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Get free help with your claim
Free, trained, VA-accredited help exists in every state. Nobody may charge you for help with an initial claim. Start here before you pay anyone.
Free help, right now
- VA's search for accredited representatives and VSOs: va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep. Also the OGC accreditation search, which lets you confirm any person's accreditation.
- County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs): paid by your county, free to you, and they know the local offices for state benefits. Search "[your county] veterans service office."
- National VSOs with offices in most VA regional offices: Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The American Legion. You do not have to be a member.
- State Departments of Veterans Affairs: most states have accredited officers. Find your state's agency.
To let a representative work your claim, you sign VA Form 21-22 (for a VSO) or 21-22a (for an individual attorney or claims agent). Read the limited-release boxes before signing.
How fees work for accredited attorneys and claims agents
- Initial claims: no fee, ever. Federal law bars anyone, accredited or not, from charging to prepare, present, or prosecute a claim before VA issues its first decision on it (38 U.S.C. 5904(c)(1)).
- After the first decision (an HLR, Supplemental Claim, Board appeal, or TDIU claim), an accredited attorney or agent may charge. The fee must be in a written agreement filed with VA.
- 20% of back pay is presumed reasonable. Over 33 1/3% is presumed unreasonable (38 CFR 14.636). Fees come from past-due benefits awarded; if you win nothing, a contingency fee is zero.
- VSOs never charge for claims work.
Sources: 38 U.S.C. 5904, 38 CFR 14.636, VA accredited representative FAQs.
How to spot a claim shark
VA calls them "claims predators": companies and individuals who are not accredited and charge veterans for help VA says is free or unlawful to charge for. Warning signs:
- They charge for an initial claim, or charge up front, or charge a flat fee no matter the outcome.
- They want a share of your future monthly pay (not just back pay), often for years.
- They ask for your VA.gov login, or want to log in as you. Never share it. In Colorado this is also barred by state law.
- They "guarantee" a rating or say they have a "secret" doctor or process.
- They are not in VA's accreditation search. Look them up by name.
- They call themselves "consultants," "coaches," or "medical evidence companies" to dodge the word representation.
Report them: VA's VSAFE line, 1-833-388-7233, or VSAFE.gov. VA's explainer: Beware: claims predators (Aug 9, 2024).
A federal bill to add penalties (the GUARD VA Benefits Act, H.R. 1732) had a hearing in March 2026 but had not passed as of Oct 16, 2026, as far as we could confirm. Needs verification
About this site and its owner
I am Curt Arnold, an Air Force veteran. I am pursuing VA accreditation as a claims agent and do not hold it yet. That means I cannot represent you, prepare or file anything for you, or charge for claims work, and nothing on this site offers to. This site is education. If you want someone to work your claim, use the free accredited options above. If you want to hear when my tools launch, there is an interest list, with no promises attached.