Collapse to view only § 5110. Effective dates of awards
- § 5110. Effective dates of awards
- § 5111. Commencement of period of payment
- § 5112. Effective dates of reductions and discontinuances
- § 5113. Effective dates of educational benefits
§ 5110. Effective dates of awards
(a)
(1) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the effective date of an award based on an initial claim, or a supplemental claim, of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension, shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of application therefor.
(2) For purposes of determining the effective date of an award under this section, the date of application shall be considered the date of the filing of the initial application for a benefit if the claim is continuously pursued by filing any of the following, either alone or in succession:
(A) A request for higher-level review under section 5104B of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(B) A supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(C) A notice of disagreement on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(D) A supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the Board of Veterans’ Appeals issues a decision.
(E) A supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims issues a decision.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for supplemental claims received more than one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issued a decision or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals issued a decision, the effective date shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the supplemental claim.
(b)
(1) The effective date of an award of disability compensation to a veteran shall be the day following the date of the veteran’s discharge or release if application therefor is received within one year from such date of discharge or release.
(2)
(A) The effective date of an award of disability compensation to a veteran who submits an application therefor that sets forth an original claim that is fully-developed (as determined by the Secretary) as of the date of submittal shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date that is one year before the date of receipt of the application.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an original claim is an initial claim filed by a veteran for disability compensation.
(C) This paragraph shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and shall not apply with respect to claims filed after the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of such Act.
(3) The effective date of an award of increased compensation shall be the earliest date as of which it is ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred, if application is received within one year from such date.
(4)
(A) The effective date of an award of disability pension to a veteran described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be the date of application or the date on which the veteran became permanently and totally disabled, if the veteran applies for a retroactive award within one year from such date, whichever is to the advantage of the veteran.
(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled and who is prevented by a disability from applying for disability pension for a period of at least 30 days beginning on the date on which the veteran became permanently and totally disabled.
(c) The effective date of an award of disability compensation by reason of section 1151 of this title shall be the date such injury or aggravation was suffered if an application therefor is received within one year from such date.
(d) The effective date of an award of death compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or death pension for which application is received within one year from the date of death shall be the first day of the month in which the death occurred.
(e)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the effective date of an award of dependency and indemnity compensation to a child shall be the first day of the month in which the child’s entitlement arose if application therefor is received within one year from such date.
(2) In the case of a child who is eighteen years of age or over and who immediately before becoming eighteen years of age was counted under section 1311(b) of this title in determining the amount of the dependency and indemnity compensation of a surviving spouse, the effective date of an award of dependency and indemnity compensation to such child shall be the date the child attains the age of eighteen years if application therefor is received within one year from such date.
(f) An award of additional compensation on account of dependents based on the establishment of a disability rating in the percentage evaluation specified by law for the purpose shall be payable from the effective date of such rating; but only if proof of dependents is received within one year from the date of notification of such rating action.
(g) Subject to the provisions of section 5101 of this title, where compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension is awarded or increased pursuant to any Act or administrative issue, the effective date of such award or increase shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found but shall not be earlier than the effective date of the Act or administrative issue. In no event shall such award or increase be retroactive for more than one year from the date of application therefor or the date of administrative determination of entitlement, whichever is earlier.
(h) Where an award of pension has been deferred or pension has been awarded at a rate based on anticipated income for a year and the claimant later establishes that income for that year was at a rate warranting entitlement or increased entitlement, the effective date of such entitlement or increase shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found if satisfactory evidence is received before the expiration of the next calendar year.
(i) Whenever any disallowed claim is readjudicated and thereafter allowed on the basis of new and relevant evidence resulting from the correction of the military records of the proper service department under section 1552 of title 10, or the change, correction, or modification of a discharge or dismissal under section 1553 of title 10, or from other corrective action by competent authority, the effective date of commencement of the benefits so awarded shall be the date on which an application was filed for correction of the military record or for the change, modification, or correction of a discharge or dismissal, as the case may be, or the date such disallowed claim was filed, whichever date is the later, but in no event shall such award of benefits be retroactive for more than one year from the date of readjudication of such disallowed claim. This subsection shall not apply to any application or claim for Government life insurance benefits.
(j) Where a report or a finding of death of any person in the active military, naval, air, or space service has been made by the Secretary concerned, the effective date of an award of death compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or death pension, as applicable, shall be the first day of the month fixed by that Secretary as the month of death in such report or finding, if application therefor is received within one year from the date such report or finding has been made; however, such benefits shall not be payable to any person for any period for which such person has received, or was entitled to receive, an allowance, allotment, or service pay of the deceased.
