Q. I am a medically retired veteran with a VA rating of 100 percent and military rating of 60 percent. I had seven years and seven months of active-duty time before I was medically retired from the Air Force. If I started working as a federal employee, can I buy back my military time; if so how much will it cost and what will the benefit be? If I buy back my military time, will I lose my VA disability compensation? And lastly, if I can buy back my time, does that mean I would only have to work 13 years before I could retire?
A. If you go to work for the government, you can make a deposit for those years and months of active duty service. The amount due would be 3 percent of your base pay, not including allowances and differentials. Interest would also be charged if you delayed making the deposit for two years. Making the deposit would have no affect on your VA disability compensation.
