Expert: John L - 5/18/2010

Question
Mr. Lewis,
My son has been a sailor for approximately 3 years. He started having insomnia post deployment to the middle east (he is aboard an aircraft carrier). He was put on night shift until they got to the other side of the world and then he was put back on days. After several days without sleep, the ship's MD put him on Ambian and antidepressants. Not long after that, my son expressed suicidal thoughts and he was chaparoned back to Coronado, CA, his home base. That was at the beginning of Dec. 2009.
He has been hospitalized twice since then and on multiple combinations of drugs prescribed by Navy MDs. The process of an administrative separation began and he is waiting for it to be finalized.
In the mean time, my son took an Ambian and proceeded to take his roommate's car into San Diego. He was arrested for DUI. Having that charge resolved has delayed his separation.
Since all of his real problems began with the prescribed medications, he has decided to stop taking all of them.
He had never taken anything like the meds prescribed by the Navy and never had any mental health problem prior to his service. The Navy psychiatrist has given him the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
My questions are these:
Will my son be able to apply and receive medical benefits from the VA after his separation?
Will he receive GI Bill benefits?
Will his DUI charge prevent him from receiving benefits?
If that is the case, can he apply for unemployment in Calif?
I aplogize for this long story. Any information you can give me is most appreciated.

Answer
It will not be an administrative discharge, it should be medical discharge, and if it can be documented as being service related, then he can get his benefits, get VA care after he gets out including unemployment.  Be sure to tell him make sure it is a medical discharge and he get rated for disability based upon it as well.  That will set him up for success.