It is critical for veterans service officers to ensure that the VA assigns claimants the earliest effective date for VA benefits permitted by law. The general rules governing effective dates are relatively straightforward. However, there are several special situations that require the VA to assign an effective date earlier than the general rules call for. VA adjudicators sometimes misapply the effective date rules in these special situations. Advocates should be proactive in explaining the effective date the VA should assign when the more complicated rules apply. They must also be able to identify when the VA assigns an incorrect effective date for benefits, because such an error could result in the claimant losing months’ or years’ worth of VA benefits. This webinar will provide veterans service officers with an overview of the VA’s various effective date rules and advice on how to make sure the VA awards the earliest effective date for benefits available under the law.

This 90-minute webinar will cover the following and more:

• Effective date rules for disability compensation and DIC claims granted under the PACT Act

• Effective date rules for Agent Orange-related disabilities under Nehmer and the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act

• How unadjudicated claims and multiple claim streams impact effective dates

• Effective dates rules for when the VA receives new service department records after a final decision

• Effective date rules when there is a change in law

• Effective date rules for increased rating claims

• Advocacy tips and strategies for preserving the earliest possible effective date and for disputing an erroneous effective date assigned by the VA