veterans who left miliary service with an other-than-honorable discharge or after a special court-martial for misdemeanor offenses will be eligible for the first time for veterans’ health care and benefits following a rule change announced Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The veterans will be considered for VA care and services under a “compelling circumstances exception,” if they can show that mental health problems, cognitive impairment, combat-related hardship, military sexual trauma or other identified factors contributed to their dismissal, the VA said. Veterans’ length of service and...