Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Appeals Data
What tens of thousands of Board of Veterans' Appeals SMC rulings show about which SMC levels veterans win on appeal, the difference between the statutory and in-fact pathways for housebound (SMC-S), and the most common reasons SMC is denied. Refreshed weekly from the live decision corpus.
How this research is built: every Board of Veterans' Appeals decision published by VA is public, and anyone can read one at a time. RateMyVSO downloads and analyzes the complete published record, identifying which SMC level each issue involves and whether the Board ruled for or against it. The result is one of the largest structured research datasets built from the published Board record. It updates automatically every week as new decisions publish.
Visual guide: SMC Appeals and Effective Dates
Review framework for SMC entitlement, level, effective date, and duty-to-maximize disputes. Opens the full-size chart, free to save or print.
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One-page guide: Common SMC Denial Themes (all SMC levels together)
Overlapping themes identified across 11,278 analyzed denied SMC Board decisions. Opens the full-size chart, free to save or print.
Disclaimer: This data is for educational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Board of Veterans' Appeals outcomes reflect appeal-level decisions and may not represent initial claim results at the regional office. Individual outcomes depend on specific evidence, medical history, and the specific SMC pathway claimed. Always consult with a VA-accredited representative for guidance on your specific claim.