DD Form 2860 (AUG 2026): download the form and get it right

DD Form 2860 is the single federal form used to claim Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) across every branch of the U.S. military. The current edition is dated AUG 2026 (updated August 12, 2026); it replaced the JUL 2011 form. The form itself is short. Most of it is identifying information. The part that decides your claim is item 14, the disability section with the combat-related narrative at 14.k, and the records you attach to back it up.

What DD Form 2860 is

There is only one CRSC application form, and every branch uses it: DD Form 2860, "Claim for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)." Get the current AUG 2026 edition, fillable and print versions, in our free CRSC forms kit: unmodified official copies, together with the new DD Form 3210 reconsideration request and the SF 180 records request. It is a dynamic PDF: open it in Adobe Reader, not a browser tab, or it shows only a "please wait" page.

Block by block (the parts that matter)

You do not need a walkthrough of every line — most blocks are straightforward identifying data. These are the parts that actually shape the claim:

• Identifying information (items 1 to 9). Your name, DoD ID number (not your SSN on the new form), contact information, and how the board should reach you. Accuracy matters because this is how your records get matched. The form's own rule: if you do not know an answer, write "Don't Know" or "DK"; do not leave any item blank.
• Retirement type. The form asks how you retired — for example, a 20-year (length-of-service) retirement, a Chapter 61 medical retirement, TERA, or a Reserve retirement. This drives how your CRSC is figured.
• VA-rated conditions you are claiming. List the conditions you want considered for CRSC. These must be conditions the VA has already rated. Claiming a condition the VA has not rated as combat-related gives the board an easy reason to set it aside.
• Item 14, the disability section. One entry per VA-rated condition: the condition and rating, the new 14.c presumptive dropdown (Agent Orange, radiation, Gulf War, POW, or none), the combat-related code at 14.h (armed conflict, hazardous service, simulating war, or instrument of war), the narrative at 14.k, and the Purple Heart question at 14.l. This is the heart of the form. A strong, documented 14.k is the difference between an approval and a denial.

What item 14.k (the old Block 13) asks for

Item 14.k asks you, for each VA-rated condition, to state the specific combat-related event or exposure, how it caused the condition, the medical evidence that documents it, and the qualifying category it falls under at 14.h. Want a read on what yours should say before you write it? Book a free 15-minute CRSC review →

Signature rules

Important: the signature is now item 16.e with the date at 16.f. The AUG 2026 form accepts an ink signature or a CAC digital signature; other electronic or typed signatures are not accepted and the Army (HRC) will bounce a packet over it before anyone reads it. Most retirees no longer hold a CAC, so in practice that means wet ink. Sign per your branch's current instructions, and when in doubt, use ink.

What to attach

The form is only the cover sheet for your evidence. A complete packet generally includes:

• DD214 / DD215(s) — your discharge and any corrections.
• VA rating decision(s) and VA code sheet — proof of the conditions and percentages the VA assigned.
• Service treatment records from the time of injury — the contemporaneous medical record that ties the condition to the event.
• PEB paperwork if you are a Chapter 61 medical retiree — your Physical Evaluation Board findings.
• Orders and award documents that prove the event — deployment orders, hazardous-duty orders, line-of-duty determinations, and any award citations that corroborate what happened.

Not sure whether you even qualify before you gather all of this? Start with CRSC eligibility.

Where to submit (by branch)

CRSC claims are adjudicated by your branch, not by the VA or DFAS. Each branch has its own board and its own submission method:

Exact current mailing addresses and portal links change over time and are listed on each branch's official CRSC page — confirm the address or portal there before you submit, and do not rely on the outdated addresses printed inside the form PDF.

Don't want to fill it out alone?

DD Form 2860 looks simple, but Block 13 is unforgiving — and a missing record or a wrong signature can cost you months. Two ways we help, vet to vet:

Frequently asked questions

What is the current edition of DD Form 2860?

The current edition is dated AUG 2026 (updated August 12, 2026), replacing the JUL 2011 form. It asks for your DoD ID number instead of your SSN and renumbered the disability section to item 14. Get it in the Standfast CRSC forms kit (official, unmodified copies) to be sure you have the right version.

What goes in item 14.k (the old Block 13)?

Item 14.k is the combat-related causation narrative. For each VA-rated condition, you name the specific event with a date, state the mechanism of injury, cite the medical evidence and the rated condition, and name the combat-related category. It is where most claims are won or lost.

Can I sign DD Form 2860 electronically?

The AUG 2026 form allows an ink signature or a CAC digital signature at item 16.e. Other electronic or typed signatures are not accepted, and the Army (HRC) rejects them. Most retirees no longer hold a CAC, so sign in ink.