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Military Retirement and VA Disability Coordinator

Military retirees who also receive VA disability compensation may be entitled to both in full under CRDP or CRSC. Many veterans have lived with a reduced retirement check for years without knowing they had options. This tool explains which program applies to your situation.

What you get

Plain-English explanation of how CRDP and CRSC restore retirement pay offset by VA disability compensation
Assessment of which program you likely qualify for based on your service history and VA rating
Step-by-step CRSC application instructions with branch-specific mailing addresses
Guidance on the annual January open season for switching between CRDP and CRSC
Explanation of the tax difference between CRDP and CRSC and which may benefit you more

Who this is for

Military retirees who receive both military retirement pay and VA disability compensation and want to understand whether they are receiving full concurrent receipt benefits.

Common situations this tool handles

You retired after 22 years and have a 60% VA disability rating but your retirement check is reduced by your VA compensation amount.
You have combat-related disabilities from a deployment and want to know if CRSC would pay you more than CRDP.
You applied for CRSC three years ago and were denied. Your VA rating has increased since then and you want to know if you can reapply.

What your analysis looks like

Sample analysis for illustration. Your output will reflect your specific document and situation.

UNDERSTANDING THE OFFSET

Before 2004, military retirees could not receive both their full retirement pay and their full VA disability compensation at the same time. Every dollar of VA compensation reduced retirement pay by a dollar. Congress fixed this with two programs: CRDP and CRSC. Today, more than 375,000 retirees receive concurrent receipt benefits.

CRDP -- YOUR SITUATION

Based on your 22 years of service and 60% VA rating, you appear to qualify for CRDP. CRDP should have been applied automatically by DFAS since 2014. If your retirement check is still being reduced, call DFAS at 800-321-1080 immediately to verify your account status.

CRSC -- SHOULD YOU CONSIDER IT

[HIGH PRIORITY]If any of your service-connected disabilities are combat-related, CRSC may pay you more than CRDP and is tax-free. You must apply -- it is not automatic. File DD Form 2860 with your branch CRSC board.

[Full CRDP vs CRSC comparison and application instructions follow...]

See your full analysis

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Questions about this tool

Do I need to apply for CRDP?

No. CRDP is applied automatically by DFAS if you qualify. You must have 20 or more years of service and a VA disability rating of 50% or higher. If you believe you qualify but are not receiving it, call DFAS at 800-321-1080.

Can I receive both CRDP and CRSC at the same time?

No. You can only receive one at a time. DFAS automatically pays whichever is higher. You can elect to switch during the annual January open season by contacting DFAS.

What counts as a combat-related disability for CRSC?

Combat-related disabilities include injuries from actual combat, hazardous military duty such as parachute jumps, flight operations, diving, and demolitions, training for combat, and injuries caused by military equipment or weapons known as instrumentalities of war. Your branch of service makes this determination when you apply using DD Form 2860.

How it works

Upload your document. Photo or PDF of your medical bill, EOB, denial letter, or COBRA notice. No account needed to start.
We review it. Bill Advantage reviews your document against healthcare billing rules, insurance regulations, and common error patterns, reflecting the knowledge of healthcare billing professionals, encoded into a system that works in minutes, not days.
You get answers. Receive a plain-English explanation of exactly what happened and why. For most tools, a ready-to-send dispute or appeal letter is included. Save results to your Healthcare Finance Tracker, set reminders for follow-up deadlines, and build a complete record of your healthcare finances over time.

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