Active Duty USAF with 17 1/2 years in. I just had an MEB and chose IDES. I received 40% DoD/100% VA P&T. I only have 2 1/2 more years to get to 20 so I am applying for a Limited Assignment Status (LAS) to get CRDP. If that’s approved, I will have a final MEB at 19 years. I want to keep my 100% rating and was told to choose LDES as it uses previous the exams where I was rather 100% P&T. Can anyone confirm that LDES uses previous C&P exams as well as DOD/VA rating? I don’t want to jeopardize my 100% P&T rating and I’m trying to hit 20 to get CRDP but can’t find any regulations on it.
Protecting my 100% VA eating
- Thread starter tk87
- Start date
That's not how it works. If retained by the USAF to hit 20 years the previous exams etc won't count. You see the ratings you have now are proposed and won't finalized until after you get out. People that choose LDES are those who already have a VA rating which Active Duty don't have. The Soldiers with VA ratings are ones that are in the Reserves and Guard.
Also, why do you need to go back into IDES at 19 years? Why can't you just do a regular retirement if they approve you for LAS to reach 20 years? There is a program by the VA called benefits at discharge where you can do all your exams 6 months out from retirement so that all your ratings come out shortly after you retire.
Have you looked into CRSC? CRSC restores pension lost from VA offset. My wife was medically retired with 17 AFS and was approved for CRSC. Between the VA check, her chapter 61 check and her CRSC check she received the same compensation as if she had gotten her earned longevity from a regular retirement + CRDP.
There are risks with everything. Hitting 20 years means getting all of your pension and all of your VA compensation but in your case if you stay in you will have to go through exams again. LDES won't work for you as you don't have a VA rating. Only a proposed rating which isn't the same.
You could crunch the numbers to including finding out whether you would qualify for any CRSC. If so, then it may not hurt you as much financially compared to getting out now. However, staying in 2.5 more years would net you more compensation since all the combos for compensation max out at longevity pension earned + VA compensation and so 2.5 more years in means more via higher longevity percentage.
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I’m a prior enlisted officer and my 10 year requirement to voluntarily retire is to stay until 2030 even though I hit 20 TAFMS in 2026. I was told by a policy chief that that they will just re-use my previous exams and proposed rating if I go the LDES route on my final MEB at 19 through the LAS program.
I looked into CRSC and have some claims that occurred while deployed but the wording makes me apprehensive about getting approved for CRSC. i.e. PTSD from attacks in our compound and stuff but I don’t have a combat action badge or Purple Heart so I’m not sure if I’d qualify for CRSC and I’m trying to make the best decision for me and my 4 kids.
Okay so you need to be out medically because of your commitment obligation. That makes sense. if you do LDES the military may use the exams or not look at them at all and just look at your current medical records.
However, you will leave the military without ANY VA ratings. You will need to apply for VA compensation afterwards or slightly early via BDD. My recommendation is to choose IDES if you want out with VA ratings. There is no downside to do so. You can't keep your VA% results if you stay in for another 2.5 years. IDES will redo everything but the risk you think you are taking isn't a risk since you aren't going to have a set VA rating to begin with.
However, you will leave the military without ANY VA ratings. You will need to apply for VA compensation afterwards or slightly early via BDD. My recommendation is to choose IDES if you want out with VA ratings. There is no downside to do so. You can't keep your VA% results if you stay in for another 2.5 years. IDES will redo everything but the risk you think you are taking isn't a risk since you aren't going to have a set VA rating to begin with.
Also one more thing. If things go horribly wrong you have a lot less protections with LDES. Though you have an active duty retirement to fall back on I strongly advise staying in to hit 20 years and then choosing IDES. There is a reason IDES replaced LDES.
Gotcha. What’s the likelihood of a 100% P&T rating (proposed) being reduced 2 years after the exams?
It won't be reduced because you never got a rating. To the VA you don't have a rating if the proposed ratings you have now don't finalize because you stay in.
