The following information comes from the 9th issue of the DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter which I got via email yesterday.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) have finalized the plans to provide eligible retirees with their “complete” DoD military retirement entitlement to Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and/or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and /or DVA disability compensation entitlement. Potential retroactive pay is due for more than 100,000 retiree accounts.
Individual amounts will vary based on differences in disability amount as well as the length of retroactive period. Retirees entitled to additional money from DFAS will receive notification by mail of the amount and a schedule of payment.
CRSC, which became effective in June 2003, provides non-taxable benefits to veterans who are disabled as a result of a combat injury. CRDP, effective in January 2004, provides taxable income to veterans who have become disabled while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (not necessarily in combat). Surviving spouses or deceased retirees’ estates may also receive compensation.
The DFAS began initial payments in September 2006 and the DVA plans to begin payments in October 2006.
Individuals receiving a retroactive payment are those who are currently in receipt of either CRSC or CRDP and who have received an increase in DVA compensation since June 2003 for CSRC or January 2004 for CRDP, which was not offset from the retired pay entitlement on a current basis.
Completion of the majority of payments is expected within six months, and it could take up to six more months to calculate and pay the most complex retroactive pay accounts. The majority of payments are being made utilizing a manual process. Complex accounts involve multiple DVA rating adjustments since CRSC and CRDP began, shifts by retirees between these two types of payments, ex-spouse pay entitlements and any other issues that require lengthy record searches. DFAS plans on paying the accounts with the oldest retroactive dates first. In some instances, recipients may be entitled to additional compensation from the DVA. In such instances, the DVA is responsible for the payments and will notify the affected retirees.
The DFAS has established a toll free line that is operational from 8:00 to 4:30 (Eastern), Monday through Friday to address questions from CRSC and CRDP recipients who believe they might qualify. The toll free number is 1-877-327-4457.
QUICK FACTS
To be eligible, you must:
Ø Be a military retiree (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps)
Ø Meet all the requirements for either CRSC or CRDP eligibility
Ø Have received payment(s) of either CRSC on or after June 1, 2003; and/or
CRDP on or after January 1, 2004
Ø Awarded one or more increase in your percentage of disability by the VA on or after June 1, 2003
What will happen?
Ø Retirees need take no action to claim any funds.
Ø The DFAS and DVA will use existing records to identify recipients.
Ø Recipients will be notified by letter of additional funds due.
Ø Retirees may be eligible for payment from the DFAS as a restoration of retired pay or from DVA as a part of disability compensation.
Ø In cases where retirees are due money from the DFAS and DVA, DFAS will provide information to DVA as needed. Retirees need take no action.
When things will happen:
Ø The first DFAS retroactive payments were made in September 2006.
Ø The payment process could take up to a year, due to the large number of cases.
Ø Once all eligible retirees have been identified, a general schedule will be published on the DFAS web site.
Ø All retirees who may be eligible for additional money are expected to be identified by October 1, 2006.
VA RETRO AWARD FAQ’s
What do I need to do to receive my money? You do not have to do anything - no application is required. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is providing the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) with eligible retirees’ Social Security Numbers (SSN’s). Both organizations are working together to provide eligible retirees with their full entitlements to both DVA compensation and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP).
When will I receive my payment? The DFAS is planning to pay the accounts with the oldest retroactive award dates first. We ask that you be patient with us during this time as the payments are calculated utilizing a manual process. The DFAS has however developed some automated tools to assist in computing the payment. Every effort is being made to pay as many accounts as rapidly as possible without sacrificing correctness. A letter will be sent out shortly before any payment is released.
Who will pay me the money I am owed? Any monies owed may be paid by either DVA or the DFAS depending on account specific calculations. Retirees may be eligible for payment from the DFAS as a restoration of retired pay and/or from DVA as a part of disability compensation. The letter you will receive will indicate which agency will be making the payment.
I am rated at 100% due to individual unemployability. Am I eligible for a retroactive payment? You can only receive a payment for 100% with individual unemployability if the award is applied retroactively by the DVA.
I disagree with my rating. What should I do? Disability percentages do not come from the DFAS. Disagreements in disability percentages should be directed to the DVA. You can contact the DVA by calling toll free 1-800-827-1000.
How do I contact the DVA for the money they owe me? Questions regarding any monies due to you from the DVA can be directed to their toll free number (listed in the answer of FAQ #5).
