Post MEB retirement and VA pay

[regular1]

14.5 AD Army. Medically retired at 80% DOD 100% VA. Last day in service was may 21st 2025.

75% of my base pay is like 5700. My understanding was I'll get roughly $4400 from VA then $1300 from DFAS. I have a few questions.

1. Is my understanding correct?

2. When should I get my first checks? (I figured I should get the full $5700 on July 1st since this is technically retirement paid then maybe August I'll get a VA check and remainder from DFAS). Im going to call DFAS tomorrow but didn't have a chance to today due to work.

3. Anyone know a way to get my VA claim finalized sooner than later? It's in step 5 and I called today and they said they already have my dd214. Besides from a pay standpoint I need my letter prior to July 1st so I can submit to get a 100% property tax exemption?

4. Anything else I should know at this point? I plan to apply for CRSC ASAP as I was prior SF with combat time, CIB ect so should be able to max my CRSC cap. Just want to start getting paid asap.

5. Is the general consensus to use the VA or avoid them? I will have tricare select which i already signed up for. I just don't want to get any ratings decreased.

6. Should I continue to get routine care from a PCM just to show I am still I injured ect? I've already done all the things hence the MEB and don't want to get any surgeries so outside of a home exercise rehab plan not sure i want to keep having a doctor tell me all the stuff I already know about my injuries ect.

 

[DaveK]

14.5 AD Army. Medically retired at 80% DOD 100% VA. Last day in service was may 21st 2025.

75% of my base pay is like 5700. My understanding was I'll get roughly $4400 from VA then $1300 from DFAS. I have a few questions.

1. Is my understanding correct? Yes, but without knowing your rank/grade/high 3, cannot definitively say you're correct.

2. When should I get my first checks? (I figured I should get the full $5700 on July 1st since this is technically retirement paid then maybe August I'll get a VA check and remainder from DFAS). Im going to call DFAS tomorrow but didn't have a chance to today due to work. It takes between 30 to 60 days for DFAS on average.

3. Anyone know a way to get my VA claim finalized sooner than later? It's in step 5 and I called today and they said they already have my dd214. Besides from a pay standpoint I need my letter prior to July 1st so I can submit to get a 100% property tax exemption? No, as long as they have your paperwork such as the 214, everything is moving as it typically does.

4. Anything else I should know at this point? I plan to apply for CRSC ASAP as I was prior SF with combat time, CIB ect so should be able to max my CRSC cap. Just want to start getting paid asap. You may be maxed already with your pay ceiling. Meaning even if you are approved for 100% CRSC, you will technically get no more than you already do from DoD.

5. Is the general consensus to use the VA or avoid them? I will have tricare select which i already signed up for. I just don't want to get any ratings decreased. If you are TDRL and not yet P&T, you will be reviewed later in about 6 months to 3 years. Usually sooner. It's a good idea to continue your medical care and keep a record of it whether at the VA or not. And if you are PDRL already and maxed percentage at the DoD, you will never lose money even if the VA rating goes away.

6. Should I continue to get routine care from a PCM just to show I am still I injured ect? I've already done all the things hence the MEB and don't want to get any surgeries so outside of a home exercise rehab plan not sure i want to keep having a doctor tell me all the stuff I already know about my injuries ect. If you will be reviewed later, it's a good idea to keep up with medical and maintain your own records.

 

[regular1]

Thanks for the reply. My high 36 months was calculated at some point during out processing which is how I came up with that number. For reference I was enlisted for most of that time. For the last bit of my active time I was a 1LT then got promoted a few months prior to getting out.

 

[DaveK]

Thanks for the reply. My high 36 months was calculated at some point during out processing which is how I came up with that number. For reference I was enlisted for most of that time. For the last bit of my active time I was a 1LT then got promoted a few months prior to getting out.

Figured we were similar. Enlisted to officer as well. Keep an eye on your "E" for enlisted when dfas processes your pay. They missed that because on the Chapter 61 order the "E" is not included next to the grade. It's on its own line as a standalone item. And dfas misses that. Took me an extra 60 days to get that worked out.

When you officially get your first dfas pay check, add that to your total VA pay check. Then take that total and subtract it from your total DoD pay you would get if you were not getting your VA pay. In your case that's $5700. If there is any money left over that would be the maximum amount you could receive in CRSC.

Most service members do not get any DoD pay expect higher level or previously enlisted officers. And even fewer who get that also get CRSC. I'm one of those few who will get about $100 ish from CRSC even if rated 100% for CRSC. Getting that application ready next.

 

[regular1]

Figured we were similar. Enlisted to officer as well. Keep an eye on your "E" for enlisted when dfas processes your pay. They missed that because on the Chapter 61 order the "E" is not included next to the grade. It's on its own line as a standalone item. And dfas misses that. Took me an extra 60 days to get that worked out.

When you officially get your first dfas pay check, add that to your total VA pay check. Then take that total and subtract it from your total DoD pay you would get if you were not getting your VA pay. In your case that's $5700. If there is any money left over that would be the maximum amount you could receive in CRSC.

Most service members do not get any DoD pay expect higher level or previously enlisted officers. And even fewer who get that also get CRSC. I'm one of those few who will get about $100 ish from CRSC even if rated 100% for CRSC. Getting that application ready next.

My understanding was $5700 dod - 4400 va= 1300 so max I could get from CRSC is 1300.

 

[DaveK]

My understanding was $5700 dod - 4400 va= 1300 so max I could get from CRSC is 1300.

Below is an example from @Provis to another member. Just substitute your numbers.

"Backdoor way to estimate is just estimate your 13.5 year earned longevity pension amount and add that to your VA compensation amount. That is the most you can get from CRSC. Then take that amount and subtract from it your chapter 61 pension. If there is money leftover that's how much you are losing due to the VA offset. Then just use the VA tables to see what your pay would be for CRSC. You will be capped at the leftover amount so you just want your CRSC to be high enough to reach that cap."

And a CRSC calculator crsc calculator | crsc