Please help me understand what my benefits are.

Sherap

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I recently got medically retired from the army a month ago. I got a 40% rating from the army and 90% from the VA. I know that the VA rating could change if i improve medically in the future. But what about my dod rating. I got out with e-5 rank and 40% of my base pay is around $1000. Will I always have 40% rating from the DOD for life? Let’s say my va rating goes down to 30% over time. Will I still have 40% dod rating it it will change too? My second question is that Am I eligible for tricare for life? My third question is that am I eligible for concurrent retirement and disability pay? I apologize if I am posting on the wrong forum. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Im just gonna assume you were given PDRL and not TDRL in that case your DoD rating will not change, yes you are entitled to Tricare for life and no for the CRDP unless you have 20 years in service, CRSC might be an option if that 40% is considered combat related.
 
I recently got medically retired from the army a month ago. I got a 40% rating from the army and 90% from the VA. I know that the VA rating could change if i improve medically in the future. But what about my dod rating. I got out with e-5 rank and 40% of my base pay is around $1000. Will I always have 40% rating from the DOD for life? Let’s say my va rating goes down to 30% over time. Will I still have 40% dod rating it it will change too? My second question is that Am I eligible for tricare for life? My third question is that am I eligible for concurrent retirement and disability pay? I apologize if I am posting on the wrong forum. Any help would be appreciated.
Hello,

1. You said your retired pay @ 40% = ~ 1000
2. VA comp @ 90% without dependents = 1,862.96
3. Your retired pay 1000 minus amount of VA Comp 1862.96 = zero retired pay remaining.
4. You are not eligible for CRDP (concurrent receipt) unless you are eligible for another type retirement other than medical.
5. You might be eligible for combat related special compensation, CRSC.
See A Supplement to CRSC Information <—-LINK

Ron
 
Hello,

1. You said your retired pay @ 40% = ~ 1000
2. VA comp @ 90% without dependents = 1,862.96
3. Your retired pay 1000 minus amount of VA Comp 1862.96 = zero retired pay remaining.
4. You are not eligible for CRDP (concurrent receipt) unless you are eligible for another type retirement other than medical.
5. You might be eligible for combat related special compensation, CRSC.
See A Supplement to CRSC Information <—-LINK

Ron

I just would like to clear up. So let’s say my VA rating goes down to 30% in the future, will I get still get $1000(40% DOD) from the DOD? Or my DOD pay will go down with VA rating as well? Is my at least 40% rating which is $1000 is secured for life even if the va rating goes down to zero since I am on PDRL? I would appreciate you response.
 
Also:
1. DoD disabililty retirement @ 30% or more = TRICARE


Ron
 
Residual: Means remaining or left over.

Ron
 
do you mean I get the 30% from the VA and the difference 10% from the DOD?
No, I did not say that.
1. Your DoD @ 40% = ~1000 That should remain the same
2. If your VA rating drops to 30%, then the retired pay will be reduced by the rate for 30% using the VA comp tables. The $1000 retired pay would be reduced by the amount associated with 30% in the VA compensation tables. I provided a link to the tables so you could do your own calculation.
3. You keep the residual if any. Residual retired pay is the amount left over after the reduction.
4. You also receive your VA comp.

Re: Your comment, "do you mean I get the 30% from the VA and the difference 10% from the DOD?" The method of determining the amounts are described at items 1-3, which do not mirror your understanding. Rates at 30% or more in the Tables include higher amounts when dependents are involved. $435.69 is the 30% rate for veteran alone.
If your retired pay was 1000 and your VA comp @ 30%, without dependents, then: 1000 minus 435.69 = 564.31 residual retired pay.

Ron
 
Last edited:
Are you PDRL or TDRL?
 
No, I did not say that.
1. Your DoD @ 40% = ~1000 That should remain the same
2. If your VA rating drops to 30%, then the retired pay will be reduced by the rate for 30% using the VA comp tables. The $1000 retired pay would be reduced by the amount associated with 30% in the VA compensation tables. I provided a link to the tables so you could do your own calculation.
3. You keep the residual if any. Residual retired pay is the amount left over after the reduction.
4. You also receive your VA comp.

