Chapter 61 CRSP-total confusion- need help

S

swissmiss4u76

PEB Forum Regular Member
Hello all,
my husband was medically retired Jan 31, 2012 (Chapter 61) with 40% (combat related) for 1 disability (multiple back surgeries after IED blast). He did receive a purple heart for the incident that cause the disability. He had 9.6 years in service as an E5. his retirement pay is $1072.00. At his discharge briefing we were told that because his condition is combat related (well documented) and he received a purple heart for it, he would eligible to receive CRSC.
Yesterday, we received his VA rating:
70% PTSD
40% status post lumbar disectomy x2 with scars
10% Right shoulder strain
10% Right knee strain
his rating for migraines headaches was deferred.
ALL conditions were rated to be service connected, but not combat related- not sure if the VA makes the distinction? In the narrative it clearly states that the PTSD stems from a combat situation, and the back injury stems from an IED blast. If it needs to be amended through the VA, how would we go about that?
Total 90% disability and the monthly payment is $1971. (Married with 2 children)
His average income (base pay) for the last 36 month on active duty was 2696.61.
I am confused because with different website I get different results about how much the CRSC would be. Do I only take the 40% rating from the VA and add it for the CRSC or is it the combined rating? Do I take it all?
I would appreciate if someone could clarify and maybe give me number/calculation on what we should/could expect.
I understand that at the end it has to be approved by the Army, but let's assume that's a given.
I would really appreciate the help!
Thank you so much community!
Ursula
 
swissmiss4u76 said:
Hello all,
my husband was medically retired Jan 31, 2011 (Chapter 61) with 40% (combat related) for 1 disability (multiple back surgeries after IED blast). He did receive a purple heart for the incident that cause the disability. He had 9.6 years in service as an E5. his retirement pay is $1072.00. At his discharge briefing we were told that because his condition is combat related (well documented) and he received a purple heart for it, he would eligible to receive CRSC.

Thank you so much community!
Ursula
Click to expand...

Ursula,

Thank you for your service and to your husband. You will need to ask the army for the combat-related determination. The problem is that the VA doesn't make the decision. Even though the PEB information made the decision concerning the retirement, the VA needs a determination from the Army. Please see below to apply:

How to Apply

1. If you are applying for the first time, complete DD Form 2860. If you are reapplying for new disabilities, request a reconsideration application from your service branch.​
2. Include documents you feel will help your case. These might include:​
  • Retirement orders
  • 20-year letter or statement of service (for reservists)
  • Relevant pages in your VA or service medical record
  • VA ratings
  • Purple Heart award citations
  • Retirement Form DD214
Your branch will make decisions based on what you send. The quality of the information is more important than quantity.
​
Send copies, not original documents. Your branch will not return them.​
​
3. Mail or fax your application to your branch of service. You can’t submit it electronically.​
Army​

Mailing Address
Telephone, Email and Internet​
Department of the Army​
U.S. Army Human Resources Command​
ATTN: CRSC Division​
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue​
Fort Knox, KY 40122​
Telephone: 866-281-3254 (Toll Free)​
​
​
 
Thanks for the clarification that the Army makes the determination which of the disability ratings are "combat related".
And also thank you for the links.
If all of the 90% from the VA is determined to be combat related (which we have solid documentation that it is), can you help with the calculation on how much the CRSP would be?
I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
Ursula
 
hsanchez0328 said: ↑
No, CRSC calculation is not that simple. Using Icepilot's example of ratings 60% DoD and 80% VA, the calculations would work as follows:​
​
1.Total DoD disability retirement= 60% of base pay ($2000)=$1200​
​
2.Minus LOS retirement amount, let's say you have 10ys in so you would calculate as follows: 2.5%x10yrs=25%​
25% of $2000=$500​
3.So your DoD disability pay will now be $1200-$500=$700​
​
4.VA disability comp for 80% (not counting spouse or children) is $1478 but you would only get paid for 50% which is combat related, so 50%=$797​
5. Now your CRSC amount will be VA combat related compensation minus DoD disability pay or $797-$700=$97 CRSC payment​
6.Your overall compensation will be $1478+$97=$1575​
​
Hope this helps, and remember, i'm just using hypothetical numbers. Feel free to input the correct numbers so that you can get a more accurate payment amount.​
DFAS has a CRSC calculator that I have used. I wasn't sure how accurate it was, but I just ran the same numbers you did and it came out the same. It might be a good tool for those that don't want to do the long-hand;
http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/woundedwarrior/disabledretireest.html

