It absolutely does depend on your character of service.
As examples - one wartime, the other peacetime (well...Cold War), these two servicemen DO NOT deserve a single red cent of benefits from the VA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowe_Bergdahl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_J._Lonetree
Desertion and treason?
For a person who has served HONORABLY to be treated the same, and get no different benefits than either of the above mentioned former service members, would be an injustice that should deserve attention.
They broke the law, went through an established legal process, and were dealt punishments IAW with those regulations.
I agree that this needs further investigating:
Quote:
The G. I. Bill instructed the veterans agency to care for veterans if their service was “other than dishonorable.” The agency interpreted this as excluding “other than honorable” discharges
Those two characterizations are different.
DISHONORABLE and OTHER THAN HONORABLE are two wholly different animals; and if the VA is misinterpreting this characterization than it should be brought up and corrected.
If the law needs to be changed, then there is a (painfully slow) process for that too.