VA Disability pay + TDRL Whats the truth?

Can I receive TDRL while receiving VA Disability Compensation while they are figuring out whether to medically retire me or not? I have 20+ years, and 70% plus UI for 100% VA comp. CRDP, not CRSC if found unfit for duty. Thanks.
 
Can I receive TDRL while receiving VA Disability Compensation while they are figuring out whether to medically retire me or not? I have 20+ years, and 70% plus UI for 100% VA comp. CRDP, not CRSC if found unfit for duty. Thanks.
Yes, you will be able to get CRDP.
 
Jason, again you are my hero. Since your info yesterday I have been reading up on the reg info you gave me, plus ABCMR procedures, etc. Creating a clear, concise case with the regulation sections for back up. So far, everything has been very promising. This website and yuku are so helpful. Even if I don't succeed, at least I got the chance to try to fix things. Losing benefits due to ignorance is so sad. I wish there were more advocates and informational resources out there. Thank you.
 
Here's a unique question for everyone out there....

I am a veteran that took part in the SABO Class Action Lawsuit regarding PTSD and correction of military records. For those of you unaware, this was a lawsuit that basically took a veteran like myself with an original Army 0% discharge and changed it to a 50% discharge.

A little background first...

When I was originally discharged in April 2006, prior to the lawsuit, I was discharged from the Army at 0% with severance pay. No TDRL, just here's your check and goodbye! Later I went to the VA and was rated at 60%, 50% for PTSD and 10% shoulder. My severance pay was recovered in full from my VA payments as expected. Basically I received $800 less each month until it was fully recovered...the PTSD portion was witheld.

After the lawsuit, and just a few days ago, I received NEW ORDERS that change the way I was discharged from the Army. My orders now state that I was first placed on TDRL for (6) months and then retired from the Army at 50% service connected/combat related...no severance pay due.

The tricky question regarding severance...

Had I actually been discharged the way that my orders NOW state, I would have never received a severance nor would I have had to pay it back. Once placed on retirement I would have collected the FULL 60% from Va rather than the 10% I was getting. Retirement pay not an option because it's waived with the VA being higher. I have thought about this over and over, and every scenerio I come up with makes me feel like I was duped out of a big chunk of cash from the VA. Is anyone out there knowledgeable on this subject. Thanks in advance. ~DEEDS NOT WORDS~
 
Here's a unique question for everyone out there....

I am a veteran that took part in the SABO Class Action Lawsuit regarding PTSD and correction of military records. For those of you unaware, this was a lawsuit that basically took a veteran like myself with an original Army 0% discharge and changed it to a 50% discharge.

A little background first...

When I was originally discharged in April 2006, prior to the lawsuit, I was discharged from the Army at 0% with severance pay. No TDRL, just here's your check and goodbye! Later I went to the VA and was rated at 60%, 50% for PTSD and 10% shoulder. My severance pay was recovered in full from my VA payments as expected. Basically I received $800 less each month until it was fully recovered...the PTSD portion was witheld.

After the lawsuit, and just a few days ago, I received NEW ORDERS that change the way I was discharged from the Army. My orders now state that I was first placed on TDRL for (6) months and then retired from the Army at 50% service connected/combat related...no severance pay due.

The tricky question regarding severance...

Had I actually been discharged the way that my orders NOW state, I would have never received a severance nor would I have had to pay it back. Once placed on retirement I would have collected the FULL 60% from Va rather than the 10% I was getting. Retirement pay not an option because it's waived with the VA being higher. I have thought about this over and over, and every scenerio I come up with makes me feel like I was duped out of a big chunk of cash from the VA. Is anyone out there knowledgeable on this subject. Thanks in advance. ~DEEDS NOT WORDS~


Your situation is unique to say the least. From what you have posted, I interpret it this way:

With your original MEB rating of 0%, you are not authorized any severance pay. Now that you have new orders stating you were retired with 50% TDRL (This is in accordance with 38 CFR part 4.129 and correct), and now 50% PDRL from the Military. With that being said, you SHOULD (DFAS is the final decision authority) receive full retro pay to 2006 at 50%. Since your Chapter 61 is combat related, it is considered tax exempt and therefore will not have anything taken off the top before payment. Your retirement pay will continue at 50% tax exempt unless you request and increase to your disability or the VA does a PTSD update evaluation (these are normally done within 2-5 years after original disability rating).

Your VA and Chapter 61 are two different entities and both considered disability pay, so you are correct that you receive the higher of the two, but (and there always is a but), you are eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC). This is not an automatic entitlement; you have to apply for it and it is based on the number of years you served and you may not receive anything. The VA rated you at 60% and the Chapter 61 is 50%. If you have been getting the VA pay since 2006, you will not have any backpay due to you until you file for CRSC (DFAS again, they make the final decision on CRSC and it is retroactive to an extent). Here is a link to CRSC: http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/applyforcrsc.html

I hope this helps you understand MEB, VA, and CRSC.

