Benefits before application

I applied for VA aid and attendence in April, 2009 and have gotten benifits since may 1rst. I heard on this website that the VA will pay BEFORE the application date. (They changed policy)

My Mom qualified for benefits in January, 2009 both medically and finacialy. However, like i said i never applied until april, 2009

Since i seen on this forum that the rules had been changed i listed my expenses on my EVR from january,2009 but the VA sent me a letter that stateing that they couldnt process the expenses before May.

I called the VA and they said send in a statement in support of claim. I have done this, any ideas on what will happen next? Do you think they will pay from January to april 1rst if i was both medically and finacially qualified with just a statement asking them to do it? It just sounds odd, they had everything on the EVR that i just submitted and they already had the medical report filled out that was dated in January with the application that was submitted last year in April.