Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my experience with obtaining SMC-T because I know there isn't much information available, and many people are told it's almost impossible to get.

I separated from the military on February 28, 2021, and filed a BDD claim before leaving active duty. I was awarded 100% VA disability shortly after separation.

From the beginning, I always claimed PTSD and TBI, even though I didn't yet have all of my medical records from my three motor vehicle accidents. The VA denied those conditions several times because I couldn't prove them. This is very important: every time they denied my claim, I continued to pursue it within the appeal period instead of giving up.

In 2025, I finally received over 500 pages of medical records from the hospital and providers who treated me after my accidents. I immediately submitted those records to the VA, and they granted service connection for PTSD and TBI.

After that, I filed a claim for SMC-T, but it was denied. I had been told by many people that SMC-T is almost never granted by the Regional Office and that most approvals happen at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. I don't know if that's always true, but that's what happened in my case.

I then filed a Board Appeal requesting:

• An earlier effective date for PTSD.
• An earlier effective date for TBI.
• SMC-L.
• SMC-T.
• Earlier effective dates for both SMC awards.

About one year later, the Board granted everything.

Here are some things I learned from reading my Board decision:

• Never give up on a claim if you believe the evidence supports it.
• Continue pursuing your claim. The Board found that I had continuously pursued my PTSD and TBI claims from my original March 1, 2021 claim, which allowed it to award the earlier effective dates.
• The Board also recognized that my PTSD and TBI symptoms had existed since my original claim and that earlier diagnoses would likely have been made with additional development.
• For SMC-L, the Board found that my service-connected disabilities required the regular aid and attendance of another person beginning March 1, 2021.
• For SMC-T, the Board determined that my service-connected TBI, together with my psychiatric symptoms, required regular aid and attendance and that without that assistance, I would likely require residential institutional care, which is one of the requirements for SMC-T.
• The Board relied on evidence showing I needed assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, cognitive impairment, falls, and protection from hazards in my daily environment.

My advice

If you truly believe you qualify:

• Keep copies of all of your medical records.
• Continue pursuing your claims and appeals within the required time limits if you believe the decision is incorrect.
• Don't assume a denial is the end of the process.
• If your spouse or caregiver helps you every day, make sure that assistance is documented in your medical records and any Aid and Attendance examinations.
• Read your decision letters carefully—they often explain exactly why the VA granted or denied a benefit.

Every case is different, and what happened in my case doesn't mean the outcome will be the same for everyone. But I hope sharing my experience encourages someone who has strong evidence and is considering whether to continue pursuing an appeal.

I wish everyone the best in their claims and appeals, and I hope this information helps another veteran. God bless.