DATO

I was recently awarded a 20% disability for prostate cancer...radical proceedure....vietnam vet.....I was unaware of the VA benefit until 10 months after my iperation. I submitted my claim and was told the effective date is the date I filed my claim. So I miss 6 months compensation at 100% disability and the subsequent four months of monthly compensation. Can anyone give me information on the VA's duty to inform Vets of our benefits? Is there any law outside of the one year since leaving the service, increased benfit, law? The VA referred me to the US court of Appeals for Veterans Claims holding that claimants may not properly file and VA has no authority to adjudicate a freestanding claim for an earlier effective date. Thank you