🎖️ VALOR

The Truth About VA Remands: What Every Veteran Needs to Know

VA remands can be frustrating and complicated. Attorney Nate breaks down what happens when your case is remanded, why it feels like starting over, and how to advocate for faster results. Whether it's understanding the remand process, fighting for your place in line, or tips to speed up your claim, this video gives you the insights you need to navigate the VA system.

Watch now to take control of your VA appeal journey!

Did Your Military Role Involve Firefighting or Exposure to Hazardous Materials?

For decades, military firefighters, maintenance crews, and personnel working near flight lines or fuel storage areas were frequently exposed to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)—a firefighting tool containing PFAS, dangerous "forever chemicals." While essential for extinguishing fuel fires, AFFF is now linked to severe health conditions, including cancers and thyroid diseases.

Even if you didn’t handle AFFF directly, you may have been exposed through contaminated drinking water or proximity to areas where it was used. Veterans and their families are now learning about the long-term health risks tied to this exposure.

Common health conditions linked to AFFF exposure include:

• Testicular Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Liver Cancer

• Thyroid Disease (diagnosed 4+ years after exposure)

• Hyper/hypothyroidism (diagnosed 1+ years after exposure)

• Ulcerative Colitis

If you believe your service exposed you to AFFF or PFAS and you’ve experienced any of these conditions, don’t wait. Your military service and health matter, and we’re here to help you seek justice.

Contact us today at (855) 494-1298 to learn more about your options or to begin your claim. You’ve served your country; let us serve you.

⚖️ EXPERTS

What is Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)?

For many veterans, the financial strain of navigating retirement pay reductions due to VA disability payments can feel like an added challenge after years of dedicated service. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) aims to alleviate this burden, providing tax-free monthly payments to retired veterans whose disabilities are directly tied to combat or hazardous military service. Here's what you need to know about this vital benefit, from eligibility requirements to the application process.

What Makes CRSC Unique?

CRSC is a tax-free payment that restores a portion of your retired pay reduced by the VA disability offset. Unlike other forms of compensation, CRSC specifically addresses combat-related disabilities, ensuring that veterans injured in service to their country receive the financial recognition they deserve.

Veterans must apply directly to their branch of service for CRSC, and eligibility depends on meeting certain criteria.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for CRSC, all of the following conditions must be true:

• You are retired and entitled to—or currently receiving—military retirement pay.

• You have a VA disability rating of at least 10%.

• Your DoD retirement pay is reduced by the amount of your VA disability payments (commonly known as the VA waiver).

Additionally, one of the following must apply:

• You served 20+ years in the military, National Guard, or Reserve.

• You retired for medical reasons with a disability rating of at least 30% (under Chapter 61).

• You are covered by the Temporary or Permanent Disability Retired List (TDRL/PDRL).

What Disabilities Qualify?

Your disability must be proven to be directly tied to combat or hazardous service. CRSC covers disabilities resulting from:

• Armed conflict (e.g., combat missions or raids).

• Hazardous duty (e.g., parachuting, demolition, flight missions).

• Simulated war conditions (e.g., training exercises involving live fire or combat simulations).

• Instruments of war (e.g., injuries caused by military vehicles, weapons, or chemical agents).

• Disabilities for which you received a Purple Heart.

How Does CRSC Compare to CRDP?

CRSC and Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) both aim to address the VA waiver, but there are key differences:

• CRSC is tax-free, while CRDP is taxable.

• CRSC applies only to combat-related disabilities, while CRDP applies to any service-connected disability rated 50% or higher.

• Veterans can only choose one program at a time. Each December, eligible veterans can switch between CRSC and CRDP during the open season to maximize their benefits.

How to Apply for CRSC

Applying for CRSC requires careful documentation to demonstrate that your disability is combat-related. Here’s how to get started:

1. Complete DD Form 2860: Download and fill out the Claim for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) form.

2. Gather Supporting Documents

• Service medical records: Show the severity and combat-related nature of your disability.

• Official service records: Include reports, awards, or citations like Purple Hearts or Combat Action Badges.

• Retirement documents: Submit your DD214, retirement orders, and VA decision letters.

3. Submit Your Application: Send your completed application and supporting documents to your service branch’s CRSC office. Retain copies of all materials for your records.