Re: Your comment, "do you mean I get the 30% from the VA and the difference 10% from the DOD?" The method of determining the amounts are described at items 1-3, which do not mirror your understanding. Rates at 30% or more in the Tables include higher amounts when dependents are involved. $435.69 is the 30% rate for veteran alone.
If your retired pay was 1000 and your VA comp @ 30%, without dependents, then: 1000 minus 435.69 = 564.31 residual retired pay.

Ron
So that means I would only get 565.31 which doesn’t make sense. I currently get paid by the va at 90% rate around 1800. Since I am on PDRL, if the va goes down to 30%, I should be able to keep the 1000 from the dod provided I wouldn’t get any from the VA. When I got out of the military, I was given an option to get paid either from the VA or the DOD. They recommended that I chose VA since the VA gave me a higher rating. If the VA rating is lower than DOD rating in the future, I should have an option to go with the DOD.
 
So that means I would only get 565.31 which doesn’t make sense. I currently get paid by the va at 90% rate around 1800. Since I am on PDRL, if the va goes down to 30%, I should be able to keep the 1000 from the dod provided I wouldn’t get any from the VA. When I got out of the military, I was given an option to get paid either from the VA or the DOD. They recommended that I chose VA since the VA gave me a higher rating. If the VA rating is lower than DOD rating in the future, I should have an option to go with the DOD.
You have misunderstood. In the scenario I described, you would receive 564.31 from DoD and 435.69 from the VA if you had a VA rating of 30% and no dependents. As you can see, the total is $1000. I used your example of VA going to 30% as you requested.

Ron
 
From DFAS.
Understanding the VA Waiver and Retired Pay/CRDP/CRSC Adjustments

Many military retirees who are eligible for DoD retired pay are also eligible for VA disability pay. The laws and regulations that apply when a retiree is eligible for both types of pay are complex and can be confusing.

The law requires that a military retiree waive a portion of their gross DoD retired pay, dollar for dollar, by the amount of their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation pay; this is known as the VA waiver (or VA offset).

Some retirees who receive VA disability compensation may also receive CRDP or CRSC payments that make up for part or all of the DoD retired pay that they waive to receive VA disability pay.

Ron
 
You have misunderstood. In the scenario I described, you would receive 564.31 from DoD and 435.69 from the VA if you had a VA rating of 30% and no dependents. As you can see, the total is $1000. I used your example of VA going to 30% as you requested.

Ron
Thank you very much for the explanation. I think I got it now. So basically I get 1000 in total from the va and the dod all together. And I can confirm that I will get At least 1000 a month for life, right since dod rating is permanent?
 
Thank you very much for the explanation. I think I got it now. So basically I get 1000 in total from the va and the dod all together. And I can confirm that I will get At least 1000 a month for life, right since dod rating is permanent?
Yes, in the most recent scenario provided. However, if your VA compensation amount leaves zero residual retired pay, then all you get is the VA comp...which could be more than $1000.

Earlier:
1. You said your retired pay @ 40% = ~ 1000
2. VA comp @ 90% without dependents = 1,862.96
3. Your retired pay 1000 minus amount of VA Comp 1862.96 = zero retired pay remaining.
4. You are not eligible for CRDP (concurrent receipt) unless you are eligible for another type retirement other than medical.
5. In this situation...you would receive zero retired pay, BUT you would receive 1862.96 VA comp.

Ron
 
Yes, in the most recent scenario provided. However, if your VA compensation amount leaves zero residual retired pay, then all you get is the VA comp...which could be more than $1000.

Earlier:
1. You said your retired pay @ 40% = ~ 1000
2. VA comp @ 90% without dependents = 1,862.96
3. Your retired pay 1000 minus amount of VA Comp 1862.96 = zero retired pay remaining.
4. You are not eligible for CRDP (concurrent receipt) unless you are eligible for another type retirement other than medical.
5. In this situation...you would receive zero retired pay, BUT you would receive 1862.96 VA comp.

Ron
I got it. So in my case if the VA comp is higher than $1000, I don’t get the retired pay.
 
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