ok was asked to post this in the clear to help out anyone else with the same questions.
E-7 with 19 years combined service (6 1/2 ARNG- 12 1/2 Active)
OCT 2005 Injured in Iraq, while on patrol and conducting vehicle Recovery (Bradley broke Track outside the wire)
31 May 2007 Med Separation 10% with severance (combined all injuries into one rating "chronic back pain")
OCT 2007 VA rating 30% for L4/L5 Herniated Disc (20%) and L5 Radiculopathy (10%)
OCT 2007 Severance Pay recouped from beginning with Entire VA pay not received
13 FEB 2017 Received invite (DD294) promptly sent out same day.
March 2017 Notified received initial Packet by PBDR
17 JAN 2018 Notified Records complete and packet forwarded to the board for adjudication
26 JUN 2018 Received white envelope from DA Sec of the Army
with all that said, I took severeral of the suggestions given me and made some calls based on other members having the same questions as me.
I just got off the phone with the VA and found out the balance of my recoupment is about $1800.00, scheduled to start paying me in October. I then tried calling Mr. Al (H/t to
@TDWilliams ). I got a message machine. About two hours later I got a phone call back form him. HE said he had my packet on his desk and was working on the orders/215. Said 120 days is the standard but I could expect in the next few weeks to receive a packet containing instructions and orders/215. I then asked him about recoupment and he said yes I would have to pay back the army (one way or another). I explained that I have been recouping to the VA since 2007 was expecting to begin receiving my VA pay in October. HE said if the money has been recouped by the VA then it will be considered paid back. Further said, DFAS and VA will hash out the recoupment, but if I am already paid up through the VA then DFAS wont take anything more as far as Recoupment. I then asked him how far back I would get back pay. He said I should receive all the way back to my retirement date (may 2007) depending if my VA compensation was more than my Retirement Compensation. I told him I am rated 30% through VA and 40% through PDBR. HE said without crunching numbers, That is good, it means you'll get money back. SOOOO, I guess that is a good thing. HE finally said to not do anything as far as making appointments with DEERS until I get my orders and that since I'm in Hawaii now, that I would have to go to Schofield Barracks to do my ID Cards. Which is going to be a problem since I live on a different Island and will have to fly myself, wife and daughter to Oahu. And luckily since I called he was able to update my current address which was wrong. Still don't know how my packet got to me if the address was wrong, but not complaining. Anyway just thought I would give an update.
Joseph de la Torre
SFC
USA RET (OMG I have waited so long to say that)
PD-0948
