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My Coast Guard
Commentary | March 23, 2023

Retirees, you may be entitled to more pay! 

By Lt. Cmdr. Shannon Reck, CG-PSC-PSD-MED 

Attention retirees! You may be entitled to higher pay as a result of an expansion in the National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA)

Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a tax-free monthly entitlement payment program established to compensate Coast Guard retirees afflicted with combat- or operationally- related disabilities. Applicants must be retired from the Coast Guard and receive a minimum disability rating of 10% by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to qualify. 

While “combat” is in the name of the entitlement, involvement in many areas of Coast Guard operations may qualify you to receive payment, including but not limited to aviation, diving, and search and rescue operations. For a full list of qualifying activities, please visit the Personnel Service Center (PSC) CRSC website.   

Recently, Congress expanded CRSC to cover exposures to hazardous materials or chemicals. This expansion could include the following: 

  • An exposure, either acute or over prolonged periods, to specific chemicals, particulates, or physical agents, which result in a disabling condition. Materials include but are not limited to asbestos, benzene, heavy metals, noise, radiation, respiratory sensitizers, and mixed solvents.   

Enrollment in the Occupational Medical Surveillance and Evaluation Program (OMSEP) is not a requirement for eligibility. All but applicants must provide supporting documentation of occupational exposure. Members are encouraged to work with their providers to make sure they have proper medical documentation of medical conditions or exposures. 

How to apply 

Service members filing a claim have access to any support and guidance they may need. Coast Guard CRSC staff review your claim and help ensure your application is complete. If you need any help filing a claim, please click here to contact PSC’s Medical Administration Branch. 

To apply, please complete the CRSC application DD Form 2860 and provide all required documentation. The following is a list of examples of acceptable evidentiary sources:  

  • DD Form 214 (Required) 
  • Retirement orders  
  • TDY orders 
  • Medical records from the time you served in the Coast Guard (or other services) that indicate the diagnosis was a direct result of qualifying hazardous service or combat 
  • Physical Evaluation Board (if applicable) 
  • Any additional evidence that can verify the events or circumstances, such as awards, certifications, unit reports, mishap reports, Line of Duty determinations, OMSEP documents, and ER visit notes. 

You may either submit the package via email or by mail to: 
Commander CG Personnel Service Center (PSC-PSD-med)  
US Coast Guard STOP 7200 
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE  
Washington, DC  20593-7200     
ATTN: CRSC Department 

As a reminder, each diagnosis requires documentation. For example, if there are five diagnoses, there must be five individual Page 2s of the CRSC application form, which are available here. However, if you have a secondary diagnosis to an original diagnosis, each must be entered into box 13M. 

Be sure to reference to Appendix A of DD Form 2860. This section describes the eligibility related codes and ranges of eligibility for each condition. 

For more information, please visit the Coast Guard CRSC website. If you have any questions, please contact the Medical Administration Branch at the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center. 

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