Medically retiring, over 20 years

MColl

New Member
Registered Member
Greetings all-i am brand new. I am so glad to have found this amazing resource! I have scoured the internet and the forums and still don’t understand how medical retirement is calculated with CRDP and the VA offset. I was rated 100% by the MedBoard and can either retire LOS or medically, and I have to choose or the default is the medical retirement. It *looks* like from a tax and insurance perspective at my years of service that medical retirement is the best idea. I assume since I am still undergoing active cancer treatment after major open surgery that for at least the next 18 months I will be rated 100% by the VA, at least for now (I have many other conditions (other cancers and surgeries and organs removed) that will likely result in 100% P&T, so let’s assume for the sake of discussion and optimism I’m at 100% no matter what; I’m in the process of filing a claim). So, what would the calculation look like in this situation:

1. MEB rating: 100% (75% multiplier)
2. VA rating: 100% ($3600; I have three kids under 18 and a spouse)
3. LOS multiplier: 57.5% of base
4. 75% of high three base is $8200, 57.5% is $5894

Another question I want to understand is given the fact that I have pancreatic cancer (11% 5 year survival rate across the board), I am opting into SBP for my spouse (before this diagnosis I considered just doing it for our youngest child (6 yrs old) because we have a generous life insurance policy). Would my spouse’s benefit be 1) 55% of the 75% medical retirement amount ($8200) or 2) 55% of what my LOS pay would be (57.5%) or 3) 55% of the VA-reduced DoD pay ($8200-3600)*.55?

Thank you in advance for showing the math of the CDRP and VA offset and explaining how SBP would be calculated for someone who did a medical retirement. I have been searching for days for a calculator for my scenario and haven’t found one.
 
Greetings all-i am brand new. I am so glad to have found this amazing resource! I have scoured the internet and the forums and still don’t understand how medical retirement is calculated with CRDP and the VA offset. I was rated 100% by the MedBoard and can either retire LOS or medically, and I have to choose or the default is the medical retirement. It *looks* like from a tax and insurance perspective at my years of service that medical retirement is the best idea. I assume since I am still undergoing active cancer treatment after major open surgery that for at least the next 18 months I will be rated 100% by the VA, at least for now (I have many other conditions (other cancers and surgeries and organs removed) that will likely result in 100% P&T, so let’s assume for the sake of discussion and optimism I’m at 100% no matter what; I’m in the process of filing a claim). So, what would the calculation look like in this situation:

1. MEB rating: 100% (75% multiplier)
2. VA rating: 100% ($3600; I have three kids under 18 and a spouse)
3. LOS multiplier: 57.5% of base
4. 75% of high three base is $8200, 57.5% is $5894

Another question I want to understand is given the fact that I have pancreatic cancer (11% 5 year survival rate across the board), I am opting into SBP for my spouse (before this diagnosis I considered just doing it for our youngest child (6 yrs old) because we have a generous life insurance policy). Would my spouse’s benefit be 1) 55% of the 75% medical retirement amount ($8200) or 2) 55% of what my LOS pay would be (57.5%) or 3) 55% of the VA-reduced DoD pay ($8200-3600)*.55?

Thank you in advance for showing the math of the CDRP and VA offset and explaining how SBP would be calculated for someone who did a medical retirement. I have been searching for days for a calculator for my scenario and haven’t found one.
Hello @MColl

VA comp: 3,653.89 + 2@ 92.31 = 3838.51 three kids under 18 and a spouse

Using your figures for other parts of the estimate:

Medical Retirement

1. 8200/75% = 10933 approximate high three
2. 10933 x 57.5% = 6286.48 longevity portion of retired pay
3. 8200 minus 3838.51 = 4331.49 residual retired pay you keep. Note: the combination of residual retired pay and CRDP (retired pay itself) cannot exceed the longevity amount.
4. Longevity amount 6286.48 minus 4331.49 = 1954.99 CRDP
5. With a medical retirement, DFAS will pay:
-- residual retired pay = 4331.49
-- CRDP = 1954.99
TOTAL FROM DFAS: 6286.48
6. VA pays: 3838.51

Longevity Retirement

a. 10933 x 57.5% = 6286.48 longevity portion of retired pay and the amount of CRDP
b. VA compensation = 3838.51

DFAS Page, "Is it Taxable?"
Defense Finance and Accounting Service > RetiredMilitary > manage > taxes > isittaxable <---LINK

Sorry, I know little about SBP. My wife and I declined it in 1991 when I had a regular retirement.

Ron
 
Hello @MColl

VA comp: 3,653.89 + 2@ 92.31 = 3838.51 three kids under 18 and a spouse

Using your figures for other parts of the estimate:

Medical Retirement

1. 8200/75% = 10933 approximate high three
2. 10933 x 57.5% = 6286.48 longevity portion of retired pay
3. 8200 minus 3838.51 = 4331.49 residual retired pay you keep. Note: the combination of residual retired pay and CRDP (retired pay itself) cannot exceed the longevity amount.
4. Longevity amount 6286.48 minus 4331.49 = 1954.99 CRDP
5. With a medical retirement, DFAS will pay:
-- residual retired pay = 4331.49
-- CRDP = 1954.99
TOTAL FROM DFAS: 6286.48
6. VA pays: 3838.51

Longevity Retirement

a. 10933 x 57.5% = 6286.48 longevity portion of retired pay and the amount of CRDP
b. VA compensation = 3838.51

DFAS Page, "Is it Taxable?"
Defense Finance and Accounting Service > RetiredMilitary > manage > taxes > isittaxable <---LINK

Sorry, I know little about SBP. My wife and I declined it in 1991 when I had a regular retirement.

Ron
Thanks Ron. That is incredibly helpful.
 
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