Decision time close/final numbers

[Jc1080]

All,

Looking for some advice now that things sound like they are wrapping up. I found out that the PEB issued a DA 199, my PEBLO will probably reach out next week to start the clock. Trying to figure out if I should stay for 20 or not, I have a COAR packet prepped. Apologies for the long post, just trying to figure this out to try and avoid making the wrong call. Any advice would be appreciated.

National Guard/non regular retirement:
Creditable years - 18 yr, 2 mo
Age - 37
Points - ~2500
Retirement - Legacy
Grade - E7
VA ratings - 100% P&T (some cited as combat related, some are presumptive. (I did things backwards and got the VA rating before IDES))
DOD rating - 60% (combat related)

Let me know if you need more details for any of my questions below.

-Medically retire or request a COAR? Looking at offset and if it better to shoot for the CRDP at 57.5.

-Reserve 15 year letter? Is this still a thing? Does this render you eligible for CRDP? NGB 23E, I think?

-Is having the combat related notation from both VA and PEB what I am looking for with CRSC, or is there another threshold? Online sources read as though you need an exact, direct linkage, not sure what I would find in DPRIRS or what PEB/VA looked at to determine combat related. RSO said the 199 stating combat related is all I need. Other than that, buddy letters from the time?

-How do presumptive conditions from PACT act play into CRSC?

-If these indications are good for CRSC, it's % of offset, correct? But since I am a reservist, it cannot exceed retirement determined by points, correct? If 60%, then ~$600? ([2500 pts/360]×2.5=17.36) (.1736×high 3=retired pay) If roughly $1000, then 60% CRSC is $600. Is this the math?

-Would any of this be eligible for SBP? For instance would medically retired pay be eligible for SBP even if I don't see it because of the offset? Is this the better option so that I know my wife is better taken care of? It reads that now spouses are eligible for SBP and DIC?

-Anything else anyone may know if that I am missing. Personally, I am ready to be done. Looking to make the best decision for my family though, so if that means asking to stick around for another year and change, I would.

 

[Provis]

All,

Looking for some advice now that things sound like they are wrapping up. I found out that the PEB issued a DA 199, my PEBLO will probably reach out next week to start the clock. Trying to figure out if I should stay for 20 or not, I have a COAR packet prepped. Apologies for the long post, just trying to figure this out to try and avoid making the wrong call. Any advice would be appreciated.

National Guard/non regular retirement:
Creditable years - 18 yr, 2 mo
Age - 37
Points - ~2500
Retirement - Legacy
Grade - E7
VA ratings - 100% P&T (some cited as combat related, some are presumptive. (I did things backwards and got the VA rating before IDES))
DOD rating - 60% (combat related)

Let me know if you need more details for any of my questions below.

-Medically retire or request a COAR? Looking at offset and if it better to shoot for the CRDP at 57.5.

-Reserve 15 year letter? Is this still a thing? Does this render you eligible for CRDP? NGB 23E, I think?

-Is having the combat related notation from both VA and PEB what I am looking for with CRSC, or is there another threshold? Online sources read as though you need an exact, direct linkage, not sure what I would find in DPRIRS or what PEB/VA looked at to determine combat related. RSO said the 199 stating combat related is all I need. Other than that, buddy letters from the time?

-How do presumptive conditions from PACT act play into CRSC?

-If these indications are good for CRSC, it's % of offset, correct? But since I am a reservist, it cannot exceed retirement determined by points, correct? If 60%, then ~$600? ([2500 pts/360]×2.5=17.36) (.1736×high 3=retired pay) If roughly $1000, then 60% CRSC is $600. Is this the math?

-Would any of this be eligible for SBP? For instance would medically retired pay be eligible for SBP even if I don't see it because of the offset? Is this the better option so that I know my wife is better taken care of? It reads that now spouses are eligible for SBP and DIC?

-Anything else anyone may know if that I am missing. Personally, I am ready to be done. Looking to make the best decision for my family though, so if that means asking to stick around for another year and change, I would.

By doing COAR you forfeit a chapter 61 pension that is guaranteed. Since you have combat related condition the pension is tax free and you get tricare for free for you and your family for life. You get free tricare for you and your family immediately. You get the annual fee waived for tricare select. You lose everything just to try to reach a 20 year letter. That makes no sense. It especially makes no sense when you said you have combat related injuries meaning most likely you will qualify for CRSC. So after medically retiring you can apply for CRSC. CRSC is there to help recoup money lost due to the mandatory VA offset. CRSC can make you whole and max out compensation meaning you get the maximum money now and not in 20 years.

15 year letter in your situation does not apply. It's only issued if your DOD% is under 30%. They issue a 15 year letter and you decline severance because if you accept severance you lose your retirement to include insurance. A 15 year letter means you get your retirement at eligible age but any money from the retirement would be offset by any VA compensation that you receive.

CRSC and combat related utilize different laws. Combat related for chapter 61 pension results in your pension being tax free. That means its your floor for compensation. If your VA compensation went to zero it wouldn't matter to you as much because of that tax free pension. CRSC is there to recoup money lost from having VA offset up to the amount equal to your earned longevity pension + VA compensation total. If you have combat related designation by the PEB there is a good chance you will get CRSC.

Presumptive conditions just mean you automatically get them approved if rated for a condition by the VA and can prove you were in an eligible country. They count too meaning they help increase your CRSC% and count the same as being in direct fire conflict etc.

CRSC is there to max out your compensation. The most you can get by law is your earned reserve pension +VA disability. Since your DOD% is higher than your longevity you are getting paid more from that so it will take less CRSC compensation if any is needed to reach that total.

You can get SBP if medically retired right away. I am not a fan of SBP but if you don't have term life insurance in place you can get it. Now there is no offset by DIC meaning your spouse can collect both if they are eligible to receive it. I like selecting the low cost SBP option which is to the threshold. Its a small amount of coverage but the rate is much lower for cost. It only costs 2.5%. The threshold amount is low. Like a $1,000 so it would provide $550 a month in coverage for only $30. However, I have a 2.5 million dollar term policy in place before health declined. At 5 or 10 years of having P&T your spouse should be able to collect DIC meaning you could just choose SGLI or a 5 or 10 year term life policy instead and would more than likely come out ahead financially than maxing out SBP for the rest of your life.

ACCEPT YOUR CHAPTER 61 FINDINGS!!! PLEASE DON'T SUBMIT YOUR COAR PACKET!!! I DON'T KNOW WHO KEEPS TELLING GUARDSMAN OR RESERVIST ABOUT IT BUT ITS NOT A GOOD CHOICE 99% OF THE TIME FOR SOLDIERS WHO QUALIFY FOR AN IMMEDIATE CHAPTER 61 RETIREMENT.