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I just received notification from the VA that my sleep apnea was rated, after having to re-submit my medical records, and my overall rating is now at 60% for compensation. My question is, have any of my brothers or sisters on here been rated at 50% or higher for compensation and if so, do you get an additional check from VA on top of your retirement check if you retired at 20-years or more? I know there used to be the No concurrent payment thing, but if not mistaken that was changed about 10-years or so ago.
Posted in these groups: 
VA Claim
Compensation
VA Claim Compensation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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It will take some time, but YES, you will receive both checks in full. The delay is generally with DFAS rather than the VA (believe it or not! LOL!) Your letter should state something to the effect of "your retired pay center has been informed of this decision...".
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SFC William Swartz Jr
That's great to hear, and go figure about DFAS lol!! Yeah the letter did state that after I re-read it..sometimes the ol' noggin don't work too good, of course it could be I read it after one of my night shifts when I was tired as all be damned lol.
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MSG Wade Huffman
SFC William Swartz Jr , it's all good. Those letters are NOT easy reads to begin with. If I didn't deal with the VA for a living I'd be (even more) confused! LOL!
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SFC William Swartz Jr.,
If you served 20 years or more and are eligible to draw a retirement check from DFAS and you receive a VA disability rating of 50% or more, you SHOULD be eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP). SO short answer, yes.
If you are a medical (Chapter 61) retiree and you are eligible to draw pay from DFAS plus have a VA disabled condition rated at 10% or more which is Combat Related, then you may be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
CRDP is almost always a better solution. When CRDP was phased in, you received a percentage increase over time until you were receiving full concurrent receipt of both DFAS and VA payments.
See http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/crdp.html for additional information on CRDP.
Hope this helps,
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
If you served 20 years or more and are eligible to draw a retirement check from DFAS and you receive a VA disability rating of 50% or more, you SHOULD be eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP). SO short answer, yes.
If you are a medical (Chapter 61) retiree and you are eligible to draw pay from DFAS plus have a VA disabled condition rated at 10% or more which is Combat Related, then you may be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
CRDP is almost always a better solution. When CRDP was phased in, you received a percentage increase over time until you were receiving full concurrent receipt of both DFAS and VA payments.
See http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/crdp.html for additional information on CRDP.
Hope this helps,
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) allows military retirees to receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation.
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SFC William Swartz Jr
TY for the info, I have, as of September, received CRDP on top of my retirement....plus received my back pay on the rating going back to last November so it was a good payday on 1 October!!
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Seem to evade questions on way claims so long! Considering a while back, the POTUS said they were going to improve the process!!!! When and what century..... I wasn't to impress with the meeting to be honest! I damn sure didn't walk out with that ol' warm fuzzy feeling!!!!!!
Congressman John Shimkus, Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting August 19, 2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5694 Highland, IL
12th District members in picture. Front row from the right Congressman John Shimkus, Al Luehm 12th District Commander, VFW Post 5694 Commander Paul Kustermann, Tom Miller, Past 12th Dist. Cmdr. Kate Broadhurst, 12th District Adjutant Jack Fessler, Jim Causey, Past State Commander Russ Rieke Sr.
Back row, right to left Maurice Niehaus, Post 9770 Sr. Vice Cmdr. Tom Lucken, Post 5694 Chaplin Tony Haislar, Troy Huddle, Brett Leman, Post 5694 Quartermaster Dave Kampwerth, Post 976 Commander Tony Avers.
Thank You, Allen J. Luehm 12th Dist. Cmdr.
Congressman John Shimkus, Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting August 19, 2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5694 Highland, IL
12th District members in picture. Front row from the right Congressman John Shimkus, Al Luehm 12th District Commander, VFW Post 5694 Commander Paul Kustermann, Tom Miller, Past 12th Dist. Cmdr. Kate Broadhurst, 12th District Adjutant Jack Fessler, Jim Causey, Past State Commander Russ Rieke Sr.
Back row, right to left Maurice Niehaus, Post 9770 Sr. Vice Cmdr. Tom Lucken, Post 5694 Chaplin Tony Haislar, Troy Huddle, Brett Leman, Post 5694 Quartermaster Dave Kampwerth, Post 976 Commander Tony Avers.
Thank You, Allen J. Luehm 12th Dist. Cmdr.
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CPT Carolyn "Carrie" Hoza
[login to see] .gov - Senator Kirk & his Veterans Advisory Board are working towards a better VA experience for our IL vets! You will have to sign a waiver for HIPAA & write a statement w/ dates/details.
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I was just rated at 50% You do get concurrent receipt at the 50% point. I get two monthly payments - one from DFAS and one from VA. I did receive back pay from both the VA and DFAS. The payment took a couple of months to receive.
P.S. Over 50% also means that you can be treated by the VA for all health care, not just service-connected issues.
P.S. Over 50% also means that you can be treated by the VA for all health care, not just service-connected issues.
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SSG Eric M Hersh
correct might have to pay for rx s of 7.50 cents each I believe it might be more but its no hassle to get them
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I am not retired but received a 70% rating. Got the back pay check without any notice, the check showed up and then a week later the decision showed up.
Back pay was only 14 months, which was the time it took from my first ever claim to the payout, since then the monthly checks are sent direct debit to my Stateside account.
NOTE: Since I live overseas, there is a special POC for VA Overseas Vets and they are less swamped as regional offices and sit in a building with the VFW and DAV, who both had a mandate for my case.
After all the horror stories I heard, I was so surprised at the professional, timely and thorough service and the super friendly helpful people I spoke to on the phone on many occasion. I can only speak highly of the VA in Pittsburgh.
