The effective date is the day your entitlement to compensation begins. It drives every dollar of back pay — and it is one of the most frequently mishandled parts of a rating decision.
The general rule
The effective date is usually the date the VA received your claim, or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later. An intent to file can lock in an earlier date and preserve up to a year of back pay while you gather evidence.
When the date is wrong
- The VA ignored an earlier intent-to-file or informal claim
- A prior denial contained a CUE that should reset the date
- The claim was continuously prosecuted and the date was not carried forward
We audit the effective date on every decision we review. Correcting it is often the fastest way to recover money the VA already owes.