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New Claim Form for Combat-Injured Veterans
New Claim Form Makes it Easier for Combat-Injured Veterans to Claim Compensation Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has listened to its veterans by making it easier for them to apply for compensation for combat-related injuries. After receiving feedback from all branches of service and many retired veterans, Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) - a benefit that provides dual compensation for eligible military retirees - has significantly revised its claim form, making it easier to understand who is eligible for CRSC, and what information veterans should provide in order to be eligible to receive their compensation. “Time and again, we heard from retired veterans that the CRSC claim form was difficult and time consuming to complete,” said COL John F. Sackett, Chief of the U.S. Army CRSC Division under the U.S. Army Physical Disabilities Agency (USAPDA). “Many have started the claim form and set it aside because it was too overwhelming, they did not understand the supporting documentation requirements, or it was just too hard to read.” CRSC helps 20-year military retirees by providing a monthly tax-free compensation (full concurrent receipt option) that supplements Veterans Administration (VA) disability and military retired payments. The retired veteran has to have a 10 percent or greater VA disability rating, and must be able to prove that the disability is combat-related - i.e., training that simulates war, hazardous duty, an instrumentality of war, or armed conflict. The claim form, which is available now, has several improvements. Simple changes such as a larger font and text boxes make it easier to use. In addition, the new form takes claimants through a sequence of eligibility questions and prompts them for documentation every step of the way. For example: under the “Preliminary Requirements” section, the first question for Active Duty Retirees is “Did you serve at least 20 years on active duty?” and then asks them to attach a copy of their DD214(s) proving 20 years of active duty service. Now, there is no question of the supporting documentation needed for the CRSC claim. Everything a retired veteran needs to know is on the form itself. Even with the improvements, veterans may still have questions. To address those questions, the Army has created an enhanced CRSC website (www.crsc.army.mil). Once there, they can click on “Retired Veterans” to obtain information on eligibility criteria, the claim process, answers to frequently asked questions, claim resources, and download a claim form. In addition, veterans can call the CRSC Service Center at 1-866-281-3254 or reach it via e-mail at crsc.info@us.army.mil. “Our veterans have laid their lives on the line for our nation, and we owe it to them to do whatever we can to help the retired veterans who are eligible for CRSC get the compensation they deserve,” said COL Sackett. “The new claim form, along with our enhanced website, is a significant step forward in achieving that goal.” Veterans who retired from a branch of service other than the Army can submit their claim to that branch using the contact information below: ARMY COAST GUARD NAVY and MARINE CORPS |
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