Simply put Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) provides military retirees a monthly compensation that replaces their VA disability offset. This means that qualified military retirees with 20 or more years of service that have "combat related" VA-rated disability will no longer have their military retirement pay reduced by the amount of their VA disability compensation. Instead they will receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation.

The 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, Combat Related Special Compensation was expanded to include disabilities incurred as a direct result of:

• Armed Conflict
• Hazardous Duty
• Conditions Simulating War
• An Instrumentality of War

Unlike concurrent receipt, CRSC will not be phased in over ten years. Once a military retiree has been determined to be qualified they will receive their regular retirement pay plus an additional sum based on their VA disability rating.

Note: CRSC is relatively new legislation, and was recently revised. Many of the policies and procedures are left to the discretion of the parent military branch, and are subject to change in the coming months.

Eligibility: With the inception of the CRSC program on June 1, 2003, the following eligibility requirements were established:

• Retirees had to apply to their respective branch of service to be approved for CRSC.
• Retirees had to be in receipt of VA compensation.
• Retirees had to be in receipt of military retired pay or be in a suspended pay status due to receipt of VA compensation.
• Retirees had to have an approved combat-related VA disability rating of 60% or greater.
• Retirees having an approved combat-related disability associated with a Purple Heart had to have a rating of 10% or greater.
• Retirees had to have 20 years of active service or, for reservists, 7,200 reserve points in order to be eligible.

Effective January 1, 2004, CRSC eligibility was extended to retirees with combat-related VA disability ratings between 10% and 50%.

Additionally, reservists needed only 20 years of qualifying service (supported by documentation from the applicable branch of service such as a 20-year letter, retirement orders or a statement of service) in order to be eligible.

Please note that qualified reservists will not receive CRSC until they begin to receive retired pay at age 60.

Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirees are not eligible to receive CRSC unless they have returned to active duty and accumulated enough service time to meet the 20-year requirement before retiring for the second time.

Click here for the exact wording of this new law.

The Value of the CRSC Benefit:
Starting in January of 2004 "qualified retiree's" monthly retirement checks will increase. The following table shows a sampling of how much extra you may get each month based on your VA disability rating.

The Application Process: To receive Combat Related Special Compensation you must submit your application (DD form 2860), through your parent military service branch. Each service branch has the authority to determine your eligibility.

For more information on how to apply contact your parent military service branch:

ARMY:
Department of the Army
U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency
Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22332-0470
Toll-free: (866) 281-3254
Hours: 8am - 8pm EST
E-mail your questions to:
CRSC.info@us.army.mil
Or visit: http://www.crsc.army.mil

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS:
Department of Navy Naval Council of Personnel Boards
Combat-Related Special Compensation Branch
720 Kennon Street S.E., Suite 309
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5023
(Toll free 1-877-366-2772)

AIR FORCE: United States Air Force Personnel Center
Disability Division (CRSC)
550 C Street West, Suite 6
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4708
(Toll Free 1-866-229-7074)

COAST GUARD:
Commanding Officer (RAS)
U. S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center
444 SE Quincy St.
Topeka, KS 66683-3591
(toll-free at 1-800-772-8724)