Fill Out DD Form 2860 in 2026
Document your combat-related disability, claim monthly compensation that isn't taxed for retired pay offset by VA benefits, then download your completed copy.
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How to fill out a DD Form 2860
Follow the steps below and you'll finish with confidence.
Open the form
Access the pre-loaded form in the editor; no need to upload a copy first.
Fill in your details
Complete every required field, from personal identification to disability codes.
Download as PDF
Save your completed CRSC claim as a PDF, ready to print or share as needed.
What is a DD Form 2860?
DD Form 2860 is the Claim for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), used by military retirees to request this untaxed monthly benefit through their branch of service. Normally, retirees can't collect both military retired pay and VA disability compensation in full. CRSC changes that for combat-related disabilities, restoring some or all of the retired pay otherwise withheld. Filing this form is how eligible veterans claim the income they earned.
Key Takeaways
- DD Form 2860 claims CRSC for retirees
- Reports retired pay withheld for VA compensation
- Contains combat-related disability details
What is a DD Form 2860 used for?
Military retirees use this form to apply for CRSC payments that aren't taxed and to show that a disability is combat-related. Filing the DD 2860 CRSC application lets reviewers check eligibility and set up payments:
- Claim CRSC benefits through your branch of service
- Prove your disability is combat-related under federal law
- Restore retired pay withheld due to VA compensation
- Let DFAS process payments once you qualify
What information is required on a DD Form 2860?
Name, Address, and Personal Information (Items 1-7)
Enter your full name, mailing address, Social Security Number, service number, date of birth, retired rank, and service branch.
Preliminary CRSC Criteria (Items 8a-d)
Mark yes or no for each retirement category, such as 20-year retiree, reservist, TERA retiree, or medical retiree.
From Which Service Did You Retire? (Item 9)
Check the branch you retired from and attach a copy of your retirement orders or DD214.
War or Combat Operations Service (Item 10)
State whether you served in any listed war or combat operation tied to your claimed disability.
Final CRSC Criteria Confirmation (Items 11-12)
Confirm your answers to prior items to show you meet the Preliminary CRSC Criteria before continuing.
Disability Description (Item 13)
List each combat-related disability with its VA diagnostic code, origin-of-disability code, and assigned unit.
Documentation Submitted (Section IV)
Check each supporting document you are attaching, such as medical records or award citations.
Certification and Signature (Section V)
Sign and date the form to certify your claim and waive concurrent disability payments.
When is a DD Form 2860 due?
No fixed deadline exists — you may submit a DD Form 2860 at any time. Timing instead depends on a 6-year statute of limitations for back pay: file within 6 years of a VA rating decision or the date you become entitled to retired pay, whichever comes first, to recover the maximum retroactive compensation owed.
Prepare your DD Form 2860
Open DD Form 2860 here, fill in your CRSC details, and download the completed claim for your records.
When is a DD Form 2860 not required?
You can skip DD Form 2860 only if your branch offers its own CRSC packet in place of the standard form. Otherwise, submitting it stays mandatory for every retiree seeking CRSC, whether from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, since no exceptions based on disability rating, income, or activity type apply.
What does a DD Form 2860 form look like
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