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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.

Avoiding predatory claim filers

Based on Representation of veterans before VA and the charging of fees for that work are governed by 38 U.S.C. §§ 5901 and 5904 and 38 CFR § 14.636. The patterns described here have been the subject of VA OGC, state attorney general, and FTC enforcement activity. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026

Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.

Primary sources: 38 U.S.C. § 5901 (who may prepare and present claims), 38 U.S.C. § 5904 (agents, attorneys, and fee restrictions), 38 CFR § 14.636 (fee reasonableness), VA OGC accredited representatives and agents, FTC: Report Fraud

This page is for veterans and family members who have seen ads from for-profit companies promising to increase a VA rating, or who have already been contacted by one. It explains what the law actually permits, the patterns that should stop a veteran from signing, and how to report bad actors. It names no companies; the concern is behavior, not brand.

A growing number of for-profit companies advertise aggressively to veterans through television, radio, podcasts, and social media. Many promise a specific rating, guaranteed back pay, or a shortcut through the claim process. Most charge a percentage of awarded benefits, a flat fee, or a monthly subscription in exchange. When the company is not VA-accredited, those fee arrangements conflict with federal law, and the marketing tends to obscure that. Free, accredited help is available for every veteran; this page explains how to tell the difference.

What unaccredited for-profit filing looks like

The patterns below are documented across complaints to VA's Office of the General Counsel, state attorneys general, and the Federal Trade Commission. Individual companies vary, but the playbook is recognizable.

  • A contingency fee on the initial claim— often a multiple of the first month's increase or a percentage of back pay. Charging for work on an initial claim is flatly prohibited for any party under 38 U.S.C. § 5904(c)(1)[src], accredited or not.
  • Monthly or recurring subscription feesframed as "coaching," "consulting," "medical evidence support," or "claim strategy." The subscription label does not change the underlying work; if the company is preparing or presenting a claim, it falls under 38 U.S.C. § 5901[src].
  • Signed contracts before meaningful disclosure — the veteran signs a fee agreement, power of attorney, or binding arbitration clause in the first call or first visit, before seeing a written fee schedule or verifying accreditation.
  • Social-media advertising built on testimonials and dollar amounts.
    "We've helped thousands of veterans reach 100%." "Average client gained $X/month."
    Accredited representatives do not guarantee outcomes, because VA rates based on the record, not on marketing.
  • "Free consultation" followed by a hard sell. A short phone screen that ends with pressure to sign that day, a time-limited offer, or a claim that the price goes up if the veteran waits.
  • Labels that imply representation without the authority for it.
    "Veterans advocacy group." "Claims consultant." "Rating specialist."
    An unaccredited company cannot legally file anything on a veteran's behalf.

Why it is illegal

Two statutes do most of the work. 38 U.S.C. § 5901[src] limits who may prepare, present, or prosecute a VA claim on a veteran's behalf: recognized VSO representatives, VA-accredited claims agents, and VA-accredited attorneys. Everyone else is outside the system.

38 U.S.C. § 5904[src] then governs fees. Subsection (c)(1) prohibits any fee for services rendered before VA issues an initial decision. After an initial decision, only accredited attorneys and agents may charge fees, and only under a written fee agreement filed with VA. 38 CFR § 14.636[src] caps those fees for reasonableness: percentage-of-past-due fees are presumptively reasonable at or below 20%, may be allowed up to 33% on specific facts, and are reviewable by VA in every case.

An unaccredited company that takes money for an initial claim is operating outside both statutes. The fee is not saved by calling it a subscription, a consulting retainer, or a success fee.

Red flags

  • A promise of a specific rating, a guaranteed approval, or a guaranteed dollar amount.
  • Any contingency fee, percentage, or flat charge tied to an initial claim.
  • A recurring monthly subscription that continues regardless of whether a claim has been filed or decided.
  • Pressure to sign on the first call, a "today only" price, or a refusal to share the fee schedule in writing.
  • A request for a Social Security number, full service treatment records, or a signed release before the company has disclosed its fees and proven accreditation.
  • Discouragement from using a CVSO, state VSO, or national VSO — sometimes framed as "they take too long" or "they miss things." Free representation is the default, not the fallback.
  • Television, radio, or social-media advertising that leads with client testimonials, big rating percentages, or a cash figure the client received.

