[Request for Reconsideration of Claims Group's Denial of Request for Debt Waiver]

A retired Army officer requested reconsideration of the denial of his request for an indebtedness waiver for simultaneous Army retirement and Veterans Administration disability compensation. GAO found that although an administrative error contributed to the overpayments, the claimant was at fault for not furnishing accurate information on his receipt of dual payments. Upon reconsideration, the claimant argued that his illness affected him physically and mentally during the years the erroneous payments began, and provided documented evidence of his medical condition during the years he received the overpayments. GAO held that: (1) in view of documented evidence, the claimant was not at fault for executing the retired pay form; and (2) collection of the overpayment would not be in the government's best interest. Accordingly, the previous denial of waiver was reversed and the waiver granted.