Hello everyone!
Long time lurker, first time poster here. PEBForums has been an awesome source for information and has helped friends of mine and myself out a lot! After a whole lot of research and conversations with friends I ended up applying for CRSC. The more I research though, I begin to become discouraged. I was MEB'd in 2020 and ended up medically retired (TDRL). While I was going through my MEB my PEBLO kept mentioning CRSC and how I qualified, but I felt (personally) that I didn't. Even my AW2 rep said the same thing. I ended up submitting my CRSC Claim earlier this week and I know it will take a while. I do think my situation is a tad bit peculiar. To provide a little bit of insight into why I say that:
The condition I claimed for CRSC was PTSD. I have read many forums posts stating that it is very hard to get approved. My PTSD stems from a 2017-2018 Deployment. On this deployment, like many others, i witnessed and experienced certain things which led to my PTSD diagnosis. I initially deployed to Iraq, and then 5 months in my battery redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan (weird?). I have two main events that i think are considered "Combat Related". 1) While in Iraq, I witnessed the aftermath of an IED while at a MEDEVAC site providing communications support. 2) While in Afghanistan, I experienced multiple instances of effective indirect fire, which on many occasions struck extremely close, and shook us up pretty good. Would these events be considered combat related when it comes to CRSC? The only award I received from that deployment was an ARCOM C. According to conversations with my wartime command, mine and a few other soldiers CABs were denied (both forward and in the rear) for the events that occurred in Afghanistan by our BDE which was in Iraq at the time, and there was apparently some communication failure between commands in Afghanistan. To clarify, only a battery sized element went forward from Iraq to Afghanistan. According to leadership that was on site for the events in AF all agreed that the events were CAB qualifying and there should not have been a Denial. Anyways in my CRSC packet I submitted the following: All my MEB documents to include 199's, NARSUMS, MY DD-214, MY deployment orders to Iraq, My TCS orders from Iraq to Afghanistan, ERB, My VA Code sheet, My proposed VA Ratings, My first final ratings, My ratings when i was considered P&T, and a Memorandum for Record from my 1SG from Deployment. I have 2 sets of 199's and NARSUMS since i began on TDRL and then transitioned to PDRL. I was being seen by the VA the entire time as well, which is annotated on my TDRL to PDRL NARSUM. I submitted everything without omitting any pages. MY DA199 TDRL/PDRL, DD214, and retirement orders TDRL/PDRL. all state Combat related. I am hoping that i submitted enough, but i am worried that the lack of a CAB is going to hurt me. I have two soldiers that were with me on site who are willing to write a memo or sworn statement for me. Should i apply for the CAB retroactively in the event my CRSC claim gets denied? Just hoping to see if i even truly qualify....
Sorry for the word salad.
I was rated 100% by the VA [70% PTSD]
I was Medically Retired as a SPC at 70% DOD [TDRL -2020, PDRL- 2022]
I did 4.5 years (I was not ready to get out)
Sorry if i am missing any information!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CRSC TIMELINE:
Claim Submitted (VIA Email) - 25 & 26 AUG 2025 [Submitted twice, because i didnt know to NOT sign digitally]
Claim Received Email from HRC - 26 AUG 2025
Long time lurker, first time poster here. PEBForums has been an awesome source for information and has helped friends of mine and myself out a lot! After a whole lot of research and conversations with friends I ended up applying for CRSC. The more I research though, I begin to become discouraged. I was MEB'd in 2020 and ended up medically retired (TDRL). While I was going through my MEB my PEBLO kept mentioning CRSC and how I qualified, but I felt (personally) that I didn't. Even my AW2 rep said the same thing. I ended up submitting my CRSC Claim earlier this week and I know it will take a while. I do think my situation is a tad bit peculiar. To provide a little bit of insight into why I say that:
The condition I claimed for CRSC was PTSD. I have read many forums posts stating that it is very hard to get approved. My PTSD stems from a 2017-2018 Deployment. On this deployment, like many others, i witnessed and experienced certain things which led to my PTSD diagnosis. I initially deployed to Iraq, and then 5 months in my battery redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan (weird?). I have two main events that i think are considered "Combat Related". 1) While in Iraq, I witnessed the aftermath of an IED while at a MEDEVAC site providing communications support. 2) While in Afghanistan, I experienced multiple instances of effective indirect fire, which on many occasions struck extremely close, and shook us up pretty good. Would these events be considered combat related when it comes to CRSC? The only award I received from that deployment was an ARCOM C. According to conversations with my wartime command, mine and a few other soldiers CABs were denied (both forward and in the rear) for the events that occurred in Afghanistan by our BDE which was in Iraq at the time, and there was apparently some communication failure between commands in Afghanistan. To clarify, only a battery sized element went forward from Iraq to Afghanistan. According to leadership that was on site for the events in AF all agreed that the events were CAB qualifying and there should not have been a Denial. Anyways in my CRSC packet I submitted the following: All my MEB documents to include 199's, NARSUMS, MY DD-214, MY deployment orders to Iraq, My TCS orders from Iraq to Afghanistan, ERB, My VA Code sheet, My proposed VA Ratings, My first final ratings, My ratings when i was considered P&T, and a Memorandum for Record from my 1SG from Deployment. I have 2 sets of 199's and NARSUMS since i began on TDRL and then transitioned to PDRL. I was being seen by the VA the entire time as well, which is annotated on my TDRL to PDRL NARSUM. I submitted everything without omitting any pages. MY DA199 TDRL/PDRL, DD214, and retirement orders TDRL/PDRL. all state Combat related. I am hoping that i submitted enough, but i am worried that the lack of a CAB is going to hurt me. I have two soldiers that were with me on site who are willing to write a memo or sworn statement for me. Should i apply for the CAB retroactively in the event my CRSC claim gets denied? Just hoping to see if i even truly qualify....
Sorry for the word salad.
I was rated 100% by the VA [70% PTSD]
I was Medically Retired as a SPC at 70% DOD [TDRL -2020, PDRL- 2022]
I did 4.5 years (I was not ready to get out)
Sorry if i am missing any information!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CRSC TIMELINE:
Claim Submitted (VIA Email) - 25 & 26 AUG 2025 [Submitted twice, because i didnt know to NOT sign digitally]
Claim Received Email from HRC - 26 AUG 2025
