🛠️ SMC Calculator Was Broken. Where’s the VA’s Fix?
Updated: August 6, 2025
The VA promised answers by July 31. Veterans are still waiting.
The Gist:
The VA confirmed in May 2025 that its Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) calculator was flawed — potentially underpaying thousands of severely disabled veterans for years. The VBA said it would complete a review by July 31, 2025. That date has come and gone. So far: no press release, no outreach, no transparency — just silence.
🧭 Quick Recap
Back in May, we published:
👉 “VA Confirms Broken SMC Calculator Cost Veterans Thousands”
In that article, we broke down how, in May 2025, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a damning report confirming that a faulty internal calculator — used to award SMC (Special Monthly Compensation) — had been quietly disabled after years of potentially underpaying veterans with serious disabilities like amputations, blindness, and the need for Aid and Attendance.
The VA acknowledged the problem. VBA officials promised to go back and review all SMC claims from 2017 to 2024 — and said that process would be done by July 31, 2025.
⏳ And Then… Nothing
It’s now August 6. We’ve seen:
- No press release.
- No report.
- No statements from the VA.
- No outreach to veterans who may have been affected.
🧠 Who Is Affected?
This issue impacts veterans who:
- Receive Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
- Especially those with SMC Levels L through O
- Including veterans with amputations, blindness, Aid & Attendance, or multiple combined disabilities
These are not small errors. These are veterans who rely on every dollar — and have earned every bit of what the law entitles them to.
📢 We’re Calling on the VA to Answer
We’re asking the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Benefits Administration to:
- Confirm whether the July 31 recalculation review is complete
- Disclose how many veterans were affected
- Share whether they’ll issue retroactive payments for underpaid veterans
- Tell us if affected veterans will be notified proactively
Anything less is unacceptable.
🧾 What You Can Do
If you’re a veteran receiving SMC — or think you should be — here’s how to take action:
1. Request Your Rating Code Sheet
- File a request through VA.gov FOIA
- Look for combinations involving SMC-L through SMC-O
2. Compare With the Law
3. Talk to a VSO or Accredited Attorney
- Ask them to review your SMC award
- Many are now on alert due to this report
4. Contact the VA
- Use IRIS: Ask VA a Question
- Or call the VA at 1-800-827-1000
- Ask: “Was my SMC award reviewed after the May 2025 OIG report?”
💬 Join the Discussion
We’re tracking updates in this community thread on HadIt.com
Have you heard anything from the VA? Drop your experience there.
📣 Contact Congress or the OIG
Make your voice heard:
Email the VA OIG
📧 vaoighotline@va.gov
Contact the House/Senate VA Committees
📍 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
📍 Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
✍️ Sample Message to Use
Subject: Status of VA SMC Review After July 31 Deadline
I’m writing to ask whether the VBA has completed its promised review of Special Monthly Compensation claims, as outlined in OIG Report 24-01083-112.
The July 31, 2025 deadline has passed, and veterans have not been informed of any outcomes, corrections, or follow-up steps.
This affects some of the most disabled veterans in the system. We deserve answers, transparency, and compensation if underpaid.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
🧭 We’ll Keep Watching
This isn’t over. HadIt.com will continue to track this story until:
- Affected veterans are identified
- Underpayments are corrected
- And the VA gives us answers
If you’re a veteran who suspects your SMC was miscalculated — or a representative trying to help someone — we’ve got your back. Start here.
Article by:
Tbird, HadIt.com Founder
💬 Join the forum conversation here →
