Source: Bruce G. Nitsche, Veterans Liaison to the Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs

1. Concurrent Receipt (for qualifying retirees with disabilities rated 50 percent and higher): The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will begin payments on February 1 for all retirees who were previously entitled to Special Compensation for the Severely Disabled (SCSD, or "old" special compensation). These retirees are already identified, and will only need an adjustment in their level of compensation. However, other retirees eligible for concurrent receipt payments may face a delay of several months as VA and DoD develop the requisite programming to implement the phase-in. When the payments start, they will be retroactive to January 1.

2. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC): DoD has not yet released guidance for the processing of applications under the expanded CRSC rules, but expect further clarification sometime this month. Those who are newly eligible should begin to compile specific documentation on how their disabilities are related to combat, military training operations, or "instrumentalities of war" (Agent Orange, etc.)-including VA Rating Decisions, VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) Code sheets, military medical records, a copy of your DD 214's, and supporting documentation such as Purple Heart award citations.

Certain retirees who were previously denied CRSC will not have to re-apply. The Services have kept track of those servicemembers who were awarded CRSC ratings of less than 60 percent, and these applicants should automatically be issued the special pay. Most reservists who previously applied and were denied because they lacked 7200 points will not have to re-apply. The Army and the Air Force have retained these applications; however, the Navy did not retain those from applicants who applied early in the process. Consequently, Navy and Marine Corps reservists will need to re-apply when the new guidance and application are released. Current applicants who have not yet received their determinations are urged to be patient, as the Services are working as quickly as they can to process incoming requests.

If an application has lingered for longer than six months, the Services have set up procedures to check the status:

Navy/Marine Corps:

Send a written request to:

Department of the Navy
Naval Council of Personnel Boards
Combat Related Special Compensation Branch
720 Kennon St. SE Suite 309

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5023 NOTE: Although status requests will be answered, please bear in mind that time spent answering inquiries decreases the man-hours available for processing applications.

Army: Call 1-866-281-3254 for status.

Air Force: Visit the CRSC page at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/disability/CRSC/CRSCnew.htm to check dates (currently, they are processing applications received between July 12 and September 15).