Meddac

Wow... I hate to even attempt a post where the ITF is a part of the subject. The manual is so contradictory (on a LOT of things). VA employees are frustrated with the ITF process because no simple processing standard has been handed down. It honestly depends on the claim adjudicator and the Rater where the ITF is concerned in some cases. So many claims are received with an ITF on the same day, and the Regional Office I was at changed the processing standard twice before my exit.
 
The ITF is a can of worms, and it's going to cause the VA to make a lot of mistakes (as if there weren't enough already).
I'm going to address the ITF in my next podcast episode (albeit a simplified original claims episode). 

As a former "Authorizer" with VA I can say that a claim that is awaiting authorization means that they have adjudicated the claim, rated the claim, and an award document/Notification letter has been promulgated (completed). From that point it moves to what the VA refers to as an Authorizer (a Certified VSR).
The Authorizer reviews the claim, the evidence received, the rating, and the award/Notification letter. If it's all completed correctly then the Authorizer signs off and the claim is finalized.
Whether the claim is a grant or denial or a combination of both it still gets an award document/Notification letter, and it still goes through the Authorizer.
It's still a 50/50 (Grant/Denial) at that point.
Hope this helped out some.

1. You were previously found to be entitled to NSC Pension so SMP was likely automatic when you are granted a 100% service connected disability rating. such a grant does not automatically entitle a Veteran to SMC. There is no requirement for a single 100-percent evaluation for SMP. SMC has it's own set of requirements though. SMC Housebound is payable where the veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and, has additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability and involving different anatomical segments or bodily systems, or is permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities.
2. VA will always err to the higher amount for a Veteran when there is "dual entitlement" (entitled to both Comp and Pension. A Veteran cannot receive SMP unless said Veteran chooses to receive Pension over Compensation.
Basically, you need an individual condition to be rated at 60% or more separate from the 100% condition in order to receive SMC Housebound. If you have that then yes, the VA should have awarded SMC Housebound as well. If you do not have that separate 60% condition then it would not be found to be an error.
One exception to the 60% condition rule: It does not necessarily need to be just one condition. It can be a combination of conditions when the rated items are of the same body system. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
I hope that I provided a decent answer. Good questions. Jumping back and forth in my experience from Pension to Compensation gets somewhat confusing, and when I tried mixing them into an answer I was all over the place in my head. Hope it makes sense though....somewhat.

Thanks green, and I'm 100% certain that you are ready to be done with the journey as well.
Tbird, It's an odd feeling to have a future that's open, but I do look forward to helping out.
The VA system is certainly broken in many different areas, and doesn't lend an advantage to either the Veteran or the VA employee in a great many cases.

1. You were previously found to be entitled to NSC Pension so SMP was likely automatic when you are granted a 100% service connected disability rating. such a grant does not automatically entitle a Veteran to SMC. There is no requirement for a single 100-percent evaluation for SMP. SMC has it's own set of requirements though. SMC Housebound is payable where the veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and, has additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability and involving different anatomical segments or bodily systems, or is permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities.
2. VA will always err to the higher amount for a Veteran when there is "dual entitlement" (entitled to both Comp and Pension. A Veteran cannot receive SMP unless said Veteran chooses to receive Pension over Compensation.
Basically, you need an individual condition to be rated at 60% or more separate from the 100% condition in order to receive SMC Housebound. If you have that then yes, the VA should have awarded SMC Housebound as well. If you do not have that separate 60% condition then it would not be found to be an error.
One exception to the 60% condition rule: It does not necessarily need to be just one condition. It can be a combination of conditions when the rated items are of the same body system. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
I hope that I provided a decent answer. Good questions. Jumping back and forth in my experience from Pension to Compensation gets somewhat confusing, and when I tried mixing them into an answer I was all over the place in my head. Hope it makes sense though....somewhat.

Fat, I can definitely make my very best clarification at the process, and offer my personal opinion on the best route to take when filing a claim. It will however be my opinion.
I am going to log out now so that I can get busy. I have to knock out some household tasks today as well (may be the downfall of being at home full-time).

Bronco, I was in the VBA (disability benefits). I went from the position of File Clerk to Claims Assistant to Veteran Service Representative (VSR) on Pre-Determination/Post-Determination/Appeals/, Management, and finally Quality Review. I hope to be able to offer as much advice as possible. I don't live on the internet (like my son does), but I will make every effort to address what I can.
I will work on a post that addresses "common mistakes" and what to do to "fix the mistakes". Please be patient with me though because the answers will vary depending on the situation.

Thanks green, and I'm 100% certain that you are ready to be done with the journey as well.
Tbird, It's an odd feeling to have a future that's open, but I do look forward to helping out.
The VA system is certainly broken in many different areas, and doesn't lend an advantage to either the Veteran or the VA employee in a great many cases.

I have watched this  forum for a long time and have posted several times, but I stopped posting for a good period of time for different reasons. I am posting today to say that I am officially retired from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). It's been a long road with the VA, but it's done...Finally.
I don't yet know what my next path will be. I am pondering a podcast or even a YouTube channel in order to assist Veterans with the amazingly complex (at times stupid) battle with the VA. I know that there are far more disgruntled Veterans out there than satisfied, and knowing what to do (and when) would be beneficial to a great many people. The system is confusing, and it has changed greatly over the past several years. There have been a great many changes that can affect a Veteran's journey to a level that is satisfactory to them.
Being out is a fresh thing for me, and has really yet to hit me, but I wanted to post again. If for nothing more than to assist in the journey where I can.

Bronco, I was in the VBA (disability benefits). I went from the position of File Clerk to Claims Assistant to Veteran Service Representative (VSR) on Pre-Determination/Post-Determination/Appeals/, Management, and finally Quality Review. I hope to be able to offer as much advice as possible. I don't live on the internet (like my son does), but I will make every effort to address what I can.
I will work on a post that addresses "common mistakes" and what to do to "fix the mistakes". Please be patient with me though because the answers will vary depending on the situation.

I have watched this  forum for a long time and have posted several times, but I stopped posting for a good period of time for different reasons. I am posting today to say that I am officially retired from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). It's been a long road with the VA, but it's done...Finally.
I don't yet know what my next path will be. I am pondering a podcast or even a YouTube channel in order to assist Veterans with the amazingly complex (at times stupid) battle with the VA. I know that there are far more disgruntled Veterans out there than satisfied, and knowing what to do (and when) would be beneficial to a great many people. The system is confusing, and it has changed greatly over the past several years. There have been a great many changes that can affect a Veteran's journey to a level that is satisfactory to them.
Being out is a fresh thing for me, and has really yet to hit me, but I wanted to post again. If for nothing more than to assist in the journey where I can.

Bronco, I was in the VBA (disability benefits). I went from the position of File Clerk to Claims Assistant to Veteran Service Representative (VSR) on Pre-Determination/Post-Determination/Appeals/, Management, and finally Quality Review. I hope to be able to offer as much advice as possible. I don't live on the internet (like my son does), but I will make every effort to address what I can.
I will work on a post that addresses "common mistakes" and what to do to "fix the mistakes". Please be patient with me though because the answers will vary depending on the situation.

Thanks green, and I'm 100% certain that you are ready to be done with the journey as well.
Tbird, It's an odd feeling to have a future that's open, but I do look forward to helping out.
The VA system is certainly broken in many different areas, and doesn't lend an advantage to either the Veteran or the VA employee in a great many cases.