I received a letter in the mail from the DFAS but I never received the payment. What do I do now? If the letter indicated the payment was from the DVA, contact them by calling their toll free number. If the payment was from the DFAS, your payment was sent to the same address designated for your regular monthly payments. If your payment is delivered via electronic fund transfer (EFT) and it has not posted to your financial institution contact the DFAS telephone number contained in the letter you received. If your regular monthly payments are delivered via hard copy checks, please allow for mail times. If it has been at least 10 days since you received your letter and you still do not have your paper check follow the non-receipt procedures below:
· Write a letter including name, SSN, address, missing payment type, date and amount
· Fax the letter to (216) 522-5898 or mail to:
DFAS Cleveland
Attn: Non-Receipt Department
P.O. Box 998005
Cleveland, OH 44199
Is the retroactive payment taxable? Only payments made by the DFAS for CRDP are taxed. They will be taxed at the same rate as your normal monthly payment. If the VA retro payment was made by the DVA, please contact them using their toll free number for taxability information.
Will I receive a separate 1099R for this payment? No. If your payment was issued by the DFAS for an increase in CRDP as a result of a retro DVA award, the DFAS is responsible for withholding and reporting taxes on a Form 1099R. The taxable income will be included in your annual 1099R. If your payment is issued by the DVA, DFAS is not responsible for any tax reporting and will not issue an additional or revised Form 1099R.
Is the retroactive VA award pay subject to garnishment, former spouse, etc? If you receive CRSC, you are subject to alimony and child support. Since CRDP is a restoration of retired pay, the same rules that would apply to your retired pay would also apply here.
How can I contact the DFAS if I have questions? The DFAS has established a toll free line, which is operational from 8:00 to 4:30 (Eastern), Monday through Friday to answer questions from CRSC and CRDP recipients who believe they may qualify. The toll free number is 1-877-327-4457.
Betrayed
540% SC Schedular P&T
LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THE VA WILL MEET THEM !!!
These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.
Service Connection
Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected.
Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.
Effective Dates
Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.
I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did. He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims. He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file. It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to 1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015. It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me. He didn't want my copies. Anyone have any information on this. Much thanks in advance.
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
Question
betrayed
The following information comes from the 9th issue of the DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter which I got via email yesterday.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) have finalized the plans to provide eligible retirees with their “complete” DoD military retirement entitlement to Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and/or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and /or DVA disability compensation entitlement. Potential retroactive pay is due for more than 100,000 retiree accounts.
Individual amounts will vary based on differences in disability amount as well as the length of retroactive period. Retirees entitled to additional money from DFAS will receive notification by mail of the amount and a schedule of payment.
CRSC, which became effective in June 2003, provides non-taxable benefits to veterans who are disabled as a result of a combat injury. CRDP, effective in January 2004, provides taxable income to veterans who have become disabled while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (not necessarily in combat). Surviving spouses or deceased retirees’ estates may also receive compensation.
The DFAS began initial payments in September 2006 and the DVA plans to begin payments in October 2006.
Individuals receiving a retroactive payment are those who are currently in receipt of either CRSC or CRDP and who have received an increase in DVA compensation since June 2003 for CSRC or January 2004 for CRDP, which was not offset from the retired pay entitlement on a current basis.
Completion of the majority of payments is expected within six months, and it could take up to six more months to calculate and pay the most complex retroactive pay accounts. The majority of payments are being made utilizing a manual process. Complex accounts involve multiple DVA rating adjustments since CRSC and CRDP began, shifts by retirees between these two types of payments, ex-spouse pay entitlements and any other issues that require lengthy record searches. DFAS plans on paying the accounts with the oldest retroactive dates first. In some instances, recipients may be entitled to additional compensation from the DVA. In such instances, the DVA is responsible for the payments and will notify the affected retirees.
The DFAS has established a toll free line that is operational from 8:00 to 4:30 (Eastern), Monday through Friday to address questions from CRSC and CRDP recipients who believe they might qualify. The toll free number is 1-877-327-4457.
QUICK FACTS
To be eligible, you must:
Ø Be a military retiree (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps)
Ø Meet all the requirements for either CRSC or CRDP eligibility
Ø Have received payment(s) of either CRSC on or after June 1, 2003; and/or
CRDP on or after January 1, 2004
Ø Awarded one or more increase in your percentage of disability by the VA on or after June 1, 2003
What will happen?
Ø Retirees need take no action to claim any funds.
Ø The DFAS and DVA will use existing records to identify recipients.
