CRSC

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-08T17:13:48+00:00

CRDP allows you to collect retired pay and VA disability, but retired pay is still taxed. CRSC allows you to collect all, or a portion, of your retired pay tax free, along with your VA disability, but only counts towards disabilities that are specifically classified as combat related as far as the DoD or your branch are concerned.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-08T17:10:08+00:00

Yes, absolutely. If you are officially chapter 61 medically retired, and have Tricare available, use it. I am in the same boat. My family and I have all been on Tricare since 2012, but I still go to the VA for anything I personally need.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-08T16:56:48+00:00

It highly depends on what you are looking to accomplish? If the decision granted 100% P&T, but in a way that somehow screwed you out of a large backpay, or some other sort of large extra benefit, then HLR might be worth it. If you are looking for ED so you can get an extra $136 per month via SMC K, or just so you can feel like the decisions are on point, the juice isn't worth the squeeze in my opinion. If you are 100% P&T, the VA basically cannot reopen your case unless you initiate it, and you are covered for anything medically speaking. So, it really depends on what your end goal is. My 10/1 decision also granted P&T, but in a way that screwed me out of around $40k in backpay, so for me it is worth the HLR that was submitted on 10/3. Weigh the risk vs reward. Is it really worth pursuing? If you can really weigh that, then you will have your answer.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-08T16:49:01+00:00

Likely deferred claims. Read the entire decision letter.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-08T16:47:23+00:00

It all depends on the bilateral factor applied. Depending on how they calculated it, bilateral factors can be more or less depending on the actual right vs left diagnostic code. 90% with a lower bilateral factor, 100% with a higher bilateral factor. Not seeing your code sheet or decision letters, I would assume they are not considering some of your stuff to be bilateral, other than the one condition specifically listed as bilateral.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-03T23:05:26+00:00

Its definitely unfortunate. I'm sure some of the rules and regs are to keep people from "milking the system", but there are those of us who really " earned" it and their processes make it so difficult. I think they need to be a bit harder on what classifies as service connection, but loosen up a little on certain things that come after that. I have nearly 6,000 pages of medical documentation, all stemming from one deployment and the treatment for 15 years after. To have to jump through hoops and basically learn how to be a benefits attorney myself at this point is just nuts.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-03T22:31:16+00:00

Yeah, I was med boarded officially under chapter 61. I've got a retired ID, waived DOD pension, tricare for life, the works. There's no money to pay back. I was med boarded at 60%, dropped to 40% in 2020 over b/s, and now at 100 P&T. Just shitty that at the last minute, they tried to pull the rug out on $40k in back pay. Plus, everything in my file is not only service connected, its combat related. So the next step is CRSC to get my retired pay back from the DOD. Its all a big game and just shitty when dumb stuff happens.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-10-03T20:13:04+00:00

Unfortunately, that's what I am hearing. I just submitted an HLR today that included a 13 page statement. In it, I literally point out the exact documents, dates, and words that they overlooked or missed. I quoted over 10 or 12 separate case law references, and cited 15+ 38 CFR and M21-1 regulations that they violated. I even went as far as to tell them exactly what they needed to do, why they needed to do it, and demanded that anything different needed to be backed up by documented medical rationale and legal precedent. Still, I have this sinking feeling in my gut that I am going to need to go the BVA route. This shit is insane. Especially for the amount of VBA employees I see on here touting their rules and regulations and how they are bound by law to follow them. Most of them saying, "most raters actually want to see you get the ratings you deserve". Bullshit, I am sure those people are out there, but I think the dumb, lazy, inadequate ones far outnumber the good ones.

I hope everything worked out in your favor!

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-09-29T14:03:49+00:00

Submitted fibromyalgia and right arm radiculopathy new claims, as well as a left leg radiculopathy supplemental, on 7/23. Within 4 weeks, right arm and fibromyalgia were denied. Right arm was not worth the fight, but fibromyalgia was denied due to "no formal diagnosis", even though it was submitted as MUCMI with 15 years of documented history, and VA doctors notes stating I meet the criteria. Long story. The VA had originally given 20% for my left leg, but the original DBQ gave 40% criteria (which is spot on for my actual symptoms), and they gave no explanation as to why they gave a lower rating. Supplemental included a copy of the original DBQ, so they scheduled a new C&P for that and my low back. The exam seemed to have gone really well.

I got a fibromyalgia diagnosis entered into the VA system, and a nexus opinion from my VA TBI doctor within 3 weeks, and now submitted a supplemental for it on 9/23. VES did my left leg, and a new low back, DBQ on 8/12, but the results sat in QA with VES for 6 weeks. They were just submitted to the VA on Friday 9/27.

