The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) benefits, including aid and attendance status, loss of use of both feet, hands, and feet due to service-connected frostbite disabilities, additional aid and attendance allowance, specially adapted housing, and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to November 2, 2009, or loss of use of both feet, hands, and feet due to service-connected frostbite disabilities, additional aid and attendance allowance, specially adapted housing, and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment prior to September 6, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25025681
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.