Ø Recipients will be notified by letter of additional funds due.
Ø Retirees may be eligible for payment from the DFAS as a restoration of retired pay or from DVA as a part of disability compensation.
Ø In cases where retirees are due money from the DFAS and DVA, DFAS will provide information to DVA as needed. Retirees need take no action.
When things will happen:
Ø The first DFAS retroactive payments were made in September 2006.
Ø The payment process could take up to a year, due to the large number of cases.
Ø Once all eligible retirees have been identified, a general schedule will be published on the DFAS web site.
Ø All retirees who may be eligible for additional money are expected to be identified by October 1, 2006.
VA RETRO AWARD FAQ’s
What do I need to do to receive my money? You do not have to do anything - no application is required. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is providing the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) with eligible retirees’ Social Security Numbers (SSN’s). Both organizations are working together to provide eligible retirees with their full entitlements to both DVA compensation and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP).
When will I receive my payment? The DFAS is planning to pay the accounts with the oldest retroactive award dates first. We ask that you be patient with us during this time as the payments are calculated utilizing a manual process. The DFAS has however developed some automated tools to assist in computing the payment. Every effort is being made to pay as many accounts as rapidly as possible without sacrificing correctness. A letter will be sent out shortly before any payment is released.
Who will pay me the money I am owed? Any monies owed may be paid by either DVA or the DFAS depending on account specific calculations. Retirees may be eligible for payment from the DFAS as a restoration of retired pay and/or from DVA as a part of disability compensation. The letter you will receive will indicate which agency will be making the payment.
I am rated at 100% due to individual unemployability. Am I eligible for a retroactive payment? You can only receive a payment for 100% with individual unemployability if the award is applied retroactively by the DVA.
I disagree with my rating. What should I do? Disability percentages do not come from the DFAS. Disagreements in disability percentages should be directed to the DVA. You can contact the DVA by calling toll free 1-800-827-1000.
How do I contact the DVA for the money they owe me? Questions regarding any monies due to you from the DVA can be directed to their toll free number (listed in the answer of FAQ #5).
I received a letter in the mail from the DFAS but I never received the payment. What do I do now? If the letter indicated the payment was from the DVA, contact them by calling their toll free number. If the payment was from the DFAS, your payment was sent to the same address designated for your regular monthly payments. If your payment is delivered via electronic fund transfer (EFT) and it has not posted to your financial institution contact the DFAS telephone number contained in the letter you received. If your regular monthly payments are delivered via hard copy checks, please allow for mail times. If it has been at least 10 days since you received your letter and you still do not have your paper check follow the non-receipt procedures below:
· Write a letter including name, SSN, address, missing payment type, date and amount
· Fax the letter to (216) 522-5898 or mail to:
DFAS Cleveland
Attn: Non-Receipt Department
P.O. Box 998005
Cleveland, OH 44199
Is the retroactive payment taxable? Only payments made by the DFAS for CRDP are taxed. They will be taxed at the same rate as your normal monthly payment. If the VA retro payment was made by the DVA, please contact them using their toll free number for taxability information.
Will I receive a separate 1099R for this payment? No. If your payment was issued by the DFAS for an increase in CRDP as a result of a retro DVA award, the DFAS is responsible for withholding and reporting taxes on a Form 1099R. The taxable income will be included in your annual 1099R. If your payment is issued by the DVA, DFAS is not responsible for any tax reporting and will not issue an additional or revised Form 1099R.
Is the retroactive VA award pay subject to garnishment, former spouse, etc? If you receive CRSC, you are subject to alimony and child support. Since CRDP is a restoration of retired pay, the same rules that would apply to your retired pay would also apply here.
How can I contact the DFAS if I have questions? The DFAS has established a toll free line, which is operational from 8:00 to 4:30 (Eastern), Monday through Friday to answer questions from CRSC and CRDP recipients who believe they may qualify. The toll free number is 1-877-327-4457.
Betrayed
540% SC Schedular P&T
LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THE VA WILL MEET THEM !!!
WEBMASTER BETRAYEDVETERAN.COM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You hit the street, you feel them staring you know they hate you you can feel their eyes a glarin'
Because you're different, because you're free, because you're everything deep down they wish they could be.
Top Posters For This Question
1
Popular Days
Sep 30
1
Top Posters For This Question
betrayed 1 post
Popular Days
Sep 30 2006
1 post
0 answers to this question
Recommended Posts