You're understanding is based on the fact that the services with the exception to the Coast Guard receive their VA rating at the same time they receive their DOD rating. In the Coast Guard, we have to go through the whole process once we get out. So, I'm not really able to use that DOD calculator due to the fact that I can't input VA data (which I tried to leave at 0 but would'nt compute).
All in all, I ended up hitting all of the manuals, manuals that reference manuals, on top of manuals, and came out with the answer 4 hours after I sent this. For those who had the same question, It is in fact the "High 3" (36 cumulative months at that year and rank on the pay scale). For me at 9 years, I will get 40% of my E-5 pay, but it's E-5 at 6 years as that is the last pay jump on the scale. I originally asked the question because between E-5 at 6 years and E-5 at 8 years is about a $200 differnce, and at 40%, I really need everything I can get to help scrape my family by until the VA comes out with their rating once I get home.