CRSC records review: what's combat-related, what's provable, what it's worth

Most retirees don't know what their case is actually worth, or which conditions will survive a board, until a decision letter tells them. A records review answers that up front. You get a written report you can act on: what's combat-related, what's provable from the paper you have, what's missing, and what each condition pays per month at 2026 rates. Whether you then build the packet yourself, hire us, or decide not to file, you decide with the numbers in hand. If you already built a packet, we review that too.

What we review

A board approves what the paper proves, so we read your records the way the board will, looking for the link that isn't there yet. For every rated condition, we work the chain end to end and tell you where it holds and where it breaks.

• The causation chain, per condition. Event → mechanism of injury → medical evidence → combat-related category. We check that each link is actually documented in your records, not just asserted, for every rated condition on your VA decision.
• The right combat-related category. We match each condition to the category it can actually win on (armed conflict, hazardous service, conditions simulating war, instrumentality of war, or Purple Heart) and flag the ones with no lane.
• What it's worth per month. Using the 2026 VA rate table and your retirement type (20-year or Chapter 61), we tell you what your combat-related conditions would pay, and where the cap on your case sits.
• Whether your records prove each link. It's not enough that a record exists; it has to prove the point the board needs. We tell you which documents carry the weight and which gaps need a witness statement, a records request, or a medical opinion.
• Your DD Form 2860, if you've drafted one. Already built a packet? We go through your DD Form 2860 and item 14.k (Block 13 on the old form) narratives field by field, looking for blanks, mismatches, and the spots that trip retirees up.
• Your branch board's expectations. Army HRC, the Navy board, AFPC, and Coast Guard PSC each read evidence differently. We tell you what your board will want to see for each condition.

What you get

You don't get a vague thumbs-up. You get a written report you can act on the same day:

• A written case map with specific fixes, prioritized. Every rated condition, its combat-related lane, whether the paper proves it, what would close each gap, and what to fix first.
• A monthly dollar figure. What your provable combat-related conditions would pay per month at 2026 rates, with the cap that controls your case.
• A clear go/no-go read on weak conditions. Some conditions help a claim; some only invite a denial. We tell you which of yours are carrying their weight and which we'd leave out.
• A 30-minute debrief call to walk the report and decide what happens next.
• Full credit toward a Full Packet within 90 days. Hire us to build it and the review fee comes off the packet price.

Who it's for

Retirees who want to know what their case is worth before committing to anything. DIY filers and readers of The CRSC Playbook who've assembled a packet and want a gut check before it's final. Chapter 61 retirees who need the cap math done right. Anyone who'd rather find the gaps now than read about them in a denial letter. If you'd rather we build the whole thing, that's the Full CRSC Packet, and the review fee is credited toward it within 90 days.

What it costs

We charge a flat fee on purpose. Some companies take a percentage of your retroactive CRSC, which can mean thousands of dollars off the top of money you earned. You'll always know our price up front, and it never scales with your backpay.

Honest expectations

A review tells you the truth about your case; it can't make the outcome certain. CRSC is case-specific and decided solely by your branch's board; we don't guarantee approval, a rating, or a backpay amount, and no one honestly can. What a review does is show you the gaps the board would use to deny you, while there's still time to close them. And if we read your records and find the case is fundamentally weak (the conditions just don't trace to a qualifying combat-related event), we'll tell you that straight on the free call, before you spend a dollar.

Review FAQ

What's the difference between a records review and full packet preparation?

A records review reads your DD-214, VA rating decisions, and medical record line by line and tells you what's combat-related, what's provable, and what it's worth per month, with a written report of prioritized fixes, for $599. Full packet preparation is the done-for-you build: recorded-interview personal statement, verified chain-of-command statements, causation narratives, DD Form 2860, and a final QC audit, for $2,749. The review fee is fully credited toward a Full Packet within 90 days.

Do you offer payment plans for the review?

Yes. Pay in full with any major card. Payment plans available through Affirm or Klarna at checkout, subject to approval. Standfast receives the same flat fee either way and never charges interest.

Can you guarantee my claim will be approved after a review?

No. A review shows you exactly where your case is strong and where it's thin, but CRSC eligibility and outcomes are decided solely by your branch's CRSC board. No one can honestly promise approval, a rating, or a backpay amount — be cautious of anyone who does.

How long does a review take?

It's typically a short turnaround once we have your three core documents (DD-214, VA decision letters, VA Blue Button report), but the timeline depends on the size of your record. We give you a realistic estimate on the free 15-minute call before you commit, and we don't make hard promises on dates.