SMC-K: Specified Anatomical Loss or Loss of Use
38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) • 38 CFR § 3.350(a)
Add-on, not a replacement tier
Official veteran-alone SMC-K rate: $139.87 per month (effective December 1, 2025).
VA.gov says this amount is added to the basic disability compensation rate for any rating from 0% to 100%, and to basic SMC rates except SMC-O, SMC-Q, and SMC-R. VA may pay 1 to 3 SMC-K awards. SMC-K does not replace the schedular 10–100% table. Levels L through S are the basic SMC rates that are paid instead of that table.
What 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) identifies
The statute pays SMC-K when service-connected disability has caused any of the following. This page does not add extra qualifiers.
- Anatomical loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs
- Anatomical loss or loss of use of one foot
- Anatomical loss or loss of use of one hand
- Anatomical loss or loss of use of both buttocks
- Blindness of one eye, having only light perception
- Deafness of both ears, having absence of air and bone conduction
- For a woman veteran: anatomical loss of 25 percent or more of tissue from a single breast or both breasts in combination (including mastectomy or partial mastectomy), or radiation treatment of breast tissue
How veterans usually raise it
Use VA Form 21-526EZ (Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits) and identify the qualifying loss. A VA-accredited VSO can review the file. This site does not file claims and does not predict an award.
Official sources
- VA.gov special monthly compensation rates (effective December 1, 2025)
- 38 CFR § 3.350
Related pages
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.