DoD & VA Rating

S

Shmizer

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello

Looked for the answer to this but couldn't find it. Sorry if it's already been answered elsewhere.

So I got a call from my PEBLO today that my findings came back as 90% VA and 70% DoD.

What's the difference between the two?

Do they combine?

What's it mean?

Thank you
 
70% DoD reflects your military disability retirement.

- This is compensation for your military career cut short. In the most basic sense, it entitles you to the same benefits as a regular, 20 year retirement. Pay for life (base pay x .7), tricare for retirees, ID card and post access, what have you. There comes in a pretty important different between a permanent rating and a temporary rating, TDRL is an important research topic if you fall under it.

90% VA reflects your VA disability benefit.

- This is compensation for your disability caused by military service and its impact on future employment. It is paid off a scale set by the VA. This rating can fall as your conditions are treated and become less disabling or rise as your condition gets worse. It will entitle you to certain VA programs as well as benefits that vary by state.

You will always receive the VA payment you are eligible for first. Your retirement pay will be reduced by the amount of VA pay you receive (most receive VA pay only), unless you are eligible for CRDP (eligible if you would have had a length of service retirement, research if that applies) or CRSC (eligible if you have combat injuries, always important to research as there some special cases).

That's my summation in a nutshell. There are longer, more detailed descriptions out there, but that should give you enough to find reading if interested.
 
Hmmm, I see.

Thank you scout, that cleared up a lot.

So basically you only receive the VA rating?

Thanks
 
Don't forget CRSC as well. Once your fully retired and receive your first VA pay if your injuries were combat related you can file for CRSC. Its a 30 process once done it would return a portion of your retirement pay based on years of service time .25. Also have you filed for SSDI? There are lots of resources out there all you have to do is fill out the paperwork.
 
If you want to keep it extremely basic, yes, you only receive the VA rating.

Lets say in your case you are receive the 90% VA w/ a spouse rate, so 1,857.76.
In order to receive DoD pay, your base pay needs to be more than 2653.95, its high 3 usually, not base pay, but we'll keep it simple. 2653.95 makes the 70% disability retirement equal. So if you had 3200 as base pay you would get 2240, 382.24 from DFAS and 1857.76 from VA.

Then there is the fact you still have that DoD rating, so while it may not provide you with a paycheck in some scenarios, it will still provide you with other benefits. And there are two exceptions to get concurrent receipt, CRSC applies in many cases. So ultimately, its a strange reducation to say you only receive the VA rating that misses out on a great many points. Sadly, not an example where K.I.S.S. applies.
 
Shmizer said:
Hmmm, I see.

Thank you scout, that cleared up a lot.

So basically you only receive the VA rating?

Thanks
Click to expand...


It depends.

Assuming you do not have 20 years AD military, assuming you do not have a NG/Reserve 20 year letter, assuming you do not qualify for CRDP or CRSC, assuming your are not a TERA letter servicemember -

then you will basically receive the higher of the two amounts - either your VA compensation or your military percentage.

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MILITARY DISABILITY PAY.

1. ADD TOGETHER THE LAST 36 MONTHS OF YOUR GROSS, BASIC PAY ONLY.
2. DIVIDE THAT BY 36. THIS GIVES YOU YOUR 36-MONTH AVERAGE BASIC PAY FIGURE.
3. TAKE YOUR 36-MONTH AVERAGE PAY FIGURE AND MULTIPLY THAT WITH YOUR MILITARY DISABILITY PERCENTAGE.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU A PRETTY ACCURATE NUMBER AS TO HOW MUCH YOUR MILITARY DISABILITY PAY WILL BE.

EXAMPLE:

12 MONTHS AT 3,000
12 MONTHS AT 2,000
12 MONTHS AT 1,000
36 MONTH AVERAGE = 2,000

2,000 X .70 = 1,400

If your VA compensation is greater than 1,400, then you won't see a dime of your military disability.

HOWEVER, if your military disability pay is GREATER than your VA compensation, you will get all your VA pay PLUS whatever amount is leftover.

EXAMPLE:

Military disability = 2,000
VA compensation = 1,500

In this case, you would get 1,500 VA plus the 500 military as that 500 is above your VA amount (1,500 + 500 = 2,000)

You get the highest or higher of the two, or a combined amount that equals the highest single amount.

nwlivewire
 
I see. Thank you everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

It is possible to receive SSDI and VA at the same time?
 
Shmizer said:
I see. Thank you everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

It is possible to receive SSDI and VA at the same time?
Click to expand...
Indeed, it's very feasible since they are two separate programs funded by two separate organizations! ;)

That said; please review my URL at http://www.pebforum.com/site/threads/social-security-administration-ssa-social-security-disability-insurance-ssdi-compensation.24005/ for detailed information. Take care and enjoy life! :cool:

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
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