CRSC Issue related to PTSD being combat related.

[Warrior644]

ok, I was recently denied CRCS for PTSD (50% by VA) due to insufficient documentation. I apparently did not go into enough detail regarding the direct enemy mortar attacks we received. Is there anything else I need to consider prior to sending my DD149 and DD2860 back to AFPC? I have re-written to be more direct and explain how we had no way to return fire while being attacked. Thank you in advance.

Hmm, did your DoVA C&P Examination for PTSD list the stressor(s) of that medical condition at that particular point in time? If so, you should include a copy of that medical record for additional proof at least in my opinion. Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!

 

[MHites]

Hmm, did your DoVA C&P Examination for PTSD list the stressor(s) of that medical condition at that particular point in time? If so, you should include a copy of that medical record for additional proof at least in my opinion. Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!

Thank you. I have gone back and printed all of the PTSD report which attributes my PTSD to two events during my last deployment. I had not thought about that.

 

[Warrior644]

Thank you. I have gone back and printed all of the PTSD report which attributes my PTSD to two events during my last deployment. I had not thought about that.

Indeed, no worries; you are welcome! Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!

 

[eps17]

@MHites,

I'm telling you right now; USAF CRSC approval for PTSD is extremely difficult. I submitted a signed letter from my now retired commander attesting to the rockers, mortars, dead bodies, IEDs, gunfire, etc. and still got denied with my deployment orders, pictures, other statements, medical records from being treated in Iraq, broken bones, etc. etc.

I even submitted EPRs showing ALL of the above and then some and they still denied that I was in "combat" which is just crazy.

 

[Okislide]

Wow eps17 that sucks. I dont have a lot of hope in getting approval now.

 

[MHites]

Wow, I am not sure what to think. I just mailed off the papers again with all psychological notes includes this time that specifically state what they told me I was missing. I am hoping since that statement is in there over 20 times, this will work. They were referencing direct enemy attacks which should seem obvious.

 

[terrence]

That is splitting hairs to an extreme. Let's see I would not have fallen off the hill had 300,000 Chinamen not been trying to bayonet me. Also under direct fire. Really... not bad for Government work.

Unbelievable that so many people working in MEB/PEB/CRSC have this crazy holier than thou attitude. They act like every guy who puts in for anything is a mouch. I wish this much scrutiny was put into welfare, social security benefits, and the half million other government programs that dole out money to people who have done nothing.

Survived Chosin Reservoir yet did not make it passed the Monday morning quarter back. Makes me proud to be an American knowing that our own Government puts such effort in to scrutinizing every detail of guys that risked all.

I could understand the Taliban doing something like this. I can not fathom another American being this obtuse.

Bro.. you are right on point. It sad that someone would overthink that scenario and deny benefits. The best answer ever.. Sadly, we do..

 

[Ed Mercanti]

A guy is actively engaged in combat, being fired upon and returning fire, and while avoiding enemy fire sustaines injuries, and you recommend denial. Nice. I think you were getting a little too far into the weeds with that guy and really overthinking it. Was he in combat, yes. He was injured while actively returning fire. And you're going to split hairs because he wasn't injured from a bomb or a bullet. The fall was a result of active combat. If the enemy had not been attacking him, he would not have needed to return fire while walking backwards.

And if it wasn't for the infantrymen fighting battles in the jungles of Vietnam I wouldn't have been in a supply depot in Hanoi when a box fell on my head . . . The law was written to give special compensation to people who sustained disabilities as the result of combat or simulation of combat or exceptionally hazardous duties. As a direct result doesn't take a whole lot of interpretation (or hair splitting).

 

[RaiderX]

Well if you were in Hanoi. You would of been a POW as it was the Capital of North Vietnam at the time.

 

[Ed Mercanti]

Damn. Note to self. Don't answer this stuff when your tired ;-)

 

[JA1979]

Applied for CRSC, letter came back stating not eligible “Due to not having Waiver of Military Pay in Lieu of VA Compensation”. Recieved Waiver from VA and sent it back to CRSC.

Was Medically Retired (PDRL)
Army: 70% Combat Related (PTSD)
VA: 100% (70% Combat Related PTSD)

Question is: has CRSC ever denied eligibility to someone regardless if both the Army and VA find it Combat Related? So far the Waiver was the only thing missing from packet, hopefully nothing more IAW to CRSC letter sent to me. Any information is appreciated.

 

[gsfowler]

Getting CRSC for PTSD is going to be difficult unless the application is very specific to define the exact CRSC stressor. Combat related as a definition to the Army and VA for compensation and pension is much different than the CRSC definition.

 

[TOT31]

Applied for CRSC, letter came back stating not eligible “Due to not having Waiver of Military Pay in Lieu of VA Compensation”. Recieved Waiver from VA and sent it back to CRSC.

Was Medically Retired (PDRL)
Army: 70% Combat Related (PTSD)
VA: 100% (70% Combat Related PTSD)

Question is: has CRSC ever denied eligibility to someone regardless if both the Army and VA find it Combat Related? So far the Waiver was the only thing missing from packet, hopefully nothing more IAW to CRSC letter sent to me. Any information is appreciated.

