The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of SMC based on aid and attendance as there was no claim or recognition by VA prior to June 4, 2018.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence showing a need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disability prior to May 24, 2018, the date of the examination form that was recognized as a claim by VA.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25055788
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.