Hi all!
I've lurked for over a year, so thank you for all of the valuable information! After almost 3 years, my fiance has finally received his PDBR decision - his Army medical discharge was upgraded to retired at 40%, retro to date of discharge based on the DJD and the DDD. DFAS says it takes a while to untangle everything, but from what we can gather from research, he's not CRDP-eligible and the VA will take all of his back pay and offset his VA benefits by the amount of his retirement. He's 100% permanently disabled by VA.
Here are my questions though - since the VA is going to take it all anyway, is it worth it to pursue an increase in his retirement percentage? Will the VA also take any back pay due him via CRSC if he's approved? Is he eligible for CRDP when he reaches what would have been his 20-year mark? He'd planned to be career Army. Here's his info in case it's relevant.
Time served - 2 years, 5 months, 26 days - Infantry - all time served deployed to Iraq in active combat except for training and leaves. Discharged as an E-4.
Medically discharged - 08/2006
VA ratings: Initial/current/VA-listed cause on code sheet (all current percentages were granted by 2008)
-PTSD with Sleeping Difficulty and Cognitive Disorder - 50/70 - combat incurred
-Migraines residual of TBI - 0/30 - combat incurred [blast injury from IED]
-Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar - 20/20 - combat incurred
-Radiculopathy Secondary to DDD Lumbar - 10/10 - combat incurred
-DJD C-Spine with Herniated Nucleus Pulposus - 20/20 - combat incurred
-DJD Right Hip - 20/20 - combat incurred
-DJD Left Hip - 20/20 - combat incurred
-Urticaria - 10/10 - combat related (I think that's the right term)
-Anisocoria Residual of TBI - 0/0 - combat incurred (no idea why they listed it and coded it, but didn't assign a percentage)
-100% permanent IU
I'll list these just because I'm proud of him and I think they'll help with the CRSC decision:
Purple Heart pending, recommended by Purple Heart Foundation. (He'd initially declined the recommendation)
2 ARCOMs with Valor - 1 for dismounting against an aggressive enemy to retrieve fallen comrades, 1 for placing himself in imminent peril to prevent fratricide (Can't remember exact wording of the second)
1 other commendation for exemplary behavior.
Between the PTSD, TBI, and ongoing back/neck/hip issues, he can't work. He's discouraged and depressed since we figured out that he's gone through this entire process for basically no financial gain, but he's happy that he can say he's retired and can get Tri-care and base benefits. I just don't want him to get excited again for a back check that isn't coming.
Sorry this is so long but I wanted to include info that may be relevant. Thanks for any answers.
I've lurked for over a year, so thank you for all of the valuable information! After almost 3 years, my fiance has finally received his PDBR decision - his Army medical discharge was upgraded to retired at 40%, retro to date of discharge based on the DJD and the DDD. DFAS says it takes a while to untangle everything, but from what we can gather from research, he's not CRDP-eligible and the VA will take all of his back pay and offset his VA benefits by the amount of his retirement. He's 100% permanently disabled by VA.
Here are my questions though - since the VA is going to take it all anyway, is it worth it to pursue an increase in his retirement percentage? Will the VA also take any back pay due him via CRSC if he's approved? Is he eligible for CRDP when he reaches what would have been his 20-year mark? He'd planned to be career Army. Here's his info in case it's relevant.
Time served - 2 years, 5 months, 26 days - Infantry - all time served deployed to Iraq in active combat except for training and leaves. Discharged as an E-4.
Medically discharged - 08/2006
VA ratings: Initial/current/VA-listed cause on code sheet (all current percentages were granted by 2008)
-PTSD with Sleeping Difficulty and Cognitive Disorder - 50/70 - combat incurred
-Migraines residual of TBI - 0/30 - combat incurred [blast injury from IED]
-Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar - 20/20 - combat incurred
-Radiculopathy Secondary to DDD Lumbar - 10/10 - combat incurred
-DJD C-Spine with Herniated Nucleus Pulposus - 20/20 - combat incurred
-DJD Right Hip - 20/20 - combat incurred
-DJD Left Hip - 20/20 - combat incurred
-Urticaria - 10/10 - combat related (I think that's the right term)
-Anisocoria Residual of TBI - 0/0 - combat incurred (no idea why they listed it and coded it, but didn't assign a percentage)
-100% permanent IU
I'll list these just because I'm proud of him and I think they'll help with the CRSC decision:
Purple Heart pending, recommended by Purple Heart Foundation. (He'd initially declined the recommendation)
2 ARCOMs with Valor - 1 for dismounting against an aggressive enemy to retrieve fallen comrades, 1 for placing himself in imminent peril to prevent fratricide (Can't remember exact wording of the second)
1 other commendation for exemplary behavior.
Between the PTSD, TBI, and ongoing back/neck/hip issues, he can't work. He's discouraged and depressed since we figured out that he's gone through this entire process for basically no financial gain, but he's happy that he can say he's retired and can get Tri-care and base benefits. I just don't want him to get excited again for a back check that isn't coming.
Sorry this is so long but I wanted to include info that may be relevant. Thanks for any answers.
