Va Fl 09-25

[fanaticbooks]

NOTE:

VA_Fast_Letter_09-25.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington, D.C. 20420

June 4, 2009

Director (00/21)

All VA Regional Offices

In Reply Refer To: 216B

Fast Letter 09-25

SUBJ: Special Monthly Compensation at the "k" Level for Eligible Women Veterans

Background Information

A special review was conducted of all records of Women Veterans granted service connection for injury or disease of the breast and/or reproductive system. The review, completed on April 16, 2009, yielded the names of 1,769 Women Veterans who were granted service connection for mastectomy under diagnostic code 7626 and/or hysterectomy under diagnostic codes 7617, 7618, and 7619, but are not receiving special monthly compensation (SMC) as warranted under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k)/38 C.F.R. § 3.350(a).

Regional offices (RO) were recently provided spreadsheet listings of cases that must be manually reviewed to determine entitlement to SMC "k." This fast letter provides guidance for processing reviews and determining appropriate effective dates.