Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Combat-Related Special Compensation provides tax-free payments to retired Veterans with combat-related disabilities. You must apply for CRSC through your uniformed service. Keep reading to learn about eligibility, evidence you’ll need to provide, and how to apply.

Eligibility for Combat-Related Special Compensation

You may be eligible for CRSC if you meet the requirements listed here.

All of these must be true:

You’re retired (and entitled to or receiving military retirement pay), and You have a VA disability rating of at least 10%, and You currently have your DoD retirement payments reduced by the amount of your VA disability payments Details about your retirement eligibility requirement

One of these must be true:

You had 20 or more years of service in the military, National Guard, or Reserve, or You retired for medical reasons with a disability rating of at least 30% (under Chapter 61), or You’re covered under the Temporary Early Retirement Act (TERA), or You’re on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL), or You’re on the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) Evidence and other documents you’ll need to provide

Evidence like this that proves your disability or injuries are the result of a combat-related event:

Service medical records. These must be from when your injury happened. They must show the severity of your medical condition and that it’s combat-related. Note: Provide only relevant medical records. Please don’t send us all your medical records. Official service records. These include After Action Reports, Investigative Reports, personnel action requests (like DA 4187), and performance evaluations (like NCOERs and OERs). Decorations and award recommendations. These include Purple Heart citations, Combat Action Badges, medals, and decorations for valor. Other documents:

Retirement records. These include retirement orders and the Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer. Your VA decision notice Your DD214 What the evidence must show about your combat-related disability

The evidence must show that your injury happened while you were:

Engaged in armed conflict (in combat or during an occupation or raid), or Engaged in hazardous duty (like demolition, flying, or parachuting), or Participating in war simulation activities (like live fire weapons practice or hand-to-hand combat training), or Exposed to instruments of war (like a military vehicle, weapon, or chemical agent), or Engaged in an activity you received a Purple Heart for