The above is a prior discussion: The DFAS link is easy to use, but can be $100-200 off per others.
 
eagleone said:
hsanchez0328 said: ↑
No, CRSC calculation is not that simple. Using Icepilot's example of ratings 60% DoD and 80% VA, the calculations would work as follows:​
​
1.Total DoD disability retirement= 60% of base pay ($2000)=$1200​
​
2.Minus LOS retirement amount, let's say you have 10ys in so you would calculate as follows: 2.5%x10yrs=25%​
25% of $2000=$500​
3.So your DoD disability pay will now be $1200-$500=$700​
​
4.VA disability comp for 80% (not counting spouse or children) is $1478 but you would only get paid for 50% which is combat related, so 50%=$797​
5. Now your CRSC amount will be VA combat related compensation minus DoD disability pay or $797-$700=$97 CRSC payment​
6.Your overall compensation will be $1478+$97=$1575​
​
Hope this helps, and remember, i'm just using hypothetical numbers. Feel free to input the correct numbers so that you can get a more accurate payment amount.​
DFAS has a CRSC calculator that I have used. I wasn't sure how accurate it was, but I just ran the same numbers you did and it came out the same. It might be a good tool for those that don't want to do the long-hand;
http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/woundedwarrior/disabledretireest.html

The above is a prior discussion: The DFAS link is easy to use, but can be $100-200 off per others.
Click to expand...

DFAS link does not work for me on a Mac Computer...
But your example gives me a pretty good idea how to calculate it.
Thanks...
Ursula
 
Also, you can appeal the VA rating. Not so much for the conditions, but for the "non-combat related" issue. Do this immediately. First, request reconsideration by the DRO (Decision Review Officer). This is a local VARO person that will review the decision. Provide evidence of the conditions being combat related; must be new evidence. Then, keep an eye on the calendar. You have one year to appeal the decision (a separate process) regardless of your request for reconsideration start/status. If the reconsideration comes through in your favor, all is well. If not, make sure you don't miss the one-year window to formally appeal the decision. If you appeal, be ready for at least a 3 - 4 year wait. Don't let this discourage you. Act now...
 
Justrluk said:
Also, you can appeal the VA rating. Not so much for the conditions, but for the "non-combat related" issue. Do this immediately. First, request reconsideration by the DRO (Decision Review Officer). This is a local VARO person that will review the decision. Provide evidence of the conditions being combat related; must be new evidence. Then, keep an eye on the calendar. You have one year to appeal the decision (a separate process) regardless of your request for reconsideration start/status. If the reconsideration comes through in your favor, all is well. If not, make sure you don't miss the one-year window to formally appeal the decision. If you appeal, be ready for at least a 3 - 4 year wait. Don't let this discourage you. Act now...
Click to expand...

Justrluk,
From what the DFAS website, the CRSP has to be approved by the CRSC Division at HRC. Even with a PEB decision (yes - combat related), an application has to be made to the CRSC Division (of course with the PEB decision on hand). Once the Division provides the combat-related determination, it is submitted to the VA.

I haven't found anything showing that the PEB can take this administrative action, nor that a CRSC decision is automatic following a PEB combat-related determination. If you see something that would short-circuit the process it would be great. Cutting out a-month-or-two of this process would be a move in the right direction. :)
 
Sorry - didn't know which portion of the process to which you were referring. Sounds like you know where things need to go, but I'd still go over the VA rating w/a fine-toothed comb.
 
Justrluk said:
Sorry - didn't know which portion of the process to which you were referring. Sounds like you know where things need to go, but I'd still go over the VA rating w/a fine-toothed comb.
Click to expand...

No worries. We all are here to help!!! ;)
 
I submitted a CRSCB application just three weeks ago. Last week, I received an email from PERS/CRSCB instructing me to fill out form 2656 to establish a retirement account. Does the fact I received an email instructing me to fill out a form to set up a retirement pay account suggest my CRSCB request is going to be successful? Or, is this a standard operating procedure if the form was never completed? I was retroactively medically retired to 2004 at 30% just two years ago through the PDBR process... The VA has rated me at 70% for the same issue. Thanks
 
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