Free Tool · Updated for 2026 Rates (Effective Dec. 1, 2025)
Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Calculator
Estimate your monthly tax-free CRSC payment under 10 U.S.C. § 1413a — including the dependent adjustments and Chapter 61 longevity cap that most online calculators skip. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
CRSC — payable is the least of three caps
Paid tax-free by DFAS
Estimate only — your actual entitlement is determined by your branch's CRSC board and computed by DFAS. Rates: VA compensation tables effective Dec. 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA). Retroactive CRSC may reach further back than six years following Soto v. United States (2025).
How this calculator works
CRSC restores retired pay that was waived to receive VA disability compensation, but only for combat-related conditions, and only up to the statutory limits in 10 U.S.C. § 1413a. For a Chapter 61 (medical) retiree, DFAS pays the least of: the VA compensation rate for your combat-related percentage (including your dependents), your longevity-earned retired pay, and the amount of retired pay you actually waived. The ledger above shows all three caps and marks the one that controls, because knowing which cap binds you is the difference between a correct application and money left on the table.
Why the dependent adjustment matters
Cap ① is not a flat percentage — it is the VA compensation table value for your combat-related rating, and at 30% and above that table pays more for a spouse, children, and dependent parents. A 70% combat-related rating is worth $1,808.45 alone but $2,074.45 with a spouse and one child in 2026. Calculators that ignore dependents understate CRSC for nearly every military family.
Chapter 61 retirees and the longevity cap
Because Congress viewed the disability-based portion of Chapter 61 retired pay as already compensated by the VA, CRSC for medical retirees cannot exceed what your retired pay would have been based on years of service alone. For members medically retired early in a career, cap ② usually controls — which is why two members with identical ratings can receive very different CRSC.
CRSC vs. CRDP
CRSC is tax-free but requires an application to your branch's board with proof that each condition is combat-related. CRDP is automatic and taxable, and requires 20 years and a 50%+ VA rating. You cannot receive both; DFAS runs an annual open season to let you pick the better one.
Frequently asked questions
Is CRSC taxable?
No. CRSC is excluded from federal and state income tax, which makes a dollar of CRSC worth more than a dollar of CRDP or retired pay.
Do I have to apply?
Yes. CRSC is never automatic. Each branch has its own board and its own form (DD Form 2860), and the evidentiary standard for "combat-related" is where applications are won or lost.
How far back can retroactive CRSC go?
Following the Supreme Court's decision in Soto v. United States (2025), the six-year Barring Act limit no longer caps CRSC retro. Implementation is ongoing, and previously barred claims are being re-reviewed — if you were told your retro was capped, that answer may now be wrong.
Facing a MEB/PEB, or think your CRSC was underpaid?
Attorney Gately represents service members and veterans nationwide in IDES/LDES proceedings, CRSC and records-correction matters, and VA appeals.
757-481-0772Schedule a Free ConsultationDisclaimer. This calculator provides an estimate for general informational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, or tax advice, does not create an attorney–client relationship, and is not a substitute for a determination by your branch of service or DFAS. Authorities: 10 U.S.C. § 1413a; DoD FMR Vol. 7B, ch. 63; VA compensation rate tables effective December 1, 2025. Attorney advertising — Gately Law Firm, Virginia Beach, VA.