Bryan was supposed to go to his intake appointment through Tricare for counseling today. But he missed it again. I reminded him last week that I thought his appointment was this week but he thought it was the end of the month. His alarm for it didn't go off until an hour before the appointment and he was at work.
Bryan had an appointment several months ago through the VA but missed that. Everytime he has an appointment with the VA they send a letter in the mail to remind you of your appointment. Bryan didn't know what the appointment was for since it didn't state it so he decided not to call to see what it was and didn't go. It was for counseling.
It is so frustrating because I told him he needed to go. It's crazy that they just prescribe him meds but don't monitor it. They need to be monitored and adjusted accordingly. It took a month to get the first appointment and his second appointment took a month and a half. Now we are back to square one. I thought he was doing better but at times I am not so sure.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
CRSC
So our friend Mark e-mailed the other day and said that CRSC (combat related special compensation) now applies to TDRL (temporary disability retirement list) retirees. This is huge news as Bryan can now draw his retirement from the Army and from the VA. In the past it was only that permantely retired or 20 year retirees could draw both. We thought this was BS as Bryan could have done 20 if he hadn't been blown up (even though we were 90% positive he wanted to get out). Anyways of course the Army didn't inform us that he could now draw both, a wounded soldier did. We have to apply for it which means going through 1,000 pages of medical records and list every injury and provide documentation. Bryan worked on it some this weekend so hopefully we can get it sent out soon. They will subtract his VA money from the retirement money and give him the difference. It won't be much or anything at all but at this point every little bit helps. It is so confusing that I am not sure I even understand it. Apparently there are glitches in it and you could not get it at all.
CRSC “Glitch” Surfaces
Last month we reported that the services began processing Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) claims based on expanded CRSC eligibility to members with less than 20 years of service who were retired for medical reasons or retired under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA) during the 1990s force reduction.
Thousands of retirees will benefit from the CRSC expansion. But there are some with combat-related disabilities who currently lose their entire retired pay to the disability offset and will still see no CRSC payment because of an unanticipated glitch in the statutory payment formula.
Because many factors go into the calculation, there’s no clear cutoff to explain exactly who will get less than expected. In general, those most likely to be affected are enlisted members with fewer than 14 years of service who have a high VA disability percentage but a significantly lower percentage that’s due to combat (see example). But some retired officers are affected, too.
EXAMPLE
E-7 with 12 YOS
Rated 100 percent by both DoD and VA, but only 60 percent is combat-related
Current Calculation
DoD Disability Ret: $2,376
Service-Earned Ret. Pay: -$950
DoD Pay for Disability: $1,426
Max CRSC for 60 percent: $921
DoD Pay for Disability*: $1,426
CRSC Award: $0
*formula requires this deduction even
when member doesn’t actually receive
any pay from DoD
MOAA-Recommended Calculation
DoD Disability Ret: $2,376
VA Comp for 100 percent: -$2,527
Current Pay from DoD: $0
Svc-Earned Ret. Pay: $950
Current Pay from DoD: -$0
CRSC Award**: $950
**cannot exceed max CRSC 60% = $921
We should be clear that the Defense Department and finance center aren’t the culprits here…they have to pay according to the statutory formula. Informally, service and finance officials agree with us that the formula doesn’t work as it should in some cases.
Let me know if you understand this.
I am glad that our friend provdided this information to us. What would we do if we didn't help one another out.
CRSC “Glitch” Surfaces
Last month we reported that the services began processing Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) claims based on expanded CRSC eligibility to members with less than 20 years of service who were retired for medical reasons or retired under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA) during the 1990s force reduction.
Thousands of retirees will benefit from the CRSC expansion. But there are some with combat-related disabilities who currently lose their entire retired pay to the disability offset and will still see no CRSC payment because of an unanticipated glitch in the statutory payment formula.
Because many factors go into the calculation, there’s no clear cutoff to explain exactly who will get less than expected. In general, those most likely to be affected are enlisted members with fewer than 14 years of service who have a high VA disability percentage but a significantly lower percentage that’s due to combat (see example). But some retired officers are affected, too.
EXAMPLE
E-7 with 12 YOS
Rated 100 percent by both DoD and VA, but only 60 percent is combat-related
Current Calculation
DoD Disability Ret: $2,376
Service-Earned Ret. Pay: -$950
DoD Pay for Disability: $1,426
Max CRSC for 60 percent: $921
DoD Pay for Disability*: $1,426
CRSC Award: $0
*formula requires this deduction even
when member doesn’t actually receive
any pay from DoD
MOAA-Recommended Calculation
DoD Disability Ret: $2,376
VA Comp for 100 percent: -$2,527
Current Pay from DoD: $0
Svc-Earned Ret. Pay: $950
Current Pay from DoD: -$0
CRSC Award**: $950
**cannot exceed max CRSC 60% = $921
We should be clear that the Defense Department and finance center aren’t the culprits here…they have to pay according to the statutory formula. Informally, service and finance officials agree with us that the formula doesn’t work as it should in some cases.