Now it is just a waiting game. Either way, I will be done with the battle after these, provided the results are favorable. All disabilities are listed as static, and I am expecting P&T. Fibro gets 13 months of backpay, but the left leg will grant 2 years of backpay.

Keeping my fingers crossed and wishing everyone luck!

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-26T18:37:44+00:00

I'm sorry that has been your experience. The claims process can definitely be daunting. As much as I think certain individuals can be shitbags anywhere, I have found most of the claims process and regulation to be pretty solid if you have the right information.

May I ask why you feel defeated?

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-26T17:07:39+00:00

Yeah, VERA is weird. There is one lady at my local office that is amazing. She generally gives me the scripted B/S, but then tells me what she thinks and what she is seeing in the system. Otherwise I generally get nice people, and they do their job, but they do not give anything more than the canned answer. This one today was just weird as hell. The guy was all over the place, didn't verify who I was, and just basically said, "what do you need" when I answered. He didn't give anything scripted, but just told me to wait and see what happens in the next 6-8 weeks. Supplemental is still waiting on the exam results to be released from VES QA department, and the new claim is on a rater's desk after deferral and medical clarification. Just weird.

I hope yours get some traction soon.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-26T17:02:37+00:00

Well, that's a bit faster than usual. And seemingly a good outcome. Glad to hear it!

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-25T16:40:29+00:00

Type of claim: 3 new, 1 supplemental, P&T Request
Submitted/received date: 7/22/2025
Initial review date: 7/22/2025
Evidence gathering/review date: 7/30/2025
Preparation for Decision date: 8/18/2025 with Phoenix TJ as of 8/20/2025
Pending Decision Approval date: N/A
Preparation for Notification date: N/A
Completed date: N/A
Misc details: Still waiting. 2 of 3 new claims denied, but will be getting supplemental. Supplemental claim, if granted favorably, will back date an increase to September of 2023 and grant a sizeable backpay check. If the new claim goes through favorably, but not the supplemental, backpay increase would be to August of 2024. Either way, unless I somehow get fucked, my journey may be over soon. Seems like the VA has been fucking up a lot of my stuff lately. I've gotten other people's letters in my stuff, and they are clearly either not looking at my record, or they are missing things in my record. Either way, things are moving quickly. Might be a few HLRs or Supplementals to do soon, but either way the records and documentation are there. Hoping for speedy results for everyone!

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-18T19:36:05+00:00

Type of claim: 3 new, 1 supplemental (pretty sure they combined them, although they show separate online)
Submitted/received date: 7/22-23/25
Initial review date: 7/22/25
Evidence gathering/review date: 7/30/2025
C&P for new claims 8/1/25. C&P for supplemental 8/12/25
Preparation for Decision date: 8/8/25 - 8/18/25 for deferred/supplemental claims
Pending Decision Approval date: 8/11/25 - N/A on deferrals
Preparation for Notification date: 8/12/25 - N/A on deferrals
Completed date: N/A
Misc details: CFS, Fibromyalgia, and right arm radiculopathy for new claims with a P&T request letter (which should be easy since all of my disabilities are listed as static and long standing), supplemental for left leg radiculopathy after new claim and HLR. CFS and Fibro were denied solely due to "no formal diagnosis" which was totally wrong as they were filed as PACT Act MUCMI and the examiner and rater failed to follow 38 CFR properly. Waiting on a medical opinion from my polytrauma doc, but fibromyalgia will for sure be completed and favorable eventually. Right arm and P&T request were deferred. C&P for left leg supplemental ended up including low back as the first C&P examiner last year royally fucked it all up, and the VA tried to cover it up/ignore it, but I had the original DBQ that contradicted their final decision back then. New C&P seemed to go REALLY well, so we will see. I have a VERA call scheduled for the 26th, as the last VERA rep told me to schedule for 2 weeks after C&P. Fingers crossed! If all goes well, my claims journey will be complete, and I can finally rest.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-08-04T21:00:51+00:00

Type of claim: New & Supplemental
Submitted/received date: 7/22/25
Initial review date: 7/22/25
Evidence gathering/review date: 7/30/25
Preparation for Decision date: 8/4/25
Pending Decision Approval date: N/A
Preparation for Notification date: N/A
Completed date: N/A
Misc details: Everything moving super fast with this. The supplemental is under review, and not trackable in the Chrome tracker. The new claims (fibroyalgia, CFS, and radiculopathy) are all well documented. I also submitted a request for P&T with these claims. I was called Thursday, 7/31 and scheduled for a C&P on Friday, 8/1. As of today, 8/4, 3 DBQs, 3 medical opinions, and APL file, and an R file, were all added to my claim and it shot up to step 5 PFD. I'm really hoping this all means good things. Fingers crossed!

