The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 8, 1997, for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for entitlement to this benefit prior to April 8, 1997.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the earliest effective date was April 8, 1997, as supported by the evidence showing the factual need for aid and attendance in May 1998, but not earlier than that date.
- Claimed conditions
- need for regular aid and attendance
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2001
- Citation
- 0101192
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0101192.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need of regular aid and attendance was denied as he is in receipt of the earliest possible effective date for his claim, which is June 3, 2018.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further action regarding entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as higher rates of SMC given the need for aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was dismissed because the denial had not occurred at the time he submitted his appeal. The Board found that the issue was premature as a final decision had not been made.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on housebound status is dismissed as moot.
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