The Veteran's daughter filed a claim for accrued benefits based on her father receiving special monthly pension (SMP) due to the need for aid and attendance. The effective date of this benefit is denied as it cannot be earlier than February 18, 2019.
The deciding factor: The earliest possible effective date under relevant laws and regulations is February 18, 2019, which was when the Veteran submitted a formal claim for SMP based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2020
- Citation
- A20017813
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.