Posted on Sep 22, 2015
CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
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My question actually is "what's the process for RC medical retirements?" I have been dealing with multiple service connected injuries for a long time. I have a 100% VA rating and am drawing Social Security disability. I've been in the Army and Army Reserve for over 36 years. My permanent profile is set to expire next year and I will be facing another PEB (medical board), which may result in my removal from service. I've been trying to research medical retirements but this is like opening Pandora's Box. I did find a couple things that may be useful to other members here who may be in similar situation as mine or may have already been removed and feel it was unjust. Here's some links to the info I found (the second link is for appealing older medical retirement decisions): http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/133218p.pdf and http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/604044p.pdf
Edited >1 y ago
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret), you request Medical Retirement as part of the PEB/MEB process. Bring all of your documentation. The advantage to you is that you draw retired pay immediately, the disadvantage is that you lose the COL adjustments up until age 60. In most cases, it makes sense to take the retirement.
I'm actually curious. If you have served for 36 years and are broke to the point that you have a 100% VA rating, why didn't you take a conventional retirement?
No disrespect, of course. I was just thinking to myself that were I in a similar situation it would be a no brainer.
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SPC Greg Osler
SPC Greg Osler
>1 y
The big issue you will run into is, that if you are getting 100% va disability you wont get military retirement from my understanding. Its predicated on which rating is higher. I am only getting a portion of the disability because of the fact you cant double dip. I wish you luck, it is a long and tedious process make sure you have every piece of paper you have gotten regarding your condition, even if you don't think it directly applies take it.
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SSG Brian Lovins
SSG Brian Lovins
>1 y
I went through 4 years of dealing with turning in paperwork and nothing ever happening, my injuries were not duty related so I only qualified for a PEB not MEB,which I submitted my packet for about 3 years in a row until I finally had to get the IG involved and by this point I was tired of the BS and retired medically about a month later at 19yrs of service, 20 for pay (but not for retirement). I do not get any benefits, I know others that have medically retired via MEB after the 20 year mark and they do not get any retirement until 60 other than commissary and a pink ID card. I do qualify for Tricare grey area retirees but last time I looked this was roughly 1000 a month and comparable to my civilian coverage. Also if you are using Tricare reserve it will stop the day of you retirement, I found this out the hard way, it is not like civilian coverage that will continue through your last payment, Tricare stopped and I was never informed, do your research and find out all the facts before you retire, I recieved my retirement orders quickly but it was over a year later that I actually recieved my retirement packet so I missed my window on many benefits simply because I did not know. Tricare I tried hard to find a way to keep because it was so much better than anything in the civilian world
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
>1 y
SPC Greg Osler - Actually, the military and the VA have done away with the whole concurrent pay thing (I can’t remember the actual term). This policy was phased in around 2004 and completely done away with in 2014. Servicemembers with more than a 50% VA rating can now draw both their full VA disability compensation and their military retirement, as it should be. There is no more offset. I am pleased to note that my father (a retired Air Force officer and Agent Orange victim from Vietnam) did a lot to help do away with this policy, which unfairly penalized servicemembers permanently injured due to their service. He wrote hundreds of letters to the government, the military and Congress about this issue, along with getting those exposed to Agent Orange recognition for their injuries (usually cancer). I lost my father due to cancer a few years ago and I am proud of his service and everything he did for veterans after his retirement.
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SPC Greg Osler
SPC Greg Osler
>1 y
Well then I need to go get mine reviewed, because they told me when I got out in 2010 that the higher of the 2 will be the amount that is received.
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SFC Kenneth Highland
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CONTACT ME ON MY EMAIL AND I CAN CONNECT YOU WITH A CW5 THAT MEDICALLY RETIRED IN THE SAME SITUATION. [login to see] .gov
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