Medical Retirement vs Traditional Retirement

[CAVPATRIOT07]

I am currently in the IDES process and have just finished all my VA appointments, waiting on the MEB/VA results. Based on the exam results it looks like I am looking at 100% from the VA and potentially 40 or 50% from the Army. I am currently an O4 with 15 1/2 yrs of service. I keep being told by a couple of non profits that specialize in the VA/MEB process that I can make more getting our through an MEB than a traditional retirement.

My question to the group, is that true what these people are saying or am I better off fighting to stay in, applying for the COAD program, and just getting my traditional retirement?

Just looking for feedback, always like to seek additional opinions. I know DFAS website says you can’t draw two checks with a medical retirement, but I also have learned that there is so many different pots of money out there that they never tell anyone about because they like to keep that money and reappropriate it else where.

 

[cullenrp]

I'm in the ANG going through an MEB as well. I'm a Certified Financial Planner in my civilian career. The comparison you need to run is called a "net present value" calculation of your future payments discounted back to today. Also, you can run a calculation that shows you collecting your disability immediately (plus any combat related pay) and compare it on a timeline against a 4.5 year delay of concurrent payment at 100% disabilty and full DoD retirement. Use after tax figures for best accuracy. You will come up with a year/age at which point the total cumulative benefit will "cross over". For example, at age 55, you will "realize" the benefit of having waited and fought to stay in. Separately, do you have the names of any of the non-profits or pro-bono attorney that are smart on MEBs? Good luck.

 

[RonG]

I am currently in the IDES process and have just finished all my VA appointments, waiting on the MEB/VA results. Based on the exam results it looks like I am looking at 100% from the VA and potentially 40 or 50% from the Army. I am currently an O4 with 15 1/2 yrs of service. I keep being told by a couple of non profits that specialize in the VA/MEB process that I can make more getting our through an MEB than a traditional retirement.

My question to the group, is that true what these people are saying or am I better off fighting to stay in, applying for the COAD program, and just getting my traditional retirement?

Just looking for feedback, always like to seek additional opinions. I know DFAS website says you can’t draw two checks with a medical retirement, but I also have learned that there is so many different pots of money out there that they never tell anyone about because they like to keep that money and reappropriate it else where.

Hello,

You could receive more retired pay thru a disability retirement (the disability multiplier could be higher than the longevity multiplier), but your retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of VA comp. Unless you qualify for another retiement such as reserve with 20 good years, you will not receive concurrent receipt unless it is CRSC. Also, a traditional regular retirement of 20 years AD = eligibility for CRDP if VA is 50% or more.

Reference: “…I also have learned that there is so many different pots of money out there that they never tell anyone about because they like to keep that money and reappropriate it else where.” As a retired Army finance senior NCO with 25 years service, I can assure you DFAS is not hiding any entitlements. Some veterans do not know of them, but I think they do a good job advertising.

Ron

 

[Provis]

I am currently in the IDES process and have just finished all my VA appointments, waiting on the MEB/VA results. Based on the exam results it looks like I am looking at 100% from the VA and potentially 40 or 50% from the Army. I am currently an O4 with 15 1/2 yrs of service. I keep being told by a couple of non profits that specialize in the VA/MEB process that I can make more getting our through an MEB than a traditional retirement.

My question to the group, is that true what these people are saying or am I better off fighting to stay in, applying for the COAD program, and just getting my traditional retirement?

Just looking for feedback, always like to seek additional opinions. I know DFAS website says you can’t draw two checks with a medical retirement, but I also have learned that there is so many different pots of money out there that they never tell anyone about because they like to keep that money and reappropriate it else where.

IF the unfitting condition is combat related and higher than your earned longevity regular retirement then your chapter 61 pension is exempt from federal taxes. However, the majority of the time a regular retirement is higher net income due to CRDP. If that combat related unfitting condition also qualifies for CRSC then the combination of the 2 could net a higher total compensation than a regular retirement with CRDP.

I would try to get COAD but would not try to minimize any symptoms of your conditions so that you are properly rated in case the COAD isn't approved. Remember COAD is a hail mary. You can sbumit a COAD packet after being found unfit. You don't need to wait untli the very end of the process to submit it. Your PEBLO Can give you the paperwork to start working on getting a COAD packet submitted.

 

[Sam2001]

IF the unfitting condition is combat related and higher than your earned longevity regular retirement then your chapter 61 pension is exempt from federal taxes. However, the majority of the time a regular retirement is higher net income due to CRDP. If that combat related unfitting condition also qualifies for CRSC then the combination of the 2 could net a higher total compensation than a regular retirement with CRDP.

I would try to get COAD but would not try to minimize any symptoms of your conditions so that you are properly rated in case the COAD isn't approved. Remember COAD is a hail mary. You can sbumit a COAD packet after being found unfit. You don't need to wait untli the very end of the process to submit it. Your PEBLO Can give you the paperwork to start working on getting a COAD packet submitted.

I found myself in a similar situation but I had a smidge over 18 years. My ratings came out to be about the same as if I had stayed in and got 100% VA. About $800 less but I have not gotten an answer on my CRSC yet. I was combat coded and elected for the tax free option versus trying to request a COAD. Keep in mind COAD is still needs of the Army but only in non deployable units. If I had been awarded less or not combat coded I would have submitted a COAD packet.