October 2025 VA Disability Insights from Greene & Marusak
Topics We Covered in October
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Extra Benefits for Severe Disabilities
Many veterans don’t realize they may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), an additional benefit paid on top of regular VA disability compensation to account for severe functional limitations caused by service-connected disabilities. SMC is not a separate claim and includes multiple levels with different compensation rates, such as for blindness, loss of a limb, or the need for regular aid and attendance to help with activities of daily living. The VA is supposed to grant SMC automatically when the evidence shows a veteran qualifies, without the need for a separate application. If you’re already rated and feel your disabilities impact your daily life more than your current compensation reflects, it may be worth speaking with your representative or requesting a review to ensure SMC is properly considered. Click to watch our video
Schedular vs. Extraschedular Ratings – How the VA Decides Your Disability Level
Most VA disabilities are rated on a schedular basis, meaning the VA compares a veteran’s symptoms to the VA rating schedule and assigns the percentage that best matches—such as a 40% rating for a back condition that meets the listed criteria. In rare cases, however, the VA may consider an extraschedular rating. This applies when a disability presents an exceptional or unusual picture, such as causing marked interference with employment or requiring frequent hospitalizations, and the rating schedule does not adequately account for its severity. Think of schedular ratings as the standard rule, and extraschedular ratings as the exception reserved for truly uncommon circumstances. Click to watch our video
Reopening a Previously Denied Claim – What You Need to Know
If you’re trying to reopen a previously denied VA claim, the law requires you to submit new and relevant evidence. “New” means the evidence was not part of your file at the time of the prior denial, and “relevant” means it helps prove or disprove an issue that led to the denial. For example, if your claim for a back condition was denied due to a lack of a confirmed diagnosis, a new medical record or provider statement showing a current back diagnosis would qualify as new and relevant evidence. Once you have this evidence, you must submit it using a Supplemental Claim on VA Form 20-0995 so the VA can reconsider your claim. Click to watch our video
Supplemental Claims – A Second Chance for Your VA Benefits
If you receive a VA decision you disagree with, filing a supplemental claim can be a strong next step—especially if you have additional evidence to support your case. Many VA denials happen because the VA believes something is missing, such as a confirmed diagnosis, medical records, or other required evidence. When you obtain that missing information, the supplemental claim lane allows you to submit it for VA review using VA Form 20-0995. Unlike some appeal options that limit when or whether new evidence can be considered, a supplemental claim is specifically designed to give veterans the opportunity to strengthen their claim and potentially secure a favorable decision. Click to watch our video
VA Ratings for Tinnitus & Hearing Loss: What Veterans Should Know
If you’re a veteran experiencing hearing loss or constant ringing in your ears, the VA does recognize both as compensable conditions. Hearing loss and tinnitus are rated separately, with different criteria for each. To evaluate hearing loss, the VA relies on two required tests: a pure tone audiometry test and a speech discrimination test. These results are used to calculate numeric designations for each ear under VA rating tables, which determine a rating ranging from 0% to 100%, though most veterans fall in the 0%–10% range. Tinnitus, on the other hand, has a maximum schedular rating of 10%, which is awarded if the condition is recurrent—severity does not factor into the rating. Because these conditions are rated separately, veterans may receive compensation for both. If your military service or MOS involved noise exposure, it may be worth exploring whether filing these claims could benefit you. Click to watch our video
How the VA Chooses Your Effective Date – Maximize Your Benefits
Effective dates can make a significant difference in your VA benefits because they determine when the VA starts paying you—and how much back pay you may receive. In most first-time claims, the effective date is the date the VA receives your claim, or the day after separation from service if you file within one year of discharge. For increased rating claims, the effective date may be the date your condition worsened if you file within a year of that increase. When reopening a previously denied claim after a year or more, the effective date is typically the date the VA receives the reopened claim, not the original filing date. Other rules apply during continuous appeals or successful Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) claims. The key takeaway is that timing matters—filing sooner can mean thousands of dollars more in back pay. If you’re unsure whether the VA assigned the correct effective date, consider speaking with an accredited representative or Veterans Service Officer. Click to watch our video
§ 1151 VA Claims – When VA Care Causes More Harm
Veterans may be eligible for VA disability compensation even if a condition was not caused by military service, but instead resulted from VA medical care—this is known as a § 1151 claim. If a veteran is injured or their condition is worsened due to VA treatment, surgery, or a misdiagnosis, the VA may compensate that disability as if it were service connected. To qualify, the veteran must show that the VA made an error that a reasonable medical provider would not have made, and that the mistake directly caused additional disability or death. These claims often require strong medical evidence and expert opinions, making them more complex than standard claims. If you believe VA care caused or worsened your condition, speaking with an accredited representative or attorney before filing can make a significant difference in your outcome. Click to watch our video