Supreme Court Expands CRSC Access by Overruling Six-Year Limit on Backpay

In a landmark June 2025 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Soto v. United States that military retirees who qualify for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) are not limited to six years of retroactive payments, reversing the federal government’s longstanding interpretation of the Barring Act.

The Issue at Hand

Simon Soto, a former U.S. Marine medically retired in 2006 after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was later diagnosed with PTSD linked to his combat service. In 2016, he applied for CRSC benefits. While the Navy approved his application, it only paid retroactive benefits back six years, citing the Barring Act, which generally restricts claims against the government to a six-year limit.

Soto, on behalf of similarly situated veterans, filed a class action challenging that limitation.

Supreme Court’s Holding

Justice Thomas, writing for a unanimous Court, held that the Barring Act does not apply to CRSC claims. Why? Because the CRSC statute—10 U.S.C. §1413a—constitutes “another law” that provides its own mechanism for determining and settling claims. The Court concluded that:

• The CRSC statute empowers military service secretaries to decide both eligibility and the amount owed.
• This authority to determine validity and compensation equates to a distinct settlement mechanism that displaces the default six-year limit in the Barring Act.
• Congress need not use “magic words” like “settle” to establish such authority.

Implications for Veterans

The ruling significantly broadens potential recovery for many disabled veterans. For example, veterans like Soto, who became eligible for CRSC in 2008 but applied after 2014, may now receive full retroactive compensation dating back to their eligibility—not just six years’ worth.

Government Pushback Rejected

The federal government and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had previously argued that the CRSC statute did not explicitly provide settlement authority and therefore could not override the Barring Act. The Supreme Court firmly rejected that argument, calling the Federal Circuit’s “magic words” requirement too rigid.

What’s Next?

Veterans previously denied retroactive CRSC beyond six years may have a path to reopen their claims. The case now returns to lower courts for implementation, and the Department of Defense may need to revise its CRSC processing rules.

This is a major victory for veterans with combat-related disabilities—and a reminder that sometimes justice means looking beyond bureaucracy to the law’s intended protections.

Citizen Soldier Law will continue to monitor developments and assist veterans seeking CRSC benefits in light of this decision.