Need proof of disability and PDRL status

H

Hambone70

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hi! I was medically retired from the Air Force waaaay back in 1992. I have the DD Form 214 putting me on TDRL status. I was subsequently moved to PDRL status, and given a 50% disability rating. I never registered with the VA. I get my medical retirement pay from the DOD.

I’m applying for a job that requires proof of my PDRL disability status. I’m pulling my hair out scouring a variety of online sources (myPay, VA, etc), and have frustratingly come up blank. As it was so long ago, it doesn’t seem to be stored digitally anywhere. I sent a Form SF 280 requesting the information, but nothing. I have been receiving a disability pension for over 30 years, so surely there is some documentation somewhere.

Any definitive or potential source where I can find this? It shouldn’t be this hard.

Thanks in anticipation!
 
Hambone70 said:
Hi! I was medically retired from the Air Force waaaay back in 1992. I have the DD Form 214 putting me on TDRL status. I was subsequently moved to PDRL status, and given a 50% disability rating. I never registered with the VA. I get my medical retirement pay from the DOD.

I’m applying for a job that requires proof of my PDRL disability status. I’m pulling my hair out scouring a variety of online sources (myPay, VA, etc), and have frustratingly come up blank. As it was so long ago, it doesn’t seem to be stored digitally anywhere. I sent a Form SF 280 requesting the information, but nothing. I have been receiving a disability pension for over 30 years, so surely there is some documentation somewhere.

Any definitive or potential source where I can find this? It shouldn’t be this hard.

Thanks in anticipation!
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Hello @Hambone70

Since you are receiving DoD disability retired pay, there is a least one DFAS RAS published each year when there is a COLA increase. myPay has that information.
Your case seems to be unusual as you did not apply for VA compensation (or declined it). It is often higher than the DoD amount and if not, you would receive that VA comp amount and the retired pay that exceeds the DoD amount.

Does this mean you are not registered with the VA for health care? "I never registered with the VA." Did you ever use the VA to buy a home?

Recommend you visit with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for assistance in this matter. Many towns/cities have a County VSO and some of the various service organizations have them as well.

Good luck,
Ron
 
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Addendum, @Hambone70

In the 1990s, the military discontinued the practice of filing health records with the personnel record portion at the NPRC. In the1990’s, the Army began retiring most of its health records to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The other services started to file their records to the VA at around the same time. In 2014, the military services discontinued the practice of retiring the records to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To determine where a medical record is located, utilize the chart below:

Screen Shot 2019 11 19 at 12.39.53 PM

------------------

If requesting records from the NPRC, see below:

To request clinical and medical treatment records:​

Veterans and Next-of-Kin may:

All Others (including veterans and next-of-kin who choose not to submit an electronic request):

When sending a request via postal mail or fax, please use the Standard Form (SF) 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records. Although not mandatory, using the SF-180 is the recommended method to send a request for military service information. This form captures all the necessary information to locate a record. Provide as much information on the form as possible and send copies of any service documents that you may have.

Follow the instructions for preparing the SF-180. Check the Records Location Table and submit your request to the appropriate address.

Costs: Generally there is no charge for basic military personnel and health record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin and authorized representatives. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that determination is made.

Ron
 
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Hambone70 said:
Hi! I was medically retired from the Air Force waaaay back in 1992. I have the DD Form 214 putting me on TDRL status. I was subsequently moved to PDRL status, and given a 50% disability rating. I never registered with the VA. I get my medical retirement pay from the DOD.

I’m applying for a job that requires proof of my PDRL disability status. I’m pulling my hair out scouring a variety of online sources (myPay, VA, etc), and have frustratingly come up blank. As it was so long ago, it doesn’t seem to be stored digitally anywhere. I sent a Form SF 280 requesting the information, but nothing. I have been receiving a disability pension for over 30 years, so surely there is some documentation somewhere.

Any definitive or potential source where I can find this? It shouldn’t be this hard.

Thanks in anticipation!
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You can get those documents online most likely. My wife's DA199 is listed. My records from early 2000's are listed so yours may too. If you were Army the link is: https://www.hrcapps.army.mil/Portal/ You will need to create a DS login if you don't have one already. If you are not Army let us know what branch.
 
Thanks to all for the replies!
RonG said:
Hello @Hambone70

Since you are receiving DoD disability retired pay, there is a least one DFAS RAS published each year when there is a COLA increase. myPay has that information.
Your case seems to be unusual as you did not apply for VA compensation (or declined it). It is often higher than the DoD amount and if not, you would receive that VA comp amount and the retired pay that exceeds the DoD amount.

Does this mean you are not registered with the VA for health care? "I never registered with the VA." Did you ever use the VA to buy a home?

Recommend you visit with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for assistance in this matter. Many towns/cities have a County VSO and some of the various service organizations have them as well.

Good luck,
Ron
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Thanks for the info, Ron.

I have accessed myPay, and although it lists an annual RAS option, it doesn’t seem to display it. I can only see the monthly RAS, which doesn’t have any reference to disability rating.

I never applied for VA compensation. Regarding health care, I have always used Tricare, and now that I’m 65, Medicare.

Perhaps I’ll try the local VSO.

Thanks again.
 
I’m curious as to why I can only see the last three monthly RASs on ‘Annual or Changed RAS’ section on myPay, and no annual RAS.
 
