Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

I’d like to be clear on this. Can a military retiree get three checks?

Yes, you could get three checks:

CRSC (Combat related) reimbursement pay from the branch of service (Tax free).
Retirement pay less the CRSC amount (Taxable)
VA compensation (Tax free)

The issue is you cannot get the same dollar from both Concurrent pay and from combat related pay.

So, take a 20 year retiree with presumptive sinusitis (Afghanistan) at 50%.

She gets $2,500 from DoD retirement.

She gets $958.44 for the 50% from her branch of service based on the 50% VA at that level. (No dependents to make it simple)

She gets an overall 90% from the VA. $1,998.52 (Again, no dependents)

The calculations are thus (and again, 20 year retiree with 50% or more from the VA to make it simple) :

VA pay=$1,998.52

Army pays $958.44 (VA rate for 50%)

DFAS pay = $1541.56 ($2500-$958.44)

So, she gets three checks. One from the VA, one from the Army and one from DFAS.

Overall, the retirement pay adds up to the same amount just from different sources.

https://cck-law.com/blog/can-you-receive-va-disability-and-military-retirement-pay

NOTE: If your VA Rating for the condition you are receiving CRSC for increases, re-file with your branch of service and include the new VA rating decision.

Combat Related Special Monthly Compensation (CRSC)

You may be eligible to apply for CRSC if all of these are 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

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)

Fill out a Claim for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) (DD Form 2860).

COPIES of Evidence and other documents you’ll need to provide:

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

• Service Treatment 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 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). Orders to a presumptive area.

• Decorations and award recommendations. These include Purple Heart citations, Combat Action Badges, medals, and decorations for valor.