[Closed/NoOp] [Discharge Upgrade Wizard] Links on Introduction page should open in a new tab

[FranECross]

Status

[2024.11.07] [Fran] Messaged Mikki in Slack asking for her determination on this ticket

Description

There are several links on the DUW introduction page that, when clicked, open in the same tab as the intro screen, thus interrupting the flow of the wizard. Link guidance is that if opening the link in the same screen will interrupt user flow in a form or wizard, then they should open in a new tab, so these need to be updated to match the behavior of links on the results screen, where they open in a new tab.

Links to Update

On this screen https://staging.va.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions/introduction, the following links should open in a new tab:

• expand the first accordion: Can I get VA benefits without a discharge upgrade?
  • [Find a VSO near you](https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/varo.asp
  • VA health benefits for Veterans who’ve experienced military sexual trauma
  • VA health benefits for Veterans with mental health conditions
  • VA health benefits for Veterans with PTSD

User story

AS A Veteran reviewing the information on the Discharge Upgrade Wizard introduction screen, and clicking links to review more details I WANT the links to open in new tabs SO THAT my experience in the wizard flow isn't interrupted, and I'm not frustrated if I close the newly opened screen and don't realize they took over the wizard tab, thus having just closed the wizard.

Engineering notes / background

Analytics considerations

Testing & QA

Scope / Impact analysis

What, if anything, could break as a result of this change? Engineer should assess this when approaching PR.

Roles / assignments

After functional testing, code review, accessibility review, and design review can happen in parallel.

• [ ] Functional testing:
• [ ] Code review:
• [ ] Design review:
• [ ] Accessibility review:
• [ ] Product acceptance:

AC / Expected behavior

• [ ] This link on the DUW introduction page opens in a new tab: [Find a VSO near you](https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/varo.asp
• [ ] ] This link on the DUW introduction page opens in a new tab: VA health benefits for Veterans who’ve experienced military sexual trauma
• [ ] ] This link on the DUW introduction page opens in a new tab: VA health benefits for Veterans with mental health conditions
• [ ] ] This link on the DUW introduction page opens in a new tab: VA health benefits for Veterans with PTSD
• [ ] Accessibility review
• [ ] Product manager review/sign off

[FranECross]

@FranECross Will check with Mikki to see if the links on the intro screen should truly mimic the links on the results screen.

[FranECross]

Closing as a no op per Mikki's guidance (Slack convo)

Although there's a chance that they will have to start over, they are not technically losing data with this tool since it is all unauth. So for this, all links should open in the existing tab. Even for auth tools, leaving the introduction page would not be considered losing data since they haven't started the flow yet. Standards are documented here: https://design.va.gov/components/link/#behavior