Q. I am retired from the Air Force, serving 20 years on active duty. During that time, I performed hazardous duty during the Gulf War, resulting in being granted a 100 percent total disability rating after my retirement. However, all of my hazardous duty was in the states, not in the Persian Gulf region. If I combine my active duty and my FERS service, do I have to forfeit both military retirement and Veterans Affairs Department disability pay? My actual retirement pay has been substantially reduced due the VA offset.
A. You would have to waive your military retired pay but not your VA disability benefit.