Just Applied For CRSC - Feedback Needed

[usa_patriot]

Hey everyone,

I’m working on my CRSC claim and wanted to get some clarity about my submission. I was medically retired from the Army (ARNG) on 23 November 2016 under AR 635-40, with a 70% DoD disability rating. My condition is PTSD, which is my only service-connected disability, and it was rated by the VA at 70% in 2014 and later increased to 100% P&T as of August 2025.

Here’s my main question:
On my official retirement orders, it specifically states:

“Disability is based on injury or disease received in the line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war…” – YES

“Disability resulted from a combat-related injury as defined in 26 USC 104” – YES

Since those statements are already on my orders, does that mean my CRSC claim is essentially a formality (i.e., automatically approved)? Or is there still a chance HRC could deny it even though my only disability is combat-related PTSD and the orders already say “YES” to those questions?

I’d appreciate any insight from folks who’ve gone through this — especially anyone with a similar situation (PTSD as the only rated condition, Chapter 61 retirement, and the “YES” boxes already checked on orders).

Thanks in advance!

 

[d001]

“Disability is based on injury or disease received in the line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war…” – YES

“Disability resulted from a combat-related injury as defined in 26 USC 104” – YES

Since those statements are already on my orders, does that mean my CRSC claim is essentially a formality (i.e., automatically approved)? Or is there still a chance HRC could deny it even though my only disability is combat-related PTSD and the orders already say “YES” to those questions?

For purposes of the PEB and your taxes, you are combat related. But those findings will have no bearing on your CRSC determination. Only your branch of service can determine approval or denial. With that said, since the PEB found your injuries as combat related, I'm assuming you have plenty of documentation, awards/decs, etc. to back up your combat injuries. When you submit your CRSC packet, make sure you include all documentation that you believe proves combat related.

 

[usa_patriot]

Thank you so much. I guess I was foolish and I did not include this information because I thought my retirement orders basically stated as such. My packet is waiting to be delivered because apparently nobody has been there to take the mail. Can I submit additional information with my original application before it's processed? Also, where do I find the evidence that was used during my MEB/PEB process in iPerms? Can I also submit documents from my VA medical file discussing the combat related trauma. I really had no idea what I was doing and I should have done more research before submitting my application.

 

[scottymotech]

Combat awards would help as well as everyone fence you were engaged with hostile enemy. They are notoriously stingy with PTSD and set the bar absurdly high. I really think congress needs to intervene, but hard enough getting them to pass Maj Richard Star act and people fought for over a decade for the pact act.

 

[RetiredColonel-MikeT]

Thank you so much. I guess I was foolish and I did not include this information because I thought my retirement orders basically stated as such. My packet is waiting to be delivered because apparently nobody has been there to take the mail. Can I submit additional information with my original application before it's processed? Also, where do I find the evidence that was used during my MEB/PEB process in iPerms? Can I also submit documents from my VA medical file discussing the combat related trauma. I really had no idea what I was doing and I should have done more research before submitting my application.

Documents have to be from as close as possible to the original combat-related event(s) for physical condition(s). For BH, such as PTSD, combat-related awards are the best; however, barring that, a wartime chain of command (E-8/O-3 or above) statement will suffice. I usually suggest following the standards for the Army's Combat Action Badge IAW AR 600-8-22 Ch 8-11 as shown in the attached.

To submit after the fact, you can email your HRC directly using "Last, First last-4 Additional Documentation" as the subject line. If you get the receipt notification before you send your additional documentation, you can include your Case Number that they provide as well in the subject line.

 

[usa_patriot]

Thank you so much for your reply Sir. it’s been extremely helpful. I’m working on gathering additional documentation, but I have one question I’m still unclear about.

During a rocket attack on Bagram Air Base on September 11, 2010, I was sleeping in the B-huts roughly 1,000 feet away from the impact site near our TOC. The sirens, loud bangs, and chaos that night are documented in my VA records as major contributing stressors for my PTSD, and my MEB/PEB and retirement orders both state “YES” for combat-related and instrumentality of war.

I’ll be honest — I’ve always felt a bit ashamed about how deeply that event affected me, especially since I wasn’t injured and wasn’t right at the impact site. But the reality is that night, is that it affected me, and I was in fear of my life.

Would proximity like that — being about idk a 1,000 feet from the impact — be considered “physically present” for purposes of CRSC documentation, especially if I submit the Reuters article verifying the attack, a published firsthand account from a captain in my unit who was wounded in that strike, and a possible sworn statement from my former commander confirming I was present?

 

[RetiredColonel-MikeT]

Thank you so much for your reply Sir. it’s been extremely helpful. I’m working on gathering additional documentation, but I have one question I’m still unclear about.

During a rocket attack on Bagram Air Base on September 11, 2010, I was sleeping in the B-huts roughly 1,000 feet away from the impact site near our TOC. The sirens, loud bangs, and chaos that night are documented in my VA records as major contributing stressors for my PTSD, and my MEB/PEB and retirement orders both state “YES” for combat-related and instrumentality of war.

I’ll be honest — I’ve always felt a bit ashamed about how deeply that event affected me, especially since I wasn’t injured and wasn’t right at the impact site. But the reality is that night, is that it affected me, and I was in fear of my life.

Would proximity like that — being about idk a 1,000 feet from the impact — be considered “physically present” for purposes of CRSC documentation, especially if I submit the Reuters article verifying the attack, a published firsthand account from a captain in my unit who was wounded in that strike, and a possible sworn statement from my former commander confirming I was present?

Not going to lie, probably not, 1,000 is a fair distance away, however, get whatever documentation you can get, esp from your former commander and submit it - let HRC figure it out.