In 1990, Maj. Raymond Thomas learned that he was not selected to become a lieutenant colonel. Having been passed over twice, he left the Air Force at 17 years, 10 months and, for his efforts, received $30,000 in separation pay.
More than 30 years later, Thomas, now rated 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs and receiving disability compensation, is being asked to pay the federal government back, minus taxes.
At 75 years old, living in a recreational vehicle pulled by a Ford F-450, both paid for with his disability pay, Thomas was stunned by a letter from VA saying his $3,737.85 monthly check would not be coming and future payments would be zeroed out or docked.
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“I fail to comprehend how or why they intend to cut me off for several months without even negotiating a lesser but [survivable] monthly contribution. I also fail to understand why it took 34 years for VA to come up with this [scheme]. Why now?” Thomas wrote in an email to Military.com shortly after receiving the letter in March.
By law, the VA is prohibited from paying disability compensation to veterans who received voluntary or involuntary separation pay from the Defense Department until the money has been recouped.
While the VA has been required to recover the money since the 1940s, many veterans, such as Thomas, are unaware of the prohibition on concurrent receipt, also…
