Veterans with residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can receive additional benefits if they are housebound. The rating and compensation criteria fall under SMC (S). If the Veteran is currently at a 100% va disability rate, and VA finds that the Veteran is housebound, they will pay the Veteran at the 100% rate with an additional $375 per month.
In order to be eligible for housebound benefits, the Veteran must have:
- A single service-connected disability rated as totally disabling and additional service-connected disabilities that are independently rated at 60 percent.
- Example: a Veteran who has been service-connected for his back condition at 100% and has been rated 60% for PTSD.
OR
- A single service-connected disability rated as totally disabling, and (Veteran must) be permanently housebound because of the service-connected disability or disabilities.
- Example: a Veteran who has been awarded TDIU for his service-connected TBI and has been determined to be housebound due to his condition.
A Veteran is considered to be housebound when:
- Veteran is substantially confined to his/her dwelling as a direct result of service-connected disabilities
- It is reasonably certain that the disability will persist throughout his/her lifetime
However, according to the regulations, the Veteran does not have to be completely confined to his/her home to satisfy the requirement of being “substantially” confined to the dwelling or immediate premises. The Court of Veterans Appeals has held that leaving one’s house for medical purposes cannot, by itself, constitute a basis for finding that one is not substantially confined. In addition, the Veteran’s disabilities need not be rated permanent in order to receive this benefit.
Basic SMC-S Rates for Veterans without Children
| Dependent Status |
Compensation |
|
Veteran Alone |
$3,521.85 |
|
Veteran with Spouse |
$3,697.28 |
|
Veteran with Spouse and One Parent |
$3,838.07 |
|
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents |
$3,978.86 |
|
Veteran with One Parent |
$3,662.64 |
|
Veteran with Two Parents |
$3,803.43 |
|
Additional A/A spouse. |
$160.89 |
Basic SMC-S Rates with Dependents, Including Children
| Dependent Status |
Compensation |
|
Veteran with One Child |
$3,639.17 |
|
Veteran with Spouse and One Child |
$3,825.75 |
|
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and One Child |
$3,966.54 |
|
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and One Child |
$4,107.33 |
|
Veteran with One Parent and One Child |
$3,779.96 |
|
Veteran with Two Parents and One Child |
$3,920.75 |
|
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 |
$87.17 |
|
Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 |
$281.57 |
|
Additional A/A spouse |
$160.89 |
Source: VA.Gov
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