Barry v. McDonough & Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): What It Means for Your 2025 Claim
The 2024 Barry v. McDonough ruling is a game-changer for veterans seeking Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) in 2025. The Federal Circuit confirmed that VA must award additional “step-ups” when veterans have separate service-connected disabilities that either combine to 50% or higher (§ 3.350(f)(3)) or include a single 100% disability (§ 3.350(f)(4)). These increases are mandatory — even if you didn’t specifically claim SMC. This HadIt.com guide explains how Barry applies to SMC (l) and above, why it doesn’t change SMC (s), and shows how stacking half-steps and full-steps can move you up the ladder from (l) toward (o). Includes a real BVA case example, a comparison table for SMC (s) vs. L-and-above, claim language you can use, and links to key resources. Understanding and applying Barry could mean a significant increase in your VA compensation.