James
 
Your situation is unique to say the least. From what you have posted, I interpret it this way:

With your original MEB rating of 0%, you are not authorized any severance pay. Now that you have new orders stating you were retired with 50% TDRL (This is in accordance with 38 CFR part 4.129 and correct), and now 50% PDRL from the Military. With that being said, you SHOULD (DFAS is the final decision authority) receive full retro pay to 2006 at 50%. Since your Chapter 61 is combat related, it is considered tax exempt and therefore will not have anything taken off the top before payment. Your retirement pay will continue at 50% tax exempt unless you request and increase to your disability or the VA does a PTSD update evaluation (these are normally done within 2-5 years after original disability rating).

Your VA and Chapter 61 are two different entities and both considered disability pay, so you are correct that you receive the higher of the two, but (and there always is a but), you are eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC). This is not an automatic entitlement; you have to apply for it and it is based on the number of years you served and you may not receive anything. The VA rated you at 60% and the Chapter 61 is 50%. If you have been getting the VA pay since 2006, you will not have any backpay due to you until you file for CRSC (DFAS again, they make the final decision on CRSC and it is retroactive to an extent). Here is a link to CRSC: http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/applyforcrsc.html

I hope this helps you understand MEB, VA, and CRSC.

James


Thanks for the reply James. As part of the SABO lawsuit I was assigned an outside attorney to represent me in the CRSC process. They did all of the digging for me, along with completing and submitting the application. It was just sent off this week, so hopefully I will be getting some good news here in the next month or so. I am estimating a $300 CRSC payment; it doesn't get too high with just 6 years of service. You are correct that there is a retro-payment that I can expect, if approved, that dates back to January 1, 2008. I hear that for Chapter 61 veterans this is the farthest they can go back.

In your reply you mentioned something that I have been curious about; review of VA rating. I have been out of the Army since 2006, is this even possible? I have been in treatment every month, and nothing seems to be getting any better for me. If I wanted my VA rating to be re-evaluated how would I go about initiating this process? You mentioned the typical re-eval every 2-5 years; I have been out for 6 years. ~DEEDS NOT WORDS~
 
James,

I have a similar situation as the guy you talked to about his disability severance being recouped and later it was changed to PDRL as a result of the Sabo PTSD Lawsuit. My particulars are that I was originally medically discharged in July 2007 with a 10% rating for PTSD and given a disability severance of approximately $55k. As a result of the Sabo Lawsuit that was later recharacterized to a Medical Retirement at 70% retroactively. I was also rated at 70% for PTSD by the VA and 100% overall. In the time that it took for the Sabo Lawsuit to be settled, the VA recouped $12,116.00 from my VA Disability Compensation. (I chose to receive VA Disability Comp over retired pay because VA was higher). My medical retirement from the Army was characterized as 100% combat-related as well. I just recently received the results of a full VA audit and they are not going to be paying back the $12,116.00 (from what I can see) even though that money was no longer considered a disability severance because it was re-characterized as medical retirement pay. I also applied for and received CRSC at the 70% rate but my understanding is that shouldn't affect this question: Should I pursue the $12,116.00 from the VA or should I keep my mouth shut and be glad they are not recouping any more from me (They have stopped all recoupment as of Dec 2012, even though my original severance was approximately $55k.) Thanks for any help you can give James!

Kevin
 
armyflyer7,
I’m currently going through a MEB with 20 plus years. I ‘m receiving 40% for medical retirement (combat related) and 100% from VA.
My questions for you is which one should I go with, the Medical retirement or the longevity retirement?
If I go with the medical, will my monthly payments increases over the years like my regular retirement would?
This whole process is very frustrating.

v/r,

MSCOTTY72
 
You will go with the longevity by default. This will cause VA to pay you at the full 100% rate w/ dependents then CRDP to give you full retirement pay.

Then you will look into applying for CRSC. CRSC can be for any condition(s), not just the 40% that was found unfit, as long as you have evidence that there were caused by something combat related. If approved for CRSC the will pay based off the % for those injuries.

There are two separate caps for CRSC pay. It cannot exceed the VA pay for the % of those injuries, so it may be just the 40%, which isn't too great of a payment, about $800 or so? But, its tax free, so it may prove to be better.
It cannot exceed your LOS retirement pay, so if you get all 100% combat related, it may be reduced a little. FMR volume 7b chapter 63 covers CRSC and its a confusing section, so I wouldn't recommend just taking my word for it on how it comes out. Since it is tax free, it can be better in many scenarios. VA payment + CRSC payment can turn your income into zero in some calculations which opens you up for many other services. It can also make credit difficult, since creditors can't collect from that money.

Medical and LOS and VA all increase the same way, by COLA, unless you did REDUX.
 
I dont know what the CSRC is. Can you collect a retirement check and a VA disability check at the same time?
Go to the nearest VA installation and ask what is the CRSC, that's if your PTSD is combat related. Basically it's a separate check that you will receive if you claim that your injuries (PTSD) is combat related. It also can be any injuries that happened during combat and that you have supporting documents to support it like LOD's.
 
armyflyer7,
I’m currently going through a MEB with 20 plus years. I ‘m receiving 40% for medical retirement (combat related) and 100% from VA.
My questions for you is which one should I go with, the Medical retirement or the longevity retirement?
If I go with the medical, will my monthly payments increases over the years like my regular retirement would?
This whole process is very frustrating.

v/r,

MSCOTTY72
As far as I know you should be getting both because you have 20 years plus on the army side. Ask your PEBLO, they should be able to answer your questions.
 
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