(k) The effective date of the award of benefits to a surviving spouse or of an award or increase of benefits based on recognition of a child, upon annulment of a marriage shall be the date the judicial decree of annulment becomes final if a claim therefor is filed within one year from the date the judicial decree of annulment becomes final; in all other cases the effective date shall be the date the claim is filed.
(l) The effective date of an award of benefits to a surviving spouse based upon a termination of a remarriage by death or divorce, or of an award or increase of benefits based on recognition of a child upon termination of the child’s marriage by death or divorce, shall be the date of death or the date the judicial decree or divorce becomes final, if an application therefor is received within one year from such termination.
[(m) Repealed. Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(i)(8), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4688.]
(n) The effective date of the award of any benefit or any increase therein by reason of marriage or the birth or adoption of a child shall be the date of such event if proof of such event is received by the Secretary within one year from the date of the marriage, birth, or adoption.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1226, § 3010; Pub. L. 87–674, § 3, Sept. 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 558; Pub. L. 87–825, § 1, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 91–376, § 7, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 790; Pub. L. 91–584, § 13, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1578; Pub. L. 93–177, § 6(a), Dec. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 696; Pub. L. 93–527, § 9(b), Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 1705; Pub. L. 94–71, title I, § 104, Aug. 5, 1975, 89 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 97–66, title II, § 204(b), Oct. 17, 1981, 95 Stat. 1029; Pub. L. 98–160, title VII, § 703(1), Nov. 21, 1983, 97 Stat. 1010; Pub. L. 98–223, title II, § 213(3), Mar. 2, 1984, 98 Stat. 46; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title V, § 2501(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1116; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(63), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3296; renumbered § 5110 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(2)(A)(vi), (b)(4)(B), 5(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403, 405, 406; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(i)(8), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4688; Pub. L. 108–454, title III, § 305, Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3611; Pub. L. 112–154, title V, § 506, Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1193; Pub. L. 115–55, § 2(l), Aug. 23, 2017, 131 Stat. 1110; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(52), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)
§ 5111. Commencement of period of payment
(a)
(1) Notwithstanding section 5110 of this title or any other provision of law and except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection (c), payment of monetary benefits based on an award or an increased award of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension may not be made to an individual for any period before the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the award or increased award became effective as provided under section 5110 of this title or such other provision of law.
(2)
(A) In the case of a veteran who is retired or separated from the active military, naval, air, or space service for a catastrophic disability or disabilities, payment of monetary benefits based on an award of compensation based on an original claim shall be made as of the date on which such award becomes effective as provided under section 5110 of this title or another applicable provision of law.
(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “catastrophic disability”, with respect to a veteran, means a permanent, severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises the ability of the veteran to carry out the activities of daily living to such a degree that the veteran requires personal or mechanical assistance to leave home or bed, or requires constant supervision to avoid physical harm to self or others.
(b)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, during the period between the effective date of an award or increased award as provided under section 5110 of this title or other provision of law and the commencement of the period of payment based on such award as provided under subsection (a) of this section, an individual entitled to receive monetary benefits shall be deemed to be in receipt of such benefits for the purpose of all laws administered by the Secretary.
(2) If any person who is in receipt of retired or retirement pay would also be eligible to receive compensation or pension upon the filing of a waiver of such pay in accordance with section 5305 of this title, such waiver shall not become effective until the first day of the month following the month in which such waiver is filed, and nothing in this section shall prohibit the receipt of retired or retirement pay for any period before such effective date.
(c)
(1) This section shall not apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of this title.
(2) In the case of a temporary increase in compensation for hospitalization or treatment where such hospitalization or treatment commences and terminates within the same calendar month, the period of payment shall commence on the first day of such month.
(d) For the purposes of this section, the term “award or increased award” means—
(1) an original award or award based on a supplemental claim; or
(2) an award that is increased because of an added dependent, increase in disability or disability rating, or reduction in income.
(Added Pub. L. 97–253, title IV, § 401(a)(1), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 801, § 3011; amended Pub. L. 98–223, title I, § 113, Mar. 2, 1984, 98 Stat. 40; renumbered § 5111 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403; Pub. L. 111–275, title VI, § 605(a), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2885; Pub. L. 112–154, title V, § 507(b), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1194; Pub. L. 115–55, § 2(m), Aug. 23, 2017, 131 Stat. 1110; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(53), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)
§ 5112. Effective dates of reductions and discontinuances
(a) Except as otherwise specified in this section, the effective date of reduction or discontinuance of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found.
