For many service members, being medically retired is not part of their plan. It often occurs because of life’s unexpected events, such as combat injuries, illness, or chronic conditions. The system is designed to ensure you receive compensation and healthcare for conditions that prevent continued service.
Many Veterans do not realize that every percentage point on their VA disability rating, much like every raise, greatly impacts their long-term financial health and benefits. Dates on your paperwork and decisions during transition are important. Understanding these steps helps you safeguard your entitlements and avoid missing key details.
Understanding the Medical Retirement Process
Military medical retirement begins when you’re found “unfit for duty.” That decision starts a detailed review process involving two boards:
- Medical Evaluation Board (MEB): Reviews your medical condition and determines if it meets retention standards.
- Physical Evaluation Board (PEB): Decides whether you’re fit for continued service and assigns your disability rating.
If you’re medically retired, your placement will be on one of two lists:
• Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL): For unstable conditions that may improve or worsen. You’ll be re-evaluated every 18 months, up to a maximum of three years (five years for those placed before 2017).
• Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL): For stable conditions unlikely to change. You’re permanently retired with lifetime benefits.
If you disagree with your PEB findings, you can appeal. Missing deadlines or not attending TDRL exams can result in your pay being suspended or stopped, making it crucial to stay proactive.
Who Qualifies for Medical Retirement?
Eligibility depends on your disability rating and years of service:
• Less than 20 years of service: A VA disability rating of 30% or higher qualifies you for medical retirement. Below 30%, you’ll receive a one-time severance payment instead of retirement pay.
• 20 years or more: You qualify for retirement regardless of disability rating.
• Preexisting conditions: If your disability existed before service and wasn’t aggravated by it, you may be separated without benefits.
A difference of just one point can be the difference between receiving benefits for life or getting only a one-time severance check. Always double-check your ratings and appeal if necessary.
Medical Retirement Pay: How It’s Calculated
DFAS calculates your retirement pay two ways and chooses the higher: based on your disability rating as a percentage of your retired pay base, or by total years of service. This calculation determines your lifetime financial support.
Why It Matters: Understanding these calculations not only helps you maximize your benefits but also plan your future finances effectively. For instance, if you have a 50% disability rating and 15 years of service, you might see a lifetime difference of tens of thousands of dollars between methods.
Medical Retirement Pay Comparison Chart
Your “Retired Pay Base” is your final basic pay if you entered service before September 8, 1980, or the average of your highest 36 months of pay if you entered after.
Offsets, CRDP, and CRSC: Understanding the Fine Print
The biggest financial shock for many retirees comes from how VA and DoD payments interact.
• Offset Rule: Under federal law, you generally can’t receive full military retirement pay and full VA disability pay simultaneously. VA compensation offsets retired pay dollar-for-dollar.
• Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP): If you served 20 or more years and have a VA rating of 50% or higher, you can receive both in full with no offset.
• Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC): If your disability is combat-related, CRSC can restore some or all of your offset and is tax-free.
CRDP vs. CRSC Decision Matrix
Combat-related conditions include those sustained in combat zones, hazardous duties, or training simulating war. CRSC can provide significant tax-free compensation to those affected.
TRICARE After Medical Retirement
After medical retirement, you and your family retain TRICARE eligibility. To keep coverage, enroll within 90 days of retiring. Missing this enrollment can lead to significant coverage gaps and costs.
Available plans include:
• TRICARE Prime – Managed care with lower out-of-pocket costs.
• TRICARE Select – Nationwide coverage flexibility.
• TRICARE For Life – Secondary coverage to Medicare (requires Part B).
• TRICARE Retired Reserve – For Guard/Reserve members under age 60.
Make sure your DEERS record is always current. Incorrect information is a common reason for delays in claims and losing coverage.
Beyond Pay and Healthcare: Programs Every Medically Retired Veteran Should Know
This status unlocks access to programs that can reshape your post-service life.
• VA Disability Compensation: Tax-free monthly payments that can increase with dependents or worsening conditions.
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E): Training and education for new career paths.
• Caregiver Support and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): For veterans needing daily assistance.
• Home and Vehicle Adaptation Grants: To increase accessibility and independence.
• State-Level Veteran Benefits: Property tax exemptions, license discounts, and tuition programs for dependents.
You have earned these benefits. Make sure to understand and use all that is available to you.
Tax and Financial Planning Insights
- Verify that VA disability pay is completely tax-free on your statement.
- Verify this on your statement: CRSC payments should be tax-free; ensure CRDP and retired pay are accurately taxed.
- Check your statement to ensure Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums and allotments are properly deducted to reflect in your take-home pay.
- Verify accuracy in DFAS and VA pay within your first two statements; discrepancies should be addressed immediately.
- Consult a tax advisor who understands Veteran benefits to ensure that the mixing of taxable and non-taxable pay does not negatively impact your annual tax return.
To help you stay organized, use this checklist that outlines what actions to take as you approach and complete your transition.
90–30 Days Before Retirement
• Verify your VA claim under the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES).
• Confirm your TDRL/PDRL status.
• Update DEERS information and dependent documentation.
At Retirement
• Collect retirement orders and DD-214.
• Enroll in TRICARE.
• Confirm your first DFAS payment and withholdings.
0–90 Days Post-Retirement
• Apply for CRDP or CRSC (if eligible).
• Check for offsets in your DFAS statement.
• File any needed appeals.
Ongoing
• Keep medical documentation current.
• Revisit your disability rating if your condition worsens.
• Stay informed about legislative updates affecting Chapter 61 retirees.
What Veterans Wish They Knew
“I didn’t realize my VA pay would replace most of my retired check. Knowing that sooner would’ve changed how I planned my finances.” — Former Army Sergeant
“Appealing my PEB rating raised me from 20% to 40%, the difference between separation and lifetime retirement.” — Marine Corps Veteran
Protecting What You’ve Earned
The process is more than paperwork. It forms the connection between your service and your next chapter. Every detail matters, so check pay amounts, appeal if needed, and sign up for TRICARE on time.
You fought hard to serve. Now, ensure your service continues to take care of you.
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