The appeal for TDIU, SMC, and DEA benefits prior to October 23, 2020 is dismissed as moot because the Veteran has been awarded SMC and DEA benefits from January 16, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran has already been granted SMC and DEA benefits from the earliest possible effective date, rendering the claims for TDIU, SMC, and DEA benefits prior to October 23, 2020 moot.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045372
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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.