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Hambone70 said:
I’m curious why I can only see the last three monthly RASs on myPay, and no annual RAS.
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Guess: I think it is because you did not waive retired pay to receive VA comp. Consequently, there is no need for an annual RAS since you receive a monthly summary.

Those whose entire military pay is offset by the amount of VA comp received, do receive an annual RAS since the pay is usually increased by COLA.

Ron
 
RonG said:
Guess: I think it is because you did not waive retired pay to receive VA comp. Consequently, there is no need for an annual RAS since you receive a monthly summary.

Those whose entire military pay is offset by the amount of VA comp received, do receive an annual RAS since the pay is usually increased by COLA.

Ron
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Thanks for that.

Regarding the chart you referenced, the Air Force sections begins on 5/1/1994. My PEB and PDRL status were in 1992. Is it worth submitting an SF180? If so, which document should I request?

I’ll also try to the local VA office.

Thanks again.
 
I don’t know how I missed it for all these years, but it seems that I should have changed from DoD retirement pay to VA a long time ago. Is it too late now? I was medically retired over 30 years ago.

Edit: Now I remember why I didn’t move to VA. I was concerned that the VA had the right to change my rating from 50% to lower if my condition improved.
 
Hambone70 said:
I don’t know how I missed it for all these years, but it seems that I should have changed from DoD retirement pay to VA a long time ago. Is it too late now? I was medically retired over 30 years ago.
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Hambone70 said:
Edit: Now I remember why I didn’t move to VA. I was concerned that the VA had the right to change my rating from 50% to lower if my condition improved.
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Yes, you could change to VA compensation and your retired pay would be reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of the VA compensation. You would get to keep any retired pay in excess of the VA amount.

The effective date of the change would be the month you make the written selection.

If you have rated combat related disabilities, you might qualify for CRSC which would replace some or all of the waive/offset retired pay. An application is required.

Ron
 
The form to elect payment of VA comp:

About VA Form 21-651 | Veterans Affairs <—-LINK

About VA Form 21-651​

Form name:Election of Compensation in Lieu of Retired Pay or Waiver of Retired Pay to Secure Compensation from Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 5304(a)-5305)

Ron
 
Thanks, Ron. I've paid taxes on my disability income for 30 years now. It would be nice to stop, now that everything is so expensive!

Are there any potential downsides to my transitioning to VA disability at this point?
 
Hambone70 said:
Thanks, Ron. I've paid taxes on my disability income for 30 years now. It would be nice to stop, now that everything is so expensive!

Are there any potential downsides to my transitioning to VA disability at this point?
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I have often said that receiving VA comp is the best choice since you still receive any amount remaining after the VA offtset.

See this link for CRSC info: Contemporary CRSC Information--Also See Update at Bottom of this Resource Page <---LINK

Ron
 
Hambone70 said:
Thanks, Ron.

My worry is that if I transition from DoD to VA is that the VA could re-evaluate me for a lower disability percentage. Although what I receive now is taxable, at least I know it’s unlikely to change.
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There is no downside to getting VA disability. The lowest you will get is your pension and it can't go lower than that regardless of how the VA rates you. So if your pension is $1,000 a month and the VA compensation is reduced from $2,000 to $500. Then you would get $500 from your pension and $500 from the VA.

There is absolutely no downside or risks when receiving VA compensation and a pension from a medical or regular retirement form the military:)
 
Provis said:
There is no downside to getting VA disability. The lowest you will get is your pension and it can't go lower than that regardless of how the VA rates you. So if your pension is $1,000 a month and the VA compensation is reduced from $2,000 to $500. Then you would get $500 from your pension and $500 from the VA.

There is absolutely no downside or risks when receiving VA compensation and a pension from a medical or regular retirement form the military:)
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I wish I would have know that 31 years ago when I started getting the compensation! I’ve been paying taxes on it for that long. It was never explained to me very well back then, other than that if the VA rated me lower, I’d get paid lower.

I’ll look into transitioning to VA now.

Thanks!
 
Hambone70 said:
I wish I would have know that 31 years ago when I started getting the compensation! I’ve been paying taxes on it for that long. It was never explained to me very well back then, other than that if the VA rated me lower, I’d get paid lower.

I’ll look into transitioning to VA now.

Thanks!
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There are many who were told that the choice was either DoD or VA Comp.

The choice that should be considered is to agree to waive retired pay dollar for dollar in the amount of VA compensation received OR not.

Agree = receive VA comp and any residual (left over) retired pay that exceeds the VA offset.

Don‘t Agree = receive all the retired pay and zero VA comp.

Also…if one agrees to waive retired pay dollar for dollar in the amount of VA comp receive, CRSC (if eligible and approved) can replace some or all of the waived retired pay.

Ron
 
RonG said:
There are many who were told that the choice was either DoD or VA Comp.

The choice that should be considered is to agree to waive retired pay dollar for dollar in the amount of VA compensation received OR not.

Agree = receive VA comp and any residual (left over) retired pay that exceeds the VA offset.

Don‘t Agree = receive all the retired pay and zero VA comp.

Also…if one agrees to waive retired pay dollar for dollar in the amount of VA comp receive, CRSC (if eligible and approved) can replace some or all of the waived retired pay.

Ron
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Thanks, Ron. I wish it had been explained to me that clearly all those years ago. Then again, I wasn’t in a fit enough mental state at the time to understand much of anything.

I’m going to the local VA office next week to change over to VA. At least I can minimize my tax burden from now on.
 
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