Retire or Medboard ?

[LrrpScout]

I am an Army Reservist with 16 Yrs, I have been deployed for the past year and I am still on title 10 as a medhold in a CBWTU as I was injured downrange.

Question about retirement or medboard. I have several conditions that any of which would be a retention disqualifier.

Would it be better to medboard and try to get a rating, which should be over 50%, or take the retirement option?

I ewould think that a decent rating and VA benefit would be more that my retirement.

Thanks in advance,

LrrpScout

 

[VAJumper]

I am an Army Reservist with 16 Yrs, I have been deployed for the past year and I am still on title 10 as a medhold in a CBWTU as I was injured downrange.

Question about retirement or medboard. I have several conditions that any of which would be a retention disqualifier.

Would it be better to medboard and try to get a rating, which should be over 50%, or take the retirement option?

I ewould think that a decent rating and VA benefit would be more that my retirement.

Thanks in advance,

LrrpScout

I don't follow your question. What retirement option is there for a reservist with only 16 years? Don't you need 20 good years to qualify for a reserve retirement? And if you qualify for a reserve retirement, don't you have to wait until your 60 years old to draw pay (with a few exceptions based on deployed time)? If you have 20 good years, and opt to retire and get VA benefits with 50%, you'd be losing out big time if a PEB found you unfit at 50% as well. Even at 50%, you be entitled to 50% of your military base pay for the rest of your life if you received a permanent rating.

 

[navy1305]

Even at 30%, you be entitled to 50% of your military base pay for the rest of your life if you received a permanent rating.

That is wrong. You only get 50% for a less-than-50%-rating while you are on the TDRL. Once you go to PDRL you will get either your actual DoD disability rating (which could be 30% or 40%), or your length-of-service calculation, whichever is more favorable to you.

 

[VAJumper]

That is wrong. You only get 50% for a less-than-50%-rating while you are on the TDRL. Once you go to PDRL you will get either your actual DoD disability rating (which could be 30% or 40%), or your length-of-service calculation, whichever is more favorable to you.

Typo corrected.

 

[Jason Perry]

Remember, the option to receive the length of service calculation (2.5% times years of service) only is available if you have more than 20 years of active federal service. Otherwise, you get the disability rating awarded (except for TDRL, where you get the higher of the award or 50%).

 

[LrrpScout]

Let me rephrase the question....

I have 16 years if I were found fit and RTD, do another 4 years in non-deployable status (perm profile) and retire and draw at 60.....OR......if the option is on the table to medboard and it is possible to be found unfit at a percentage of 30% or more....which would be better.....in anyone's opinion.......

 

[Jason Perry]

LrrpScout,

Welcome!

The answer really depends on the facts of each case. For many members, having the earlier disability retirement is better (you receive the money right away). Especially if the disabilities are combat related and you can get Combat Related Special Compensation. But, staying till 20 years opens up CRDP and retired pay at age 60. If a Reservist is, say 55 years or older, you have to compare the value of the benefits, taking into account that in 5 years or less, the retirement will begin to payout. You also have to look at your VA compensation. Finally, the healthcare benefit will likely impact the decision for some people.

For a reservist, probably the "best of both worlds" is to have 20 years of service, THEN be retired for disability. But, again, the individual members circumstances may change the most beneficial outcome.

Best of luck.

 

[VAJumper]

Let me rephrase the question....

I have 16 years

Still not sure what you mean when you say you have "16 years." Is that 16 "Good" reserve years OR 16 full time active duty years equaling almost 6,000 points? It makes a HUGE difference when calculating retirement at age 60. If a reservist does the bare minimum of duty and retires with 20 good years, they will have accumulated less than 1400 points and will draw less than 20% of retirement pay if my calcs are correct (1400/7200).

Assuming you're talking about 16 GOOD R/R years, wouldn't you rather start getting retired pay now, especially since you indicated you would likely get over 50%? Why throw that away and risk a miniscule reserve retirement you can't collect until you're 60 which I also presume is also many years away? I think the "better" option as you ask for is obvious.