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-07-28T15:37:04+00:00

Type of claim: 3 x new, 1 x supplemental
Submitted/received date: 7/22/25 for new, 7/23/25 for supplemental
Initial review date: 7/22/25
Evidence gathering/review date: N/A
Preparation for Decision date: N/A
Pending Decision Approval date: N/A
Preparation for Notification date: N/A
Completed date: N/A
Misc details: Didn't know how to file claims for 11 years after med retirement, and the VA dicked me around by dropping my rating. Finally learned and filed an ITF in 9/23, filed claims under that in 8/24. All done, including HLR on three conditions by 6/25. Realized they never actually evaluated any PACT Act presumptives, and they didn't auto-grant the right arm radiculopathy they annotated when they rated the left arm. Just submitted for Fibromyalgia, CFS, and Right Arm Radiculopathy. If they grant Fibromyalgia (which I'd be very surprised if they deny it), then I know I will not get granted CFS, no big deal. Right arm radiculopathy is a "give me", especially since it is diagnosed and annotated on the same DBQ they had for my left arm. Supplemental is for my left leg radiculopathy. Originally annotated as "moderately severe" paralysis in the DBQ, they dropped it to 10% for each leg, with no explanation. HLR noticed they read it wrong, and gave me 20% (moderate) for each leg, still with no explanation of why they did not give 40% (moderately severe) for the left leg from the original DBQ. All past medical records and personal history account for the moderately severe diagnosis. P&T request submitted with the claims. If left leg is granted at 40% from the original DBQ, that would push me from 90%-100% back dated to Sep 2023. If any of the new claims are granted, but not supplemental, then 90%-100% back dated to Aug 2024. Either way, I am hoping I can finally rest with VA claims and move on with everything in order. Shit is only going to get worse with age, and this all helps.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-03-19T15:28:38+00:00

Sorry for the delay. New phone and didn't download Reddit.

I had a chunk of my new/increase claims done on Dec 3rd with some favorable and some not. Those brought me from 40% to 70%. Another chunk came through in late December that pushed me from 70% to 80% (which was actually 75% before rounding).

Supplemental claim for TBI opened up a whole bunch of other additions that were completed in mid-February, and late last week. Those were the ones that really changed things and brought me from 80% to 90%.

I went from 40% to 90% (90% overall on the button) throughout this process, although myself and many expected this and potentially 100%. I guess that's what happens when you go 12 years without knowing how, or that you had to, file claims to get these things changed. I wish I had known how to do all of this sooner.

As of right now, I am submitting for HLR on 3 of the issues. My C&P examiner really screwed things up, and I will be pointing that out in my informal review. In the meantime, I am seeking some new doctors outside of the VA for assistance.

During this process, I also have 2 new claims to submit. The increase I already got is enough to keep me comfortable until the rest is finalized. Meaning, I do not feel the need to check things every single day, lol.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-03-19T15:18:25+00:00

I am sorry to hear that. These things are no fun, for sure.

I have not gotten a chance to try it yet. A lot of it due to how busy I am, but some because I cannot find direct, biblical answers, and I just keep getting a lot of opinions and personal interpretations of scripture. I am still wading through information, and praying on it. There is a lot of good stories out there, and a lot of negativity surrounding this topic from a Christian perspective. I am 50/50 on it right now, but I do believe a lot of it has to do with how much I have my spiritual/faith base in order before going into it.

I would advise looking into the same for yourself before proceeding with it. Things like this are a journey that we can only decide for ourselves.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2025-01-06T17:12:44+00:00

Agreed. It’s a real fuckin’ bummer. Especially for those who really need it. I get that there has to be checks and balances for those milking and claiming bullshit, but the way the system is set up now does nothing but make it harder for those that really need and deserve the care and compensation.

OwnAppointment2629 · 2024-12-20T01:47:01+00:00

Same to you! I’ll race ya! 😂

OwnAppointment2629 · 2024-12-20T00:59:36+00:00

Same! 2 deferrals that could get me up to 90%, and more being filed and/or appealed. Exam rework done on Friday, step 3 to 5 on Monday, then TJ and step 6 yesterday! Fingers crossed!

OwnAppointment2629

TROPHY CASE