(b) The effective date of a reduction or discontinuance of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension—
(1) by reason of marriage or remarriage, or death of a payee shall be the last day of the month before such marriage, remarriage, or death occurs;
(2) by reason of marriage, annulment, divorce, or death of a dependent of a payee shall be the last day of the month in which such marriage, annulment, divorce, or death occurs;
(3) by reason of receipt of active service pay or retirement pay shall be the day before the date such pay began;
(4) by reason of—
(A) change in income shall (except as provided in section 5312 of this title) be the last day of the month in which the change occurred; and
(B) change in corpus of estate shall be the last day of the calendar year in which the change occurred;
(5) by reason of a change in disability or employability of a veteran in receipt of pension shall be the last day of the month in which discontinuance of the award is approved;
(6) by reason of change in law or administrative issue, change in interpretation of a law or administrative issue, or, for compensation purposes, a change in service-connected or employability status or change in physical condition shall be the last day of the month following sixty days from the date of notice to the payee of the reduction or discontinuance;
(7) by reason of the discontinuance of school attendance of a payee or a dependent of a payee shall be the last day of the month in which such discontinuance occurred;
(8) by reason of termination of a temporary increase in compensation for hospitalization or treatment shall be the last day of the month in which the hospital discharge or termination of treatment occurred, whichever is earlier;
(9) by reason of an erroneous award based on an act of commission or omission by the beneficiary, or with the beneficiary’s knowledge, shall be the effective date of the award; and
(10) by reason of an erroneous award based solely on administrative error or error in judgment shall be the date of last payment.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1227, § 3012; Pub. L. 87–825, § 2, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 949; Pub. L. 89–730, § 3, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1159; Pub. L. 90–275, § 5, Mar. 28, 1968, 82 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 92–198, § 3, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 664; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 402, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1378; Pub. L. 95–588, title III, § 303, Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2506; Pub. L. 97–253, title IV, § 402(a), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 802; Pub. L. 99–576, title V, § 503, title VII, § 701(64), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3286, 3296; renumbered § 5112 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 107–103, title II, § 204(b)(2), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 990; Pub. L. 117–168, title VIII, § 807(a)(4), Aug. 10, 2022, 136 Stat. 1806.)
§ 5113. Effective dates of educational benefits
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), effective dates relating to awards under chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, and 35 of this title or chapter 106 of title 10 shall, to the extent feasible, correspond to effective dates relating to awards of disability compensation.
(b)
(1) When determining the effective date of an award under chapter 35 of this title for an individual described in paragraph (2) based on an original claim, the Secretary may consider the individual’s application as having been filed on the eligibility date of the individual if that eligibility date is more than one year before the date of the initial rating decision.
(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an eligible person who—
(A) submits to the Secretary an original application for educational assistance under chapter 35 of this title within one year of the date that the Secretary makes the rating decision;
(B) claims such educational assistance for pursuit of an approved program of education during a period preceding the one-year period ending on the date on which the application was received by the Secretary; and
(C) would have been entitled to such educational assistance for such course pursuit if the individual had submitted such an application on the individual’s eligibility date.
(3) In this subsection:
(A) The term “eligibility date” means the date on which an individual becomes an eligible person.
(B) The term “eligible person” has the meaning given that term under subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 3501(a)(1) of this title.
(C) The term “initial rating decision” means with respect to an eligible person a decision made by the Secretary that establishes (i) service connection for the death of the person from whom such eligibility is derived or (ii) the existence of the service-connected total disability permanent in nature (or, in the case of a person made eligible under section 3501(a)(1)(E), the total disability permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service) of the person from whom such eligibility is derived, as the case may be.
(c) The effective date of an adjustment of benefits under any chapter referred to in subsection (a) of this section, if made on the basis of a certification made by the veteran or person and accepted by the Secretary under section 3680(g) of this title, shall be the date of the change.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1227, § 3013; Pub. L. 89–358, § 4(p), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 25; Pub. L. 99–576, title III, § 321(10), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3278; Pub. L. 100–322, title III, § 323, May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 536; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 419, Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2087; Pub. L. 102–16, § 10(a)(9), Mar. 22, 1991, 105 Stat. 56; renumbered § 5113, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 106–419, title I, § 113(a), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1832; Pub. L. 109–444, § 3(c)(2), Dec. 21, 2006, 120 Stat. 3307; Pub. L. 109–461, title III, § 301(c)(2), title X, § 1006(b), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3427, 3468; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(54), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)