I will retire in 08 and need a little help from my better educated and experienced shipmates.
I should have a 60 to 70% total disability rating with a single 40% injury, as estimated by the DAV rep upon review of my current medical record. Most of the formulas and things I’ve read apply to members who have already retired but little as to those who are going to retire. Admin and TAPS were not much help. I have figured my total compensation after retirement will be anything from 1200 to 2100. Can anyone point me to a detailed retirement calculator or could you run my numbers and tell me what you get?
Gross Retirement Pay = 1650 (rough estimate)
Disability= 65% total
CRDP (will I qualify?)=
CG Pay=??
VA comp=??
Thanks for any and all help.

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/index.htm

Well, I got the VA comp part...No way of telling what your percentage is until your rated though...I believe that can only be done after your retired and go through the process...
Good luck to you and may you get what your entitled to...

Make sure you keep copies of your health record...

Gunk

mad --> do you understand that your VA disability percentage is a fixed amount.. it is not based on you pay. It is the same for an E-3 as an O-7....

Are you getting a med board, or are you just going to retire and then apply for your VA disability ...

Wray...

Wray, yes I understand VA is a fixed amount. No I am not getting a med board. Yes I am just going to retire. I want to get the majority of the VA ground work done before I leave AD. Basically I am looking for how the new CRDP rule applies to me and what the rule is for future retirees. I just don't understand if I am still under the rule for CG retired pay and VA comp still =100%, total retired pay "50% from CG and 50% from VA (tax exempt)"? I just want to make sure I have the straight skinny before I leave.

mad -- the straight skinny is you can't do much until you actually retire, or at least have your retirement/disability physical. Once that is done, (a physical sent to the VA) they will evaluate your medical problems. They will then determine what percentages they are going to award you for each problem.

The only real thing you can do while on active duty is to get things documented in your health record. Be sure to get a complete copy of your health record, or better yet, just keep it when you retire.

This will help you understand CRDP a little better:

http://www.dfas.mil/retiredpay/concurrentretirementanddisabilitypay.html

Read that & let me know what other questions you may have.....

Wray....

Thanks, I have my physical next week, and the site you gave me helps a bunch. If I have any more ?'s I'll post them.

Are you still in Hawaii? Where you on the Jarvis with Capt Jett?

When I got my retirement physical I got my VA physical at the same time. (a retirement physical consist of seeing if you can fog up a mirror.. very short, the VA was much more extensive) This was done in Mayport FL. I was told it was a test program.. I was WONDERFUL. Only one physical, and my disability started the month after I retired.... That was done in 1998

Wray...

Yes, I had the pleasure of CO Jett for a couple of months, good man. I am having my retirement Ph done by the VA to kill 2 birds with one stone. I am also trying to make the AD to VA seemless. Just want to make sure I have all the info so Admin doesn't mess up "It is the members responsibility"...

Wray, that's good to know since I will more than likely be retiring out of here. As I get closer to the magic date, I'll be hitting you up.

quote:

Just want to make sure I have all the info so Admin doesn't mess up "It is the members responsibility

That is exactly why I took my health record when I retired......

Bob -- Just let me know... or stop by...

Wray...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wray,

Just a little extra info for any would be retirees who are going to put a claim through the VA. You can take your VA physical while you are still on Active Duty up to 180 days before your exit date. From my experience you are far better off taking your physical before you get out since anything they find is discovered while you are on Active Duty and cannot be excluded from your claim. The best part about this is the claim is being processed while you are still on Active Duty and you may have a rating shortly after you retire. Another little piece of advice I can offer is for you to get with a DAV rep to help you do your claim. It is well worth your time to sit down with a DAV rep even if you don’t think you have a claim and you have nothing to loose by putting in a claim.
Good Luck
MKC (Ret.)

I agree get it done as soon as you can. With Katrina 2 years ago my VA physical Kinda took a hit by postponement. Oh well that is weather. It took almost a yearto get my VA rating by getting my physical done after retirement date. That was my exp. with VA through Montgomery, AL

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by madchief45:
I will retire in 08 and need a little help from my better educated and experienced shipmates.
I should have a 60 to 70% total disability rating with a single 40% injury, as estimated by the DAV rep upon review of my current medical record. Most of the formulas and things I’ve read apply to members who have already retired but little as to those who are going to retire. Admin and TAPS were not much help. I have figured my total compensation after retirement will be anything from 1200 to 2100. Can anyone point me to a detailed retirement calculator or could you run my numbers and tell me what you get?
Gross Retirement Pay = 1650 (rough estimate)
Disability= 65% total
CRDP (will I qualify?)=
CG Pay=??
VA comp=??
Thanks for any and all help.

Hi Mad Chief, Here's a link to the calculator I just created. It should help you quite abit. http://onebreath.info/crdp_calc.xls

madchief... you do understand that what ever your VA disability is has NOTHING to do with your monthly CG retirement. It is the same for an E-4 or 0-4. Your disability will be 60% or 70%... I have never see and don't believe they do any like 55%, 65%, 75% etc.... your figure for compensation of $2100 is probably pretty high...

Not sure what all your problems are, but don't be surprized if the VA rates you quite a bit lower... a Veteran alone at 90% = $1517.

Good luck........

Wray...

quote:

That is exactly why I took my health record when I retired......

I didnt know you could take your health record with you?..I thought you have to get a copy made and each page signed by a CG Doc. Is that record not property of the Govt? Is there any negatives to keeping your health record? I can definitly see the benifit of holding on to it though, it doesnt end up in some warehouse next to Indiana Jones' arc.

Taz Yad,
Thanks for putting that spread sheet togeather DFAS wouldn't talk to me about it and the VA was clueless. I asked them what happens when your military pay is less than you DVA ammount. Your calculator dumped the answer in my lap.
Later
Andy

I don't believe you can take your Health Record with you these days. There was a time when many did.

Even as "one of those Admins" I didn't trust it and spent a few days at the copier with my Health Record copying every piece of it, and put them in Classification folders in the same order as the Health Record. I made one for the VA, and one for me, and had the HS validate them. The VA Rep was thrilled, as it was easy to read for those familiar with the records. (I got that copy back after my eval was completed). It also kept the VA from having to request the records from the CG, which in turn expedited processing. You may want to review your Health Record before your Retirement/VA physical so you can address issues and make sure they're noted on your physical.

My copy has come in handy for my Tricare PCP who's not VA. An issue came up and was written off as being "normal" because they only have one other test for comparison, I have 21+ years with a number of tests to see what or when something changed. If the EKG's in my Health Record match, there's a big problem, if not, we've identified something that needs to be looked at closer pretty quickly.

Aside from those records lost in the "big fire," having your Original copy at the Records Center doesn't hurt. God forbid something happens to your house, or you end up with a spouse who burns all your military stuff, you can always request another copy. Copying it all gives you a chance to review and make sure things are in your Health Record. Often times visits to civilian providers may not make it into your files.

It IS the member's responsibility to make sure their records are up to date, unless you have a personal YN and HS to follow you and process and file your info properly. It's funny how many scoff at that line still. It's much easier to correct it now then when you get out or retire! Your the one who will recognize that something is missing first.

Congratulations on your Retirement and Welcome to the Check of the Month Club! Good Luck with the VA too!

YN102

HercU25DM ---> I was on terminal leave and had doctors appointments and a retirement/VA disability physical. I guess I could have taken a chance and mailed my record back, but if it got lost, then what?

My medical record is important to no one but me.. I have made a copy of it, stored in a different location than my original one. When I have submitted copies of my record to the VA they do not require a "certified to be a true copy"...

Retirement is W O N D E R F U L !

Wray...