Recent content by RetiredColonel-MikeT

Agree with @scottymotech, please create a new post.

As @scottymotech stated above, it goes back to the VA’s effective date, the day you first go in retirement, or when the condition you’re claiming is signed into law, aka PACT Act, whichever is later

DD Form 2860, along with your necessary supporting documents (as noted on page 3 (PDF page 4)) and in the enclosed image, all need to be submitted via myFSS ---> Login Template Title

They just want a human signature and not a digital one, so scanned and emailed are fine.

I use this as my yardstick when it comes to how well a wartime COC statement will do, regardless of service branch. Orders, on the other hand, can be amended/rescinded/revoked after the fact, therefore are not considered "source" documents:

Yeah, it's a fuzzy area even for me with my length of time dealing with CRSC. The regs that state "combat-related" generally refer to the PEB findings of being "combat-related" IAW 26 USC 104, which also includes being taxable vs non-taxable income. It has popped up a few times in my FB group...

Yes, they will stop recoupment; however, they will not do a refund unless your effective date goes back to your separation date. And that's only conjecture on my part when it comes to the refund, you'll have to talk to the VBA about that. As for your withholding, one question I do have for...

The 3 items in green (1, 2, 4) are all that you need as long as item 2 has your geographic location as specified in the attached for said presumptives. Number 3 is useless as orders can be revoked, rescinded or amended.

The letters are more valuable than the rest of your documentation tbh. Make sure they're all wet-signed, and contain cell and email contact info as HRC will be reaching out to them AND looking into their OMPF to ensure they were in your wartime COC. Good luck!

Sticky post here, reads the same though as I'm good with copy/pasting ;) Link ---> DOD/DOW Interim Guidance dated 20 August 2025 HAS BEEN RESCINDED! Locking this thread.

I don't disagree and know it would have been an ugly fight and drawn out a lot longer than it took to get this decision to rescind. I'm just glad I was 100% wrong in the direction it ended up taking, or you could call it "reverse psychology" at play LOL

That's HRC for ya ;) lol

No, had nothing to do with that. The VA already set the precedent of retro pay back to the date of filing so it could have easily been argued that way

I made a sticky of this post this morning, you need to get up earlier to catch this worm LOL