Special Monthly Compensation
Understand and review your SMC designation
Explore the supported SMC structure, record an already-awarded or document-confirmed designation, and see how it changes the same browser-local compensation estimate used throughout VMC.
SMC catalog
Current supported SMC structure
These cards explain the public SMC structure. They do not decide entitlement. Shared VA payment-table columns such as O/P and R.2/T are shown as shared rate buckets while the underlying legal paths remain distinct.
SMC-K
Loss or loss of use / specified special losses
An additive SMC payment variation for qualifying statutory losses or loss of use. VA may add 1 to 3 K awards to ordinary compensation or most basic SMC rates, subject to the governing exclusions.
Calculation: additive
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(a)
- • VA current SMC rates
Record the number of confirmed K awards in the reviewed designation panel below.
Go to SMC-K awardsSMC-Q
Protected legacy SMC-Q rate
A protected legacy payment variation. VA states that this designation has not been newly awarded since August 19, 1968; it remains relevant for Veterans who already hold it.
Calculation: replacement
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-L
SMC-L
A statutory basic SMC level that can apply to specified severe disabilities and to certain regular Aid and Attendance circumstances.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(b)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.352
SMC-L 1/2
Intermediate L-to-M rate
An intermediate statutory rate between SMC-L and SMC-M when the governing combination rules authorize a half-step increase.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-M
SMC-M
A higher statutory basic SMC level for specified combinations and severity of loss, loss of use, or blindness.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(c)
SMC-M 1/2
Intermediate M-to-N rate
An intermediate statutory rate between SMC-M and SMC-N under the applicable combination rules.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-N
SMC-N
A higher statutory basic SMC level for specified severe combinations of anatomical loss, loss of use, or blindness.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(d)
SMC-N 1/2
Intermediate N-to-O rate
An intermediate statutory rate between SMC-N and SMC-O under the applicable combination rules.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-O
SMC-O
A very high statutory SMC level for qualifying combinations described by law. VMC does not infer whether the factual requirements are met.
Calculation: shared rate bucket
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(e)
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-P / intermediate
Section 1114(p) intermediate or next-higher rate
Section 1114(p) authorizes specified intermediate or next-higher SMC rates. VA publishes the top O/P payment column together, but the legal path is not the same as simply selecting SMC-O.
Calculation: shared rate bucket
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)
- • VA current SMC rates
SMC-R.1
Higher-level SMC with regular Aid and Attendance
A higher SMC structure tied to the statutory prerequisites and a need for regular Aid and Attendance. Eligibility depends on adjudicated facts; VMC only models a reviewed designation.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(h)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.352
SMC-R.2
Higher level of Aid and Attendance
The higher R.2 structure requires the governing statutory prerequisites plus a higher level of care. VA publishes R.2 and T in a shared payment column, but they are legally distinct paths.
Calculation: shared rate bucket
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(h)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.352(b)
SMC-S
SMC-S / housebound statutory rate
A statutory SMC rate associated with the qualifying total-plus-additional-disability structure or permanent housebound status. 4R does not automatically adjudicate those factual or rating-allocation requirements.
Calculation: replacement
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(i)
SMC-T
SMC-T for qualifying traumatic brain injury Aid and Attendance
A distinct statutory path for qualifying residuals of traumatic brain injury requiring regular Aid and Attendance when, without that care, institutional care would be required. It shares the published R.2/T payment column but is not SMC-R.2.
Calculation: shared rate bucket
- • 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(j)
- • 38 C.F.R. § 3.352
Your reviewed designation
Record what VA already awarded or what a source document confirms
VMC calculates an entered designation. It does not infer SMC eligibility from diagnoses, ratings, symptoms, or a personal profile.
Loading your local calculator record…
Estimated 2026 total monthly compensation
$0.00
Regular compensation · rates effective December 1, 2025
How the reviewed amount is built
- Ordinary schedular amount
- $0.00
- Replacement SMC base
- $0.00
- Additive SMC-K
- $0.00
- Additional minor/helpless children
- $0.00
- School-child additions
- $0.00
- Spouse A&A addition
- $0.00
- Payment treatment
- K adds to ordinary compensation
- Final monthly total
- $0.00
Eligibility safeguard
SMC eligibility can depend on adjudicated facts such as anatomical loss, loss of use, blindness, statutory rating relationships, housebound status, regular Aid and Attendance, higher-level care, or qualifying traumatic brain injury. This 4R workspace explains and calculates reviewed designations; it does not automatically award, maximize, or adjudicate SMC.