Successfully having your disability compensation filed and processed with Veterans’ Affairs is only the beginning of everything. It is very important to understand what your VA effective date is. This is essentially the date when you will be paid your benefits every month. In addition, the effective date will also determine whether you are entitled to any back pay should your application be processed after a considerable period.
Understanding the Importance of Effective Date for Your Compensation
In plain words, an effective date is essentially the exact date when the VA starts paying your compensation regardless of when you applied for it. For instance, if you applied for your compensation on September 10th, 2020, and it was reviewed and approved on November 1st, 2023, you will be entitled to back pay from the date you filed for the compensation.
How Veterans Affairs Identify an Effective Date
There is a slew of circumstances considered when identifying an effective date including the retired serviceman’s injury status and the circumstances contributing to the claim.
For instance, if the veteran has a direct service connection to their injury or any disability caused by the injury, the right effective date could be the date when the Veterans Affairs receives your claim or the exact date you were injured during service, which is essentially the date you were legally entitled to disability compensation.