TDRL and VA compensation offset

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cmjames84

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
I am finding very conflicting descriptions of being on the TDRL and the ability to file a va compensation claim. DFAS.mil states the following http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/disability.html:
A member of the TDRL or the PDRL is a retired member of the armed forces. You are entitled to all rights and privileges of a military retiree, which may include:

  • Participation in Survivor Benefit Plans
  • Voluntary/involuntary allotments from your retired pay
  • Disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs
I've seen the va compensation table how does these numbers play in to the TDRL realm?
I'm about to start a MEB/PEB for multipe shoulder dislocations which have resulted in multiple surgeries. I have been diagnosed with compressed/wedged discs in my back, ADHD, shin splints, and PTSD. Can anyone please help me plan for the future and give me an idea of what type of compensation I might be looking at? Is it just 50% of my base pay from the TDRL or will the VA also compensate me and if so how? I've seen the discussions on CRSC and being that I didn't bring my shoulder and PTSD until much later after my deployment I'm affraid that I'm going to leave with very little compensation. (I wanted to be super soldier that didn't allow anything to bother me which sounds like it has come back to bite me) Please someone help me clear my confusion and if i'm going to leave the army only 1500 or so a month then so be it, but I don't understand some of this stuff.
 
You will file a VA claim as part of the IDES process. You will receive retirement pay (at your disability percentage for unfit conditions) until your VA claim is complete. At that time, you will most likely stop receiving your retirement pay (but not your other benefits, including Tricare), and receive your VA Compensation because it will likely be higher than your retirement pay.

You may also be placed on PDRL; PTSD is not an automatic referral to the TDRL. If the PEB believes that your conditions will become better after you retire, then you will be placed on the TDRL and be reevaluated at a later time.
 
Believe me I understand that PTSD does not warrant TDRL, however I am due to see my Orthopedic Doc in a few hours and he told me in my last appointment if it has not gotten any better (since this is my 3rd surgery) he will initiate MEB/PEB. This makes more sense, due to my other issues once my VA claim is complete i will receive the VA compensation in place of the TDRL compensation but will retain tricare and every thing else allowed for a retiree. Thank you for you help. If I misunderstood this please correct me, thank you!
 
cmjames84 said:
Believe me I understand that PTSD does not warrant TDRL, however I am due to see my Orthopedic Doc in a few hours and he told me in my last appointment if it has not gotten any better (since this is my 3rd surgery) he will initiate MEB/PEB. This makes more sense, due to my other issues once my VA claim is complete i will receive the VA compensation in place of the TDRL compensation but will retain tricare and every thing else allowed for a retiree. Thank you for you help. If I misunderstood this please correct me, thank you!
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You will receive the higher amout of either VA compensation or DoD. If your medical conditions are combat related you could be enitled to CRSC, restoration of some of your DoD pay......means extra money. As mentioned above, yes, you maintain all retiree priveledges.
 
skewedthinker said:
You will file a VA claim as part of the IDES process. You will receive retirement pay (at your disability percentage for unfit conditions) until your VA claim is complete. At that time, you will most likely stop receiving your retirement pay (but not your other benefits, including Tricare), and receive your VA Compensation because it will likely be higher than your retirement pay.

You may also be placed on PDRL; PTSD is not an automatic referral to the TDRL. If the PEB believes that your conditions will become better after you retire, then you will be placed on the TDRL and be reevaluated at a later time.
Click to expand...

The vast majority of PTSD cases are placed on TDRL- this is a result of 38 CFR 4.129, which mandates a minimum 50% rating temporarily upon separation. It is possible to get a PDRL finding for PTSD, but this is very rare. TDRL based on general findings is warranted when the condition is likely to change to make a difference in ultimate ratings over the 5 year TDRL period. Note that this is true whether the condition is likely to improve or worsen.


cmjames84 said:
Believe me I understand that PTSD does not warrant TDRL, however I am due to see my Orthopedic Doc in a few hours and he told me in my last appointment if it has not gotten any better (since this is my 3rd surgery) he will initiate MEB/PEB. This makes more sense, due to my other issues once my VA claim is complete i will receive the VA compensation in place of the TDRL compensation but will retain tricare and every thing else allowed for a retiree. Thank you for you help. If I misunderstood this please correct me, thank you!
Click to expand...

See above; PTSD most likely will result in TDRL.
 
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