COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION What is Combat-Related Special Compensation? Who is eligible for CRSC?

COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION
What is Combat-Related
Special Compensation?
Department of Defense
(DoD) retirees who receive
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) disability payments
have their retired pay “offset”
(reduced) by the amount
of VA pay. Combat-Related
Special Compensation (CRSC)
is monthly compensation that
replaces the VA disability
offset for those retirees with
a combat-related disability.
CRSC is NOT subject to either
taxation or division with a
former spouse (but can be
garnished).
Who is eligible for CRSC?
CRSC may be awarded to military retirees, including
medical retirees with a DoD disability rating of 30%
or greater. If the retiree has been awarded a VA
disability rating between 10% and 100% and believes
the VA-rated medical condition(s) were caused by a
combat-related event, an application for CRSC may
be appropriate. Applicants may apply for CRSC under
one of four categories: 1) Direct result of Armed
Conflict (AC), 2) while engaged in Hazardous Service
(HS), 3) in the performance of duty under conditions
Simulating War (SW) and 4) disabilities resulting from
the operation of an Instrumentality of War (IN).
• Armed Conflict (AC) – Armed Conflict includes
war, expedition, occupation of an area or territory,
battle, skirmish, raid, invasion, rebellion,
insurrection, guerrilla action, riot or any other
action in which service members are engaged with
a hostile or belligerent nation, faction, force, or
terrorists.
• Hazardous Service (HS) – Such service includes
aerial flight, parachute duty, demolition duty,
experimental stress duty, and diving duty. The
injury or disease must be the direct result of
actions taken in the performance of such service.
• Conditions Simulating War (SW) – This covers
disabilities resulting from military training, such
as war games, practice alerts,
tactical exercises, airborne
operations, leadership reaction
courses, grenade and live fire
weapons practice, bayonet
training, hand-to-hand
combat training, rappelling
and negotiation of combat
confidence and obstacle
courses.
• An Instrumentality of
War (IN) – An instrumentality
of war is a vehicle, vessel, or
device designated primarily for
military service and intended for
use in such service at the time
of the occurrence or injury.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any other criteria for
approval?
In order for a CRSC claim to be approved,
there MUST be a direct causal relationship
between the armed conflict, hazardous
service, training exercise or instrumentality
of war and the resulting disability. The CRSC
board ONLY considers VA-rated serviceconnected disabilities.
How do you apply for CRSC?
Applications are made using form DD-2860
(dated Jan 2008 or beyond) (http://www.
dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/
eforms/dd2860.pdf).
What information needs to
accompany the application?
1. All DD214s and DD215s (especially if for
retirement or showing combat ribbons).
2. Retirement orders and supporting
documents.
3. Reserve Retirement point computation
including any 15-year or 20-year letter (if
applicable).
4. Copies of all VA Rating Decisions, letters,
and code sheets (current and prior). Do
NOT remove any pages. All VA documents
discussing changes in benefits including
Special Monthly Compensation (SCM)
and/or Individual Unemployability (IU).
5. Medical records or notes that verify how
the injury/disability occurred. (Do NOT
send EKGs, lab slips, CDs, diskettes or
other electronic media.)
6. Physical Evaluation Board (MEB-PEB)
results and/or summaries.
7. Any evidence which can be used to verify
the events or circumstances.
How is the decision made?
A combat-related determination is made by
the Department of Navy CRSC Board for each
disability claimed. The CRSC Board considers
evidence on the cause of the disability/injury.
The “burden of proof” is on the claimant.
How do I find out if I qualify?
Approval letters are sent to the retiree and
Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Denial letters are only sent to the claimant.
What if I disagree with the decision?
Reconsiderations are accepted if new
documentary evidence as to the cause of
the disability is provided or for any new
disabilities rated by the VA. Appeal authority
for CRSC is the Board for Correction of Naval
Records.
How much can I get under CRSC?
CRSC is calculated by DFAS using the
PEB, VA and CRSC percentages. CRSC pay
cannot exceed years of service retirement,
but can be less. Go to http://www.dfas.
mil/militarymembers/woundedwarrior/
disabledretireest.htm for approximate CRSC
pay.
Where do I get more information?
http://www.donhq.navy.mil/corb/crscb/
crscmainpage.htm
THE WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT
The Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) stood up in April 2007 and immediately began to assume responsibilities for non-medical
wounded warrior care. The mission of the WWR is to provide and facilitate assistance to wounded, ill and injured (WII) Marines,
sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units, and their family members, throughout the phases of recovery. The Regimental
Headquarters element, located in Quantico, Va., coordinates the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp
Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Regimental Headquarters provides unity of command and unity of effort through a
single Commander who provides guidance, direction, and oversight to the Marine Corps WII non-medical care process and ensures
continuous improvements to care management and the seamless transition of recovering Marines.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT
ETIAM IN PUGNA “STILL IN THE FIGHT”
www.woundedwarriorregiment.org • 877.487.6299 •
0912EXTLCRSC