Back pay was only 14 months, which was the time it took from my first ever claim to the payout, since then the monthly checks are sent direct debit to my Stateside account.
NOTE: Since I live overseas, there is a special POC for VA Overseas Vets and they are less swamped as regional offices and sit in a building with the VFW and DAV, who both had a mandate for my case.
After all the horror stories I heard, I was so surprised at the professional, timely and thorough service and the super friendly helpful people I spoke to on the phone on many occasion. I can only speak highly of the VA in Pittsburgh.
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I am glad to see some info on this. I have been rated at an 80% for over a year now and still waiting on the concurrent payment and the back pay. My rating effective date is 1 Feb 2013.
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SFC Rocky Gannon
SFC Rivera they have not started the payment yet I would call VA or DFAS in Kentucky. They have to aduit your record but should not take that long
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SFC (Join to see)
I have and also have a VFW rep working on this. Apperently someone at the SC VA office made a mistake and I appear in part of the system rated at 20% and in another part as 80%. The VA rating explanation letter says 80%, and they need DFAS to get on line so the concurrent pay can start. I was told it may take another 3 to 4 month.
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I am shocked at some of these responses, I knew the va was kinda screwed but wow! I feel lucky I was rated while still in, I am on TDRL after 5y3m of service I was rated 70% va and 50% dod and have gone from active to retirement with very few hiccups when seeing the big picture. I hope you all keep your heads up and keep fighting the fight just don't give up
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my rating is 60% as well, 24 years of service. I do get a retirement check and disability payment. The disability payment is also tax exempt.
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The VA has stalled on my rating for over 7 years now. I got rated 10% for hearing, but my main issue is with my knees. They have punted every time and I'm on my last appeal. That alone has been pending 3 years.
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CPT Carolyn "Carrie" Hoza
I recommend contacting your State Senator or Congressman. With all the eyes on the VA lately, this sort of run around should definitely be noted & it might receive a little push on the "official" side. Please note that you will need to sign a waiver so that they can look into your medical records & you will more than likely have to write up something as to the details. I do know that IL has been pushing hard to get Veterans to share their stories, so that Senator Kirk can help get them the attention they need - service connected issues or not - as Veterans we deserve better than a 7-year run around.
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PO1 (Join to see)
SSG Jeffrey Spencer I'm going out on a limb here...but here's my $0.02. As a Service Officer I talk to a lot of vets...a LOT of vets. While I don't have your specific file / claim in front of me here's what I see. First of all, you've transferred between Service Centers in the VA - that alone causes what MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca calls a Charles Foxtrot and what SSG Michael Scholl calls a Charlie Foxtrot... The VA is not one big machine - it's several machines ... and the machines don't talk to each other well. Since you do NOT have a Veteran Service Organization that can look over your file and possibly assist I will make this recommendation - contact your nearest VFW Post, ask to speak to the Commander or the Quartermaster, then ask for a Service Officer. The Service Officer can, if you request, come to your house and talk with you - or you can go to the Post and sit down in privacy, discuss your situation. It doesn't matter that you might not be eligible for membership to the VFW - the Service Officer will help you at NO CHARGE to you. Request the Service Officer help you properly fill out a VA 21-22. Don't do this on your own, have the Service Officer make sure it's properly filled out - if not properly filled out, the VFW will NOT be able to help you. Even if you have a VSO in California, you are now in DC - the California office does not have the authority to help you in DC. Once the VA 21-22 is filed with the local VSO Service Center give the SC about 2 weeks to see if the SC VFW group has had any opportunity to check on your claim. You may want to sit down with the Service Officer again and have him call - you will have to be with the SO to give permission to talk about the file - otherwise the SO won't get any info - we always protect your privacy that way.
NEVER, EVER deal with the VA alone!
NEVER, EVER deal with the VA alone!
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SSG Jeffrey Spencer
PO1 George Medley -
Thanks for your input. I started my file in 2007 and transferred my file in 2010. The last communication from the VA was in December 2013 where they said "I apologize your appeal has not yet been completed, but it remains with our Appeals Team to review for certification to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). This action will be completed as expeditiously as possible."
"We received your VA Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans’ Appeals, which formalized your appeal on March 21, 2011. At this time the appeal is awaiting review for any further action or necessary development."
They have referred my inquiry to the Roanoke Regional Office (RO), and will respond back to me regarding this inquiry when they hear back from the RO. They appreciate my patience while this is being reviewed.
I deserve an award for patience given these metrics!!
Thanks for your input. I started my file in 2007 and transferred my file in 2010. The last communication from the VA was in December 2013 where they said "I apologize your appeal has not yet been completed, but it remains with our Appeals Team to review for certification to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). This action will be completed as expeditiously as possible."
"We received your VA Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans’ Appeals, which formalized your appeal on March 21, 2011. At this time the appeal is awaiting review for any further action or necessary development."
They have referred my inquiry to the Roanoke Regional Office (RO), and will respond back to me regarding this inquiry when they hear back from the RO. They appreciate my patience while this is being reviewed.
I deserve an award for patience given these metrics!!
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PO1 (Join to see)
SSG Jeffrey Spencer Again, I don't have your claim in front of me - so there's much I don't know. What I sense, from the fact your claim was remanned to the Regional Office from BVA, is there is possibly insufficient reason for the BVA to accept the case. There are many reasons for this and since I am NOT the BVA appeal specialist I won't go into possible reasons - but I would take the reman as a good sign for you. Calling the state (Virginia?/DC?) RO and speaking to the VFW reps there might give you a better picture of what's going on. The reps might want to have you provide further evidence - maybe a buddy who was with you when the injury occured....I don't know. But a call to the VFW rep that deals with this level appeal is the best bet.
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