4. Track Your Application: If your application is denied, you may request a reconsideration by providing new or additional evidence.

Don’t Miss Out on Retroactive Payments

Veterans may be eligible for back payments up to six years if their application includes retroactive VA ratings. To maximize this benefit, file your claim as soon as you receive a VA decision notice or qualify for retired pay.

Why CRSC Matters

CRSC is more than just a financial benefit; it’s recognition of the sacrifices made by those who served in combat or hazardous roles. Whether through restoring lost income or providing financial stability, CRSC ensures that veterans and their families receive the support they deserve.

Are You a Combat Veteran? Here's What You Need to Know About VA Benefits

Combat veterans face unique challenges in securing VA benefits, but special rules can simplify proving service-connection. Attorney Anne Linscott explains what qualifies as combat, how to address missing records, and the importance of buddy statements. Watch now to learn how to navigate claims and secure the benefits you deserve.

🦅SUPPORT

Attention: Join us today at 1400 hours EST for a new livestream with our legal team!

Join us to get your questions about VA disability law and the claims process answered by our legal team. Comments open 30 minutes prior to the Livestream starting, so get there early to get your question in. We try to answer as many as we can!

🗺️ TACTICS

Veteran’s Success in Establishing Service Connection for PTSD and Securing TDIU 

Note: All identifying info has been changed to protect the identity of the client. These examples are taken from the BVA Database. If it is an example from a Hill & Ponton case, it will be indicated.

Summary of Claim

A veteran who served on active duty from March 1982 to March 2006 sought service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, stemming from military sexual trauma (MST) and other traumatic events experienced during service. She also pursued entitlement to Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on her inability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities. 

This case illustrates the importance of detailed evidence, medical opinions, and consistent testimony in achieving a favorable outcome for service connection and TDIU claims. 

The Outcome

After a thorough review, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) granted the veteran: 

• Service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. 

• TDIU based on her inability to work due to service-connected disabilities. 

Why Was This Decision Made?

The favorable decision was based on several key factors: 

Credibility and Evidence of MST and Traumatic Events 

• Consistent Testimony: The veteran provided credible accounts of MST, sexual harassment, and traumatic combat-related experiences during her service, including being attacked, encountering hostile fire, and discovering the body of a friend who had died by suicide. 

• Behavioral Evidence: VA regulations allow corroboration of MST through behavioral changes. Evidence such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and hypervigilance following these incidents supported her claims. 

• Service Records Corroboration: While her service treatment records were silent on MST or psychiatric issues, her personnel records corroborated her service locations and duties, consistent with her reported experiences. 

Medical Opinions Supporting Service Connection 

• VA Examination Findings: A March 2020 VA examiner provided a positive nexus opinion, linking the veteran’s PTSD and other psychiatric conditions to her in-service MST and combat experiences. 

• Consistent Medical History: The veteran had been seeking treatment for PTSD and related conditions since 2007, demonstrating a clear and ongoing need for care. 

Criteria for TDIU 

• Occupational Impairments: The veteran’s service-connected disabilities, including her acquired psychiatric conditions, cervical and lumbar spine issues, and carpal tunnel syndrome, severely limited her ability to work. 

• Inability to Perform Job Duties: Her conditions caused issues with memory, concentration, and interacting with the public, as well as physical limitations like chronic pain and reduced mobility, making it impossible to maintain employment. 

• Social Security Records: SSA findings confirmed her inability to work since 2015, further bolstering her TDIU claim. 

Tips from the Legal Team

This case demonstrates several critical strategies for veterans pursuing similar claims: 

• Detail the Impact of Trauma: Veterans claiming PTSD due to MST or other events should provide clear, consistent accounts of their experiences and the resulting impact on their lives. 

• Leverage Medical Evidence: Obtain thorough medical evaluations that provide a clear link between your service and current disabilities. 

• Address Employment Limitations: Document how your service-connected conditions affect your ability to work, including statements from employers or SSA findings if available. 

• Seek Support Early: If you have a history of treatment for your condition, ensure those records are part of your claim to establish continuity. 

If you're facing challenges in securing the VA benefits you deserve, or if you believe your current disability rating does not accurately reflect your condition, we're here to help. Call us at (855) 494-1298.