The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for special monthly pension and higher SMP rates, as the evidence did not support a basis for these claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not appeal the May 2018 rating decision granting an SMP effective March 13, 2018, and there was no new evidence or NOD received within one year of that decision to warrant an earlier effective date. Additionally, the evidence did not support higher SMP rates given the veteran's income and the applicable maximum annual pension rate.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25058813
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.