MOAA has sought legislation providing full relief from the 19th century law that required a dollar-for-dollar offset of military retired pay for disability compensation from the VA. MOAA strongly believes retired pay is earned for a career of uniformed service and VA disability compensation is recompense for pain, suffering and lost future earning power due to service-connected disabilities. After decades of effort, Congress has finally started to approve limited concurrent receipt provisions.
FY 2003 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - Provided combat related special compensation (CRSC) to those retirees with qualifying disabilities rated at 60% or higher, and to those retirees with disabilities (regardless of disability level) associated with the award of a Purple Heart decoration. This effectively restored a qualifying members retired pay to the level that would have been payable absent the combat-related disability.
FY 2004 NDAA - Expanded CRSC to include all combat- or operations-related disabilities, effective January 1, 2004-regardless of disability level (10% to 100% ratings), effective January 1, 2004.
- Included provisions (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments - CRDP) for a ten-year plan to eliminate the offset of retired pay for VA disability compensation for those with 50-100% disabilities due to non-combat/operations conditions.
FY 2005 NDAA - Authorized immediate full concurrent receipt of retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for qualifying 100 percent disabled retirees.
FY 2006 NDAA - Accelerated the concurrent receipt phase-in for qualifying retirees deemed "unemployability" by the VA from Jan. 1, 2014 to Oct. 1, 2009. The phase-in will continue without change until Oct. 1, 2009 at which time the full amount of retired pay that is still offset by VA disability compensation will be reinstated.
FY 2007 NDAA - Senate's version of the bill included a provision that would have eliminated the phase in and provide immediate, full concurrent receipt for those retirees rated 100% unemployable, but that provision was dropped in final negotiations with the House.
MOAA Pushes Concurrent Receipt (Testimony)
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP)
Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
