Hoping one of you experts can help me understand something. Late last night my initial post-retirement claim updated and I was granted a total combined service connected rate of 80%. After 7 months of waiting I’m ecstatic. But here’s where I’m not clear:

The decision letter states that they’re withholding a portion of my compensation until 1 Dec 2023 due to my receiving retirement pay as my retirement date was 1 May of this year.

For starters, since we’re already past 1 Dec how does this withholding affect when my payments will start?

Secondly, and more importantly, wouldn’t I qualify for CRDP? My understanding was that as long as you retired with 20 years of service and were granted a rating of 50% or more that you could receive full retirement pay and all of your disability compensation.

Since my effective date for all of my individual service connected ratings is 1 May 2023 I’m assuming my compensation back pay will start then. It’s just this whole withholding thing that threw me for a loop. I have to call VA on Monday anyway since the letter states I’ll be paid without dependents when I have three so maybe y’all can tell me if I need to address anything about the withholding.