Published October 7, 2026. The benefits-news items below were current as of that date. This is an archived issue of our weekly email — subscribe here to get new issues first.
One week to the number that sets your 2027 raise
Nothing in retired pay, CRDP, or CRSC rules changed this week, so this issue leads with the date that matters. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes September inflation data on October 14 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. It is the last of the three monthly readings used to set the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment. (Source: BLS CPI release schedule.)
For eligible retirees, the COLA flows into the check you already receive. The official percentage comes after that release, and we won’t print a projection here. If you are comparing CRSC and CRDP, run both with the same rate assumptions so the comparison stays apples to apples.
Does this touch your check? Not yet. It will in January, and the number is one week out.
VA decisions are arriving faster — read yours closely
VA reported on September 22 that the average time to complete a disability decision was 75.6 days in September 2026, compared with 141.5 days on January 20, 2025, and that claims processing accuracy is currently 94%. (Source: VA news release, September 22, 2026.)
A quicker decision is useful, but a CRSC packet is built on what the letter says, not how fast it came. Each rated condition, its diagnostic code, its percentage, and its effective date become the backbone of the application. Ratings are decided on the evidence VA had in front of it, so a fast decision on a thin file can leave a condition under-documented for CRSC purposes.
Describing the event in generalities
“I deployed and hurt my back” is not something a CRSC board can act on. Boards look for a specific link between a rated condition and a qualifying event: what happened, roughly when, where, and what you were doing.
The same goes for buddy and command statements. One that names the date, the place, and what the writer personally saw carries far more weight than one that says you “served honorably in a combat zone.” Vague packets are a common reason eligible retirees get a denial for a condition that may well qualify.
This week, write down the “who, what, when, where” for your top rated condition in four plain sentences.
Then check whether a record backs each sentence: an orders entry, a treatment note, an award citation, a line-of-duty form. Any sentence with no record behind it is the gap to close before you file, and eligible retirees who can document it may qualify for potential back pay.
Want a second set of eyes on that list? Book a free 15-minute review — flat fee if you move forward, never a percentage of your back pay.
Free through October 12: Loy’s new book, The 100% Playbook, covers every benefit that comes with a 100% rating and how to claim each one. Kindle edition: amazon.com/dp/B0HM1S743W
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