If you have any combat award's (with or without valor such as a bronze star with or without v or accommodation medals / combat ribbon / combat badge) you will have a narrative reason for receiving the decoration or award. Send all narratives for any combat award's or decorations and tie whatever descriptive combat action is listed in the narrative to your PTSD. An example would be "engaged and destroyed an enemy sniper position" or expert leadership was instrumental in fighting through a complex ambush in sadr city on 12 may 2004". Eval reports can also be submitted with a descriptive combat narrative such as " successfully executed hundreds of combat reconnaissance patrols without a loss of assigned personnel or equipment". All you have to do is tie your PTSD to these pieces of evidence in the portion of your crsc app that asks for you to describe in your own words why you are qualified for crsc

 

[TOT31]

gs Fowler is 100% correct and accurate when saying that the dod and va definition of combat related is different from the crsc board definition. gs Fowler is one of the first members to shed light on this fact and how to approach this issue. Ron is also an expert in the field of crsc so key in on their posts about crsc. Good luck

 

[JA1979]

If you have any combat award's (with or without valor such as a bronze star with or without v or accommodation medals / combat ribbon / combat badge) you will have a narrative reason for receiving the decoration or award. Send all narratives for any combat award's or decorations and tie whatever descriptive combat action is listed in the narrative to your PTSD. An example would be "engaged and destroyed an enemy sniper position" or expert leadership was instrumental in fighting through a complex ambush in sadr city on 12 may 2004". Eval reports can also be submitted with a descriptive combat narrative such as " successfully executed hundreds of combat reconnaissance patrols without a loss of assigned personnel or equipment". All you have to do is tie your PTSD to these pieces of evidence in the portion of your crsc app that asks for you to describe in your own words why you are qualified for crsc

Thank for the information, No award for valor or anything, it was documented by Army Doc’s down range and post deployment for issues having as well as Mental/Behaviraol/PTSD specialist from garrison unit, all document symptoms are worsening and have no timeframe for full recovery, as well stated on MEB/PEB Board process, and still going through process to deal with it. All documentation has been sent to CRSC from Army and VA recorded documention as well as all other required paperwork needed. Will post if I here anything, I sent the Waiver last week, so hopefully it will be uploaded to the HRC website to see if processing. Thanks again for all the information.

 

[RonG]

There is a collection of CRSC information, including examples of disabilities considered combat related, at
this LINK <——

Ron

 

[JA1979]

I was recently denied on my first application to get CRSC benefits for my VA rating (100%) for PTSD. They sent me the denial letter saying that I didn't provide them with enough evidence to indicate that I obtained the PTSD from combat or a combat related event.

Now correct me if I am wrong, but if I got PTSD from my tour in Iraq, isn't that proof enough that it was combat related!? I have all over my VA documents/records notes indicated that I got PTSD from my tour in Iraq.

Also it says on my VA rating documents that my PTSD is combat related.

I obviously appealed this and sent them actual psychologist notes from Iraq indicating that I have PTSD, and then also notes from after I got back from Iraq, indicating that I couldn't attend specific training because of my PTSD that was incurred in Iraq, and so forth.

Does anyone else have any further advice or insight on this? Why would I have gotten denied int he first place? Does PTSD have to be associated with ONE specific event? Or can it be okay just to associate it with my entire tour there? I am in a unique situation, in that my PTSD was related to me being in the medical field and was incurred because I worked as a surgical technician and ended up seeing many people die in front of me on the surgical table, and also due to all the death/dying and also mangled bodies, faces and so forth that I dealt with.

There is only so much death that one can deal with. In addition to that, I worked in the morgue for a couple of months as well. That all said, although I didn't develop the PTSD while fighting/engaging the enemy, it was combat-related as I was in Iraq and was due to combat as I was treating soldiers/civilians who came in with combat-related injuries.

Lastly, we did take enemy fire on the base as well, so its not like I wasn't in a combat zone...or at risk at all as people did get injured/die on the post.

Can anyone please advise?

Tony,

I was awarded first time go for Combat Related PTSD. When I first was starting to fill out the CRSC packet it was very vague. But I called the CRSC office and talked to representative. As Per the requirements you do not have to provide all medical records, you just need to provided the actual documentation of when you were Diagnosed with PTSD (the when, were, and how factor) along with the VA ratings determining it was Combat Related (VA findings must say “Combat Related”) as well as in your military medical records. When I submitted my packet I included all military medical records pertaining to PTSD findings and determination (only) along with the VA findings, Retirement Orders and DD214. Be very brief and to the point when filling out the CRSC since they only give you a small area to explain how, when and where it happened, you can also attach a separate sheet to finish out your explanation. I would also attach any and all documentation that refers to your PTSD Combat Related, especially if you are still being seen and treated for it. I hope this helps.

 

[RonG]

Tony,

I was awarded first time go for Combat Related PTSD. When I first was starting to fill out the CRSC packet it was very vague. But I called the CRSC office and talked to representative. As Per the requirements you do not have to provide all medical records, you just need to provided the actual documentation of when you were Diagnosed with PTSD (the when, were, and how factor) along with the VA ratings determining it was Combat Related (VA findings must say “Combat Related”) as well as in your military medical records. When I submitted my packet I included all military medical records pertaining to PTSD findings and determination (only) along with the VA findings, Retirement Orders and DD214. Be very brief and to the point when filling out the CRSC since they only give you a small area to explain how, when and where it happened, you can also attach a separate sheet to finish out your explanation. I would also attach any and all documentation that refers to your PTSD Combat Related, especially if you are still being seen and treated for it. I hope this helps.

Good info, but Tony was last seen in 2014.

Joined Sep 24, 2012
Last seen Dec 15, 2014

Dec 15, 2014

 

[RonG]

Thread closed.

Forum members are invited to post their CRSC comments and questions in new threads in the CRSC forum.
Path for CRSC Forum: LINK <----

Ron