More than 800 records of service members who were kicked out of the military under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy were recently upgraded to receive honorable discharges, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday.

The change may give those former military members access to veterans’ benefits that had been denied because of their dishonorable-discharge status, the Pentagon said.

The policy prohibited openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving in the armed forces. The policy took effect in 1994 during the Clinton administration and was considered a compromise measure from a previous Defense Department policy that prohibited gay and lesbian people from serving.

The Pentagon on Tuesday granted honorable discharges to more than 800 veterans who were separated from the U.S. military because of their sexual orientation during the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy,

The Pentagon estimates about 13,500 service members in total were released from military service under “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The Pentagon said more than 800 military personnel have seen their records upgraded to honorable discharges after being kicked out of the military under its former “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.