Can a military retiree get VA disability pay while they are drawing military retirement pay? With Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP), the answer for many veterans is yes.
Eligibility
You must be eligible for retired pay to qualify for CRDP. If you were placed on a disability retirement, but would be eligible for military retired pay in the absence of the disability, you may be entitled to receive CRDP.
Under these rules, you may be entitled to CRDP if…
- you are a regular retiree with a VA rating of 50% or more.
- you are a reserve retiree with 20 qualifying years of service, who has a VA disability of 50% or more and who has reached retirement age.
- you are retired under Temporary Early Retirement Act (TERA) and have a VA disability rating of 50% or more.
- you are a disability retiree who earned entitlement to retired pay under any provision of law other than solely by disability, and you have a VA disability rating of 50% or more. You might become eligible for CRDP at the time you would have become eligible for retired pay.
In addition to monthly CRDP payments, you may be eligible for a retroactive payment. DFAS will audit your account to determine whether or not you are due retroactive payment. An audit of your account requires researching pay information from both DFAS and VA.
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