I am a bit confused on if I will receive back pay on my VA claim. September 2011 my VA claim started during my process in the IDES system. I was rated 70% by the Army and discharged on TDRL in April. My proposed 80% rating from the VA is now complete. My question is will I receive back pay from my VA claim that started September 2011 although the Army is currently compensating me with monthly retirement on service connected disabilities. Or will the VA back pay on disabilities that the Army did not find me service connected but the the VA rated me on them? The claim started in September 2011 while and completed July 2012.
Back Pay on VA claim after TDRL discharge
- Thread starter hallad1974
- Start date
With the exception of my being on PDRL, we're in the same boat!
Here's what is happening to me....
Although I have yet to recieve from the VA, the multi-page document (Notification and Decision Letter) that outlines the VAs final dispositon of my VA IDES claim, the following has occured just this last week:
1. Rec'd DFAS letter - Retiree Account Statement - (DFAS-CL 7220/148 (REV 03-01) ) stating beginning 01 AUG, there will be a change in my DoD benefit amount. This notice is informing me my VA waiver is kicking in. Like you, only my post-military retirement dollars have been coming in. But I have been receiving my Full PDRL (taxable to me) as the VA was still working on finalizing my VA IDES process claim.
When I looked closely at this form letter, it shows the exact figure of my VA waiver amount, which is what DFAS will subtract from their payment portion of my monthly PDRL. I was able to deduce that the VA waiver amount (for me anyway) is the exact VA equivilant to a 100% VA rating (single, no dependents).
Basically, this DFAS notification is now letting me know that on 01 AUG, I will be receiving the bulk of my monthly retirement dollars from the VA. But, in my case, I will also still receive a little bit of taxable monthly income from DFAS, too (I was rated 70% PDRL from DoD).
2. I have just rec'd a form letter from the VA Health Eligibility Center (Atlanta, Georgia), that THEIR records have changed, and I am in VA Health Care "Priority Group 1".
All this VA form letter said was that their records show me as 100% Service-connected, recently discharged Combat Veteran, and discharged from military service for disability incurred/aggravated in line-of-duty.
**********
What all this tells me is that DFAS and the VA are coordinating the finance side of which agency will pay me, and by what amount - effective 01 AUG. But for me, the final amounts from the VA and DFAS, will both add up to be exactly what I have already been receiving solely from DFAS - and not a penny more - and not a penny less.
The big change for me will be that now, beginning 01 AUG, the bulk of my monthly retirement will now be non-taxable as the VA is finally going to kick in.
(I was not given a combat/combat-related DoD rating, which is why my DoD military retirement is fully taxable).
**********
Now all I need is the VAs Notification and Decision Letter.
***** Make sure the VA has your CORRECT mailing address. They do not and you cannot download this Notification and Decision Letter onto or from your e-benefits page!!!!
**********
There won't be a retroactive dollar amount coming to me from the VA as my PDRL dollars are greater than the VA dollars.
If this situation was in reverse - if my monthly VA compensation amount was higher than my monthly military PDRL amount, then I would receive a retroactive amount - if the VA backdates the claim to my dischage date to TDRL/PDRL.
EX: TDRL/PDRL = 1,000 per month
VA = 2,000 per month
In this case, the retired SM would get 2,000 per month PLUS a retro check of 1,000 per month for every month from date of discharge - if VA claim is backdated to date of discharge.
I am NOT sure if the VA retro pays for a portion of the month that you were discharged in (like if you were dischaged mid-month). And I don't know about cases that go back to way-back-when.
**********
This is all I know and hope it's accurate and helps you out.
I am always free to be corrected.
Any others out there is this boat Hallad1974 is in?
Please chime in on what happened to you!
v/r,
nwlivewire
PERFECT... Thanks Livewire.