

DOGE Alert: My $1,000 appeal Cost the Government $15,000
Perhaps the memo hasn’t reached the BVA. This administration is all about conserving scarce government resources. As the saying goes, there are three fights with the VA. The fight for service-connection, the fight for the right rating, and finally, the fight for the correct effective date. What if the VA gets your effective date wrong by just one month? It is only 1,000 bucks. Should you file an appeal? Well, we did just that, and it costs the government well over $15,000 to get a lesson in Special Monthly Compensation (“SMC”) effective dates.

BVA Declares War on Most Severe Veterans
The best quality decision from the VA comes from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. The downside? The wait time usually spans multiple years. To fix this, Congress allowed certain Veterans to ask for “advancement”, getting their case placed at the top of the line. Today, I will discuss the Board’s recent war on the bankrupt, dying, and seriously ill Veterans.
Looking for something specific?
-
Board of Veterans' Appeals
- Aug 22, 2025 DOGE Alert: My $1,000 appeal Cost the Government $15,000 Aug 22, 2025
- Jul 3, 2025 Beyond the BBQ: Service and Success This Independence Day Jul 3, 2025
- Apr 18, 2025 Life in the Fast Lane Apr 18, 2025
- Dec 11, 2024 VA Benefits for Camp Lejeune Family Members? Dec 11, 2024
- Dec 4, 2024 The Rest of the Story: Annette’s Side of Things Dec 4, 2024
-
CAVC
- Jun 13, 2025 Out of the Trenches, Into the Sea Jun 13, 2025
-
Camp Lejeune Family Member Program
- Dec 11, 2024 VA Benefits for Camp Lejeune Family Members? Dec 11, 2024
-
DIC
- Dec 4, 2024 The Rest of the Story: Annette’s Side of Things Dec 4, 2024
- Nov 27, 2024 A Deserving Widow’s Thanksgiving Just got Better Nov 27, 2024
-
Survivor's Benefits
- Dec 4, 2024 The Rest of the Story: Annette’s Side of Things Dec 4, 2024
- Nov 27, 2024 A Deserving Widow’s Thanksgiving Just got Better Nov 27, 2024
-
VA Idiocracy
- Aug 22, 2025 DOGE Alert: My $1,000 appeal Cost the Government $15,000 Aug 22, 2025
- Nov 23, 2024 BVA Declares War on Most Severe Veterans Nov 23, 2024
-
Victories
- Jul 3, 2025 Beyond the BBQ: Service and Success This Independence Day Jul 3, 2025
- Dec 11, 2024 VA Benefits for Camp Lejeune Family Members? Dec 11, 2024
- Dec 4, 2024 The Rest of the Story: Annette’s Side of Things Dec 4, 2024
- Nov 27, 2024 A Deserving Widow’s Thanksgiving Just got Better Nov 27, 2024
- Nov 23, 2024 Why I’m Still on a Mission Nov 23, 2024
Perhaps the memo hasn’t reached the BVA. This administration is all about conserving scarce government resources. As the saying goes, there are three fights with the VA. The fight for service-connection, the fight for the right rating, and finally, the fight for the correct effective date. What if the VA gets your effective date wrong by just one month? It is only 1,000 bucks. Should you file an appeal? Well, we did just that, and it costs the government well over $15,000 to get a lesson in Special Monthly Compensation (“SMC”) effective dates.