If you’ve served between September 16, 1940, and July 25, 1947 (WWII), you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for at least 90 total days, or less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between July 26, 1947, and June 26, 1950 (post-WWII period) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 181 continuous days, or less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955 (Korean War) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 90 total days, or less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between February 1, 1955, and August 4, 1964 (post-Korean War period) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 181 continuous days, or less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War), or February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, if you served in the Republic of Vietnam, you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 90 continuous days, or less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between May 8, 1975, and September 7, 1980 (post-Vietnam War period), or between May 8, 1975 and October 16, 1981, if you served as an Officer you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 90 continuous days, or less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve served between August 1, 1990, or between October 17, 1981, and August 1, 1990, if you served as an Officer you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 24 continuous months or the full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty.
If you’ve served between August 2, 1990 and the present (Gulf War), you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 24 continuous months, or, the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, or at least 90 days if you were discharged for a hardship, a reduction in force, or for convenience of the government, or less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’ve separated from service after September 7, 1980, or after October 16, 1981, if you served as an officer, you meet the minimum active-duty service requirements if you served for at least 24 continuous months, or, the full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, or at least 180 days if you were discharged for a hardship, a reduction in force, or for convenience of the government, or less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability.
If you’re on active duty now, you meet the minimum active-duty requirement if you served for at least 90 days consecutively.
Please review all information and terms at the official VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.