COMBAT RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION – SO FAR, NO CHANGE
SOTO SUPREME COURT DECISION (2025)
To cut to the chase, CRSC is alive and well and the eligibility criteria have not changed. Next thing you know the “Supremes,” as lawyers sometimes call them, will be ruling on MEBs, PEBs, LODs and IDES.
Despite the Soto decision, applicants still have to apply and your medical conditions which led to your disability pension, must be a result of direct combat exposure or training closely simulating war, like jumping out of airplanes, injuries from uniquely military equipment and / or, your PTSD, depression or anxiety, was directly caused by war (a combat scenario not just that you suffered symptoms while mobilized or deployed).
Learn more here: It is a bit confusing. This old and retired artilleryman turned JAG lawyer, made it Lieutenant Colonel and learned a few things along the way in 30 years. This is the best explanation that I developed on the issues surrounding CRSC. https://www.citizensoldierlaw.com/confusing-even-for-this-retired-lieutenant-colonel-jag-how-to-calculate-crsc/
How does this Supreme Court decision, written by the great Justice Clarence Thomas, affect current recipients? So far, it does not affect anything. The lower courts have to act on the nation’s highest court’s decision first. Pete Hegseth and his crew at the Pentagon have to re-write the rules for the various Secretaries of the various branches to implement. If you have already been granted CRSC, you may have been entitled to more years of retroactive pay than you received.
Let us know if you have questions and “contact us” for a free case review at www.CitizenSoldierLaw.com.
Send your circumstances and we can keep you posted.