Everything will be looked at next time you have exams. The ratings are based on severity of symptoms and if they believe the condition is static. If you continue medical treatment and have similar C&P exams then you should expect a similar outcome. However, I think you are worrying about the wrong things. The nice thing about VA ratings is they can be changed. So if you are 100% without P&T you can still get P&T later on. VA ratings can go up or down based on your current health. The only things that are fixed in the process is any unfitting conditoin that is PDRL for on the military side.
My wife was 100% VA and 6 months later the VA looked at her and awarded her P&T without doing anything. They had 1 condition that was not static. That condition showed no improvement from the time of her IDES exams so they changed it to P&T.
Also, sidenote. You can get CRSC for many more things than PTSD. Health conditions like Asthma, Sinusitis, Tinnitus etc. are automatically awarded CRSC if you have been deployed to the gulf war region. My wife got 80% CRSC just from conditions that are presumptive meaning if the VA has them as service connected and you have a DD214 showing that you deployed to an eligible country then you will be awarded the same VA % for CRSC as well. So it's not just about being in direct fire, witnessing combat etc. Make sure to thoroughly research it because if you have a high enough CRSC then there is no need to hit 20. You could just get out with your current results and then apply for CRSC after you are out. The presumptive conditions are ones that you will be approved automatically. Then you don't have to worry about the 100% VA P&T since you would get that too.
That's why i said focus on presumptive conditions. If you have those conditions they are approved simply by having the VA connected condition and by being in one of the qualifying countries. Also, a lot of the ones denied didn't submit proper documentation. They were claiming things like PTSD which a medal won't make the case. Just explore CRSC and research it. I find that those who do the work get the proper results. Too many Soldiers just submit a packet hoping to be approved but those who know what it takes to get approved typically get approved on the first try.
Your proposed VA rating can be thrown in the garbage if approved for LAS. If approved you will carry out your remaining year and a half until you hit your 20 years of AFS. At 6 months out you will have the, “option,” to go through IDES again for any conditions that you feel may have worsened since being on LAS. If you do not have any conditions that worsened, you will then fill out a VA claims form like you did when initially starting your MEB. However, this is not for another MEB it is for BBD. You will then have C&P exams scheduled again, yes again. Once complete with all scheduled exams the VA will notify you with your final rating decision before you are released from active duty. But first you need to be approved for LAS. Good luck battle buddy!
Hello,
This might provide answers to some of your other CRSC questions:
Contemporary CRSC Information--Also See Update at Bottom of this Resource Page <—LINK
Ron
It happens all the Tim. OEF/OIF awards are I was there medals, not much more unless the award narrative supports certain facts.
I am currently working on my first application for CRSC. I never have applied since being medically retired in 2014. My med board conditions, at the time, couldn't be linked to time in Iraq. But now, as of the PACT Act approval, I have 3 conditions listed. I had prior VA service-connection for 2 (Breast Cancer...currently at 80%) and Chronic Sinusitis (currently at 50%). I just got VA service connection for a 3rd condition, Sarcoidosis, for which they gave me a 0% rating. I knew that it'd probably get a 0% rating but they did connect it saying it was presumptive in nature and resulted from toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) in service.
I finally decided it was possibly to get CRSC as 2 of the 3 presumptive conditions equal out to a VA rating of 90% just by themselves (one being 80% and the other 50%). I am also 100% P&T through the VA as well.
My question in filling out the DD Form 2860, CRSC application, is how do I word Section IV, 13j? As far as presumptive conditions and describing how they meet combat-related? Does that section matter if you supply all the documents? Would a simple statement of this condition is VA service connected and is listed on the PACT Act as presumptive be enough justification?
Thanks
I that section I just filled out I developed Severe Chronic Sinusitis after my deployment to Iraq. The condition is GW presumptive.
That was how I filled it out. For Section G I checked the box for GW or MG (Gulf War or Mustard Gas)