The real harms

These arrangements are not just expensive. They can damage the claim itself.

  • Delayed filing. A company that insists on gathering evidence on its own schedule can push the effective date later, which reduces back pay if the claim is granted.
  • Records in unvetted hands.Service treatment records and private medical records shared with an unaccredited company are outside VA's privacy framework and the state bar rules that discipline accredited attorneys.
  • Back pay surrendered to fees. A percentage fee on a large retroactive award can quietly become the largest single expense of the claim, in exchange for work a CVSO or VSO would have done at no cost.
  • POA conflicts. Signing a form with one party while another accredited representative already has a VA Form 21-22 on file creates confusion about who can act. That can stall a pending claim.

What free representation actually looks like

Three categories of representation are recognized by VA, and two of them are free by design.

  • CVSOs and national VSO representatives. County and organizational employees accredited under 38 U.S.C. § 5904[src]. They handle initial claims, evidence development, C&P exam prep, and appeals at no cost to the veteran. How to find your CVSO.
  • Accredited claims agents. Non-attorneys who passed the VA examination and character-and-fitness review. They may charge, but only on post-decision work and only under a written agreement filed with VA.
  • Accredited attorneys. Attorneys in good standing with a state bar who have registered with VA OGC. Most work enters the picture at the appeal stage, after an initial decision. Their fees are bound by the same 14.636 caps and reasonableness review.

How to verify accreditation in 30 seconds

  1. Open the VA OGC accredited representatives and agents page and follow the link to the accreditation search.
  2. Pick the type of representative (attorney, claims agent, or VSO representative) and enter the person's first and last name. The company name alone is rarely enough; you are verifying the individual.
  3. Read the status field. "Active" means currently authorized. "Cancelled" or "Suspended" means they cannot currently represent veterans before VA. No listing means they are not accredited at all.

A legitimate representative expects to be verified. Being asked to prove accreditation is how the system is supposed to work. For the full framework, see what VA accreditation means.

How to report a bad actor

Four places accept reports. The more documentation attached, the faster a complaint moves.

  1. VA Office of the General Counsel. OGC investigates accreditation-related complaints and can cancel or suspend accreditation. For unaccredited companies, OGC can refer the matter and document the pattern. See the official page on VA OGC accredited representatives and agents for the current complaint address.
  2. State attorney general. Most state AGs have a consumer protection division that handles deceptive practices directed at veterans. Several states maintain dedicated veteran-fraud units. The state AG can stop a business operating locally even when federal action is slower.
  3. Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Useful for deceptive advertising, unfair billing practices, and cross-state conduct.
  4. State bar, if an accredited attorney is involved. State bars enforce professional conduct rules independently of VA, and discipline there can follow a complaint even if VA declines to act.

If you already signed with one

Many veterans find out about these rules only after signing. The situation is recoverable.

  1. Revoke the power of attorney. If you signed a VA Form 21-22a (individual representative) or 21-22 (organization), signing a new VA Form 21-22 with a CVSO or VSO automatically revokes the earlier appointment. You can also submit a written revocation to the VA regional office that has your file.
  2. Request your records back. Ask in writing for the return or destruction of any records you provided, including service treatment records, private medical records, and any copies. Keep a dated copy of the request.
  3. Document everything. Save the contract, billing statements, call logs, emails, and the advertising that brought you in. Screenshots of social-media ads are especially useful because they may be taken down later.
  4. Talk to a free CVSO. A CVSO or national VSO representative can review the claim, file a corrected VA Form 21-22, and flag anything already filed that needs to be cleaned up. How to find your CVSO.
  5. Report. Use the four channels above. Your complaint helps veterans who come next.
  6. Do not stop the claim itself. If a claim has been denied, the path forward is still the same: what to do after a denial.

Predatory filing is a narrow slice of the market. Most accredited attorneys and agents follow the fee rules, and CVSOs and VSOs file the majority of claims at no cost. The goal of this page is not to discourage paid representation where it genuinely helps, but to make sure a veteran is never charged by a non-accredited party for work that federal law does not permit.

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