U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
Regulations most recently checked for updates: Aug 28, 2025
(a) Refunds made without disenrollment following a discharge or release under dishonorable conditions—(1) A discharge or release under dishonorable conditions may result in a partial refund of contributions. If an individual who would have been eligible, but for the fact of his or her reenlistment, for the award of a discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable at the time he or she completed an obligated period of service, later receives a discharge or release under dishonorable conditions, the Department of Veterans Affairs may refund a portion of his or her contribution.
(i) On the date of the individual's discharge or release from active duty; or
(ii) Within 60 days of receipt by the Department of Veterans Affairs of notice of the individual's discharge or release, whichever is later.
(2) Unless a compulsory refund is prohibited by paragraph (b)(4) or (5) of this section, the Department of Veterans Affairs will refund all contributions made by an individual during the most recent period of active duty when the individual:
(i) Completed at least one period of active duty before the most recent one during which he or she established entitlement to Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance;
(ii) Reentered on his or her most recent period of active duty after October 16, 1981;
(iii) Contributed to the fund during his or her most recent period of active duty; and
(iv) Is discharged.
(3) The circumstances which prohibit an automatic refund of monies contributed during the individual's most recent period of active duty do not relate only to the most recent period of active duty which began after October 16, 1981, but also the individual's prior periods of active duty regardless of whether they began before, after or on October 16, 1981.
(4) Meeting one or more of the following criteria concerning periods of active duty before the most recent one will be sufficient to prohibit a compulsory refund of contributions made during the most recent period of active duty. The individual:
(i) Before the most recent period of active duty began, completed at least one continuous period of active duty of at least 24 months, or
(ii) Was discharged or released under 10 U.S.C. 1171 (early-out discharge) from any period of active duty before the most recent one.
(5) Meeting one or more of the following criteria concerning the most recent period of active duty will be sufficient to prohibit a compulsory refund of contributions made during the most recent period of active duty. The individual:
(i) For the most recent period of active duty completes 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full period for which the individual was called or ordered to active duty, whichever is shorter; or
(ii) Is discharged or released from the most recent period of active duty under 10 U.S.C. 1171 (early-out discharge) or 1173 (hardship discharge); or
(iii) Is discharged or released from the most recent period of active duty for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty; or
(iv) Has a service-connected disability which give him or her basic entitlement to disability compensation as described in § 3.4(b) of this chapter.
(6) In computing time served for the purpose of this paragraph, the individual is not entitled for credit for service as specified in § 3.15 of this chapter. However, those periods will be included in determining if the service was continuous.
(7) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall refund all monies due the individual:
(i) On the date of the individual's discharge or release from active duty; or
(ii) Within 60 days of receipt of notice by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the individual's discharge or release, whichever is later.
