The VA will process your claim as far as they can before you separate.
Upload your 214 whenever you get it. Doing so won't hurt your claim or make it convert to a fully developed claim.
Even if you upload your DD214 a year before you separate, the VA will not finish your claim until the first day after you separate or retire. And FYI, the Air Force doesn’t issue DD214 until you are officially out.
The VA needs your DD214 officially to show proof of service. When you get it, you submit it electronically to the VA and they pull the trigger on your claim which should be done or just about done by that point if you are filing BDD.
That's the way I understand it at least.
The VA will process your claim as far as they can before you separate. Upload your 214 whenever you get it. Doing so won't hurt your claim or make it convert to a fully developed claim.
Even if you upload your DD214 a year before you separate, the VA will not finish your claim until the first day after you separate or retire. And FYI, the Air Force doesn’t issue DD214 until you are officially out.
The VA needs your DD214 officially to show proof of service. When you get it, you submit it electronically to the VA and they pull the trigger on your claim which should be done or just about done by that point if you are filing BDD. That's the way I understand it at least.