Blog Post

What is Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

In December 2002, Congress enacted The Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program.  This program restores military retired pay to eligible retired veterans with combat-related injuries.

Before CRSC, retired veterans with disabilities waived their regular retired pay to receive Veterans Administration (VA) disability compensation. This particular system was unique to military retirement.  Federal service retirees are all entitled to full regular retirement and disability compensation.

The CRSC program is a special part of a larger legislative initiative to restore military retirement compensation that is on par with Federal service benefits. As a result of this legislation, Congress authorized two programs for disabled retired veterans.  One program was the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Program. The other was the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Program (CRDP).

CRSC provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible retired veterans with combat-related injuries.  With CRSC you can receive an amount equal to or less than your length of service retirement pay and your VA disability compensation.  Your injury must be combat related.  Eligible veterans will receive a tax free entitlement each month.  Along with the entitlement you will continue to collect any retired pay you may already be receiving.

Who is eligible for CRSC?

In order to be eligible for CRSC you MUST meet all of the following criteria.

  1.  Receiving military retired pay for one of the following: 20 year Retiree, Medical Chapter 61, Temporary Early Retirement Act, and Temporary Disabled Retirement List Retiree
  2.  Have 10% or greater VA rated injury that is combat-related
  3.  Military retired pay is reduced by VA disability payments (VA Waiver)

AND… Applicants must be able to provide documentary evidence that your injury was a result of one of the following:

  • Training that simulates war (e.g., exercises, field training)
  • Hazardous duty (e.g., flight, diving, parachute duty)
  • An instrumentality of war (e.g., combat vehicles, weapons, Agent Orange)
  • Armed conflict (e.g., gun shot wounds [Purple Heart], punji stick injuries)

Cameron Firm PC commitment is to making servicemembers aware of this benefit.  Our nation’s veterans have trained for combat. Many of you served on the front lines and many served in critical support roles.  

Call us at 800-861-7262 for a FREE Consultation.

This article is for educational and marketing purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Related Posts