Let me know if you understand this.
I am glad that our friend provdided this information to us. What would we do if we didn't help one another out.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Appreciation
So today we are having a yard sale and we have all this military gear for sale. Everyone asks if he was in and why he didn't have to turn all this stuff in. This isn't a military town so people are really interested in the Military. When he tells them that he was blown up and didn't have to turn his gear in it has literally turned into hours worth of conversation. People just want to talk to him. It's amazing.
When we were getting things ready for the yard sale on Friday night I found the infamous clock that he had from the hospital he had asked every red cross volunteer if they had a battery powered clock. They finally found him one and he took a piece of paper and in his sloppy handwriting he wrote IRAQ in Bold letters. He took some surgical tape and taped it to the clock and set the time to Iraq. He wanted to know at all times what the time was over there. I tossed it to Bryan and asked him if he remembered this clock. He said no. I told him the story and he kinda smiled but with a sad look in his eyes. He misses being there at times I am sure. I can't wait till his men come home again, hopefully for the last time.
A gentleman just came up and wanted to buy Bryan's favorite backpack. I couldn't believe that he even put it in the yard sale stuff to begin with. When he was in the hospital this backpack was MIA for a while. He knew it made it on the medical plane with him. One day a Sergeant walked in with it on her shoulder. It had the personal effects tag on it. Bryan's eyes lit up and all of his things were in there, including his wedding band that he was so adamant about getting. This backpack also held the shitty chair back that I slept in while Bryan was inpatient. They had taken the cardiac chair that was much more comfortable to sleep in and I never saw it again. I had this awful chair that would pop straight up when I was sleeping. I would drape the heavy backpack over the the back and it would stay reclined the entire night. I guess he is ready to rid himself of the military stuff. It was these things that at times saved his life. I am glad he no longer needs it.
When we were getting things ready for the yard sale on Friday night I found the infamous clock that he had from the hospital he had asked every red cross volunteer if they had a battery powered clock. They finally found him one and he took a piece of paper and in his sloppy handwriting he wrote IRAQ in Bold letters. He took some surgical tape and taped it to the clock and set the time to Iraq. He wanted to know at all times what the time was over there. I tossed it to Bryan and asked him if he remembered this clock. He said no. I told him the story and he kinda smiled but with a sad look in his eyes. He misses being there at times I am sure. I can't wait till his men come home again, hopefully for the last time.
A gentleman just came up and wanted to buy Bryan's favorite backpack. I couldn't believe that he even put it in the yard sale stuff to begin with. When he was in the hospital this backpack was MIA for a while. He knew it made it on the medical plane with him. One day a Sergeant walked in with it on her shoulder. It had the personal effects tag on it. Bryan's eyes lit up and all of his things were in there, including his wedding band that he was so adamant about getting. This backpack also held the shitty chair back that I slept in while Bryan was inpatient. They had taken the cardiac chair that was much more comfortable to sleep in and I never saw it again. I had this awful chair that would pop straight up when I was sleeping. I would drape the heavy backpack over the the back and it would stay reclined the entire night. I guess he is ready to rid himself of the military stuff. It was these things that at times saved his life. I am glad he no longer needs it.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
My mini vacation
So I went to see an Army Wife friend that I had met on myspace of all places. She is from Rhode Island and has moved several times already since becoming an Army Wife. She had e-mailed me when she saw the pic of Bryan in a wheelchair on an Army Wife group that I participate in. She and I have talked every since and when she moved to Seattle we planned a trip to meet while her husband was deployed. From the moment we "met" we were like we had been friends for years. It's amazing to meet someone you had talked to about your life on a regular basis. We had a blast touring Seattle and hanging out in a dueling piano bar. Touring my favorite Winery Chat. Ste. Michelle and taking the ferry over to Banbridge Island.
Wine Tasting
It was nice to get away from my husband for a bit and just hang out with a great friend. I wished that she lived closer so we could hang out more often. It's amazing how many friends I have scattered throughout the United States that have made so much of an impact on me throughout my time as an Army Wife. I hope to see them all again at some point. Army wives are such great friends but they all have to move at some point. They will always remain a part of my life forever.
Wine Tasting
It was nice to get away from my husband for a bit and just hang out with a great friend. I wished that she lived closer so we could hang out more often. It's amazing how many friends I have scattered throughout the United States that have made so much of an impact on me throughout my time as an Army Wife. I hope to see them all again at some point. Army wives are such great friends but they all have to move at some point. They will always remain a part of my life forever.
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