COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION (CRSC) — APPLICATION GUIDE

Date Prepared: [__/__/____]

Applicant Name: [________________________________]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Eligibility Requirements
2. Applicant Information
3. VA Disability Information
4. Combat-Relatedness Determination
5. Disability-by-Disability Analysis
6. Supporting Evidence
7. CRSC vs. CRDP Comparison
8. Application Checklist
9. Branch-Specific Filing Information
10. Signature and Certification

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS {#eligibility}

1.1 To be eligible for CRSC, you must meet ALL of the following:

☐ Retired from a uniformed service (including medical retirement and TDRL)
☐ Entitled to military retired pay (including Chapter 61 disability retirees)
☐ Have a VA disability rating of 10% or higher
☐ Have your retired pay reduced (offset) due to receipt of VA disability compensation
☐ Have at least one disability that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 1413a

1.2 You are NOT eligible if:

☐ You receive disability severance pay instead of retired pay
☐ You are a member of a reserve component who has not yet reached retirement eligibility

APPLICANT INFORMATION {#applicant-info}

VA DISABILITY INFORMATION {#va-disability}

3.1 VA Combined Rating: [____]%

3.2 List ALL rated VA disabilities:

COMBAT-RELATEDNESS DETERMINATION {#combat-related}

4.1 A disability qualifies as "combat-related" if it resulted from one of the following four categories:

☐ Purple Heart — The disability is the basis for a Purple Heart award.

☐ Direct Result of Armed Conflict — The disability was incurred as a direct result of armed conflict. This includes injuries sustained in combat, combat patrols, combat operations, and hostile fire incidents.

☐ Hazardous Service — The disability resulted from hazardous service, including:
- Parachute duty (airborne operations)
- Demolition duty
- Experimental stress duty
- Flight deck duty on aircraft carriers
- Submarine duty
- Other duty designated as hazardous by the service

☐ Instrumentality of War — The disability was caused through an instrumentality of war, meaning a vehicle, vessel, aircraft, weapon, or device designed primarily for military use or a military activity (e.g., military vehicle accident, weapons training injury, exposure to agent orange/burn pits).

☐ Simulated War Conditions — The disability was incurred under conditions simulating war, including:
- Field training exercises
- War games
- Military exercises and maneuvers
- Operational readiness exercises

DISABILITY-BY-DISABILITY ANALYSIS {#disability-analysis}

For EACH disability claimed as combat-related, complete the following:

Disability #1: [________________________________]

VA Rating: [____]%

Combat-Related Category: ☐ Purple Heart ☐ Armed Conflict ☐ Hazardous Service ☐ Instrumentality of War ☐ Simulated War

Detailed Explanation:

Date/period of incurrence: [________________________________]

Location: [________________________________]

Unit assigned: [________________________________]

Specific circumstances: [________________________________]

[________________________________]

Supporting evidence attached: [________________________________]

Disability #2: [________________________________]

VA Rating: [____]%

Combat-Related Category: ☐ Purple Heart ☐ Armed Conflict ☐ Hazardous Service ☐ Instrumentality of War ☐ Simulated War

Detailed Explanation:

Date/period of incurrence: [________________________________]

Location: [________________________________]

Unit assigned: [________________________________]

Specific circumstances: [________________________________]

[________________________________]

Supporting evidence attached: [________________________________]

Disability #3: [________________________________]

VA Rating: [____]%

Combat-Related Category: ☐ Purple Heart ☐ Armed Conflict ☐ Hazardous Service ☐ Instrumentality of War ☐ Simulated War

Detailed Explanation:

[________________________________]

Supporting evidence attached: [________________________________]

[Add additional disabilities as needed]

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE {#evidence}

6.1 Documents to include with DD Form 2860:

☐ DD-214 (all copies for all periods of service)
☐ VA Rating Decision(s) showing all rated disabilities
☐ VA disability compensation award letter
☐ Retirement orders
☐ Purple Heart citation/orders (if applicable)
☐ Service treatment records documenting injuries
☐ Combat action reports, after-action reports
☐ Deployment orders/records
☐ Hazardous duty orders (jump log, flight log, demolition orders)
☐ Unit history/command chronology
☐ Buddy statements from fellow service members
☐ Medical records linking condition to service event
☐ Line of duty investigation reports
☐ Personnel records showing combat/hazardous duty assignments
☐ Burn pit registry enrollment (if applicable)
☐ Agent Orange exposure records (if applicable)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

CRSC VS. CRDP COMPARISON {#crsc-crdp}

7.1 If eligible for both CRSC and CRDP, you must choose one:

7.2 Estimated Monthly Amounts:

APPLICATION CHECKLIST {#checklist}

☐ Completed DD Form 2860
☐ Attached all supporting evidence (Section 6)
☐ Provided detailed combat-relatedness explanation for each disability
☐ Included DD-214(s)
☐ Included VA Rating Decision
☐ Reviewed CRSC vs. CRDP comparison
☐ Made copies of the entire application package
☐ Identified correct service branch CRSC board
☐ Sent via traceable delivery method

BRANCH-SPECIFIC FILING INFORMATION {#filing-info}

Army: U.S. Army Human Resources Command, CRSC, 1600 Spearhead Division Ave., Fort Knox, KY 40122

Navy/Marines: Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards, CRSC Board, 720 Kennon Street SE, Suite 309, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374

Air Force: Air Force Review Boards Agency, CRSC Division, 1500 W. Perimeter Road, Suite 3700, Andrews AFB, MD 20762

Coast Guard: Commanding Officer (CG PSC-PSD-FS), U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, 444 SE Quincy Street, Topeka, KS 66683

SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION {#signature}

I certify that the information provided in this application is true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that willful false statements may result in disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution.

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name and Rank: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Sources and References

• 10 U.S.C. § 1413a — Combat-Related Special Compensation
• DoD CRSC Guidance Document
• VA — CRSC Information
• DFAS — CRSC