The VA is aware of organizations preying on veterans and their VA disability claims: claim sharks to “assist” or “consult” with veterans. Oftentimes, claim sharks are not even VA accredited which means they are not required to adhere to the high professional and ethical requirements VA accreditation. Claim sharks make it difficult to get out of their contracts leaving veterans worse off.
The veterans attorneys at Chad Barr Law are all VA-accredited and Chad Barr Law is upfront about their attorney’s fees: only 20% of the recovered back pay.
The High Cost of Claim Sharks
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new website and call center as part of its VSAFE program to help veterans who believe they’ve been defrauded or charged excessive fees for assistance with their VA disability claims.
This initiative comes in response to cases like that of Navy veteran David Rouse, who was unexpectedly billed nearly $9,000 by Trajector Medical after seeking their help for a disability rating increase as reported by Military.com.
Rouse, who suffers from multiple service-connected conditions, had no idea the charges would be so high. The VA’s VSAFE program was established to combat fraud which has surged following the passage of the PACT Act. This act expanded benefits to veterans exposed to environmental hazards, increasing the potential for fraudulent activities.
The rise in for-profit companies charging exorbitant fees has prompted the VA to advocate for stronger regulations and penalties and legislative efforts are underway to impose those penalties on companies charging unauthorized fees.
NOTE: It’s illegal to charge for an initial VA disability claim.
Why Choose an Accredited VA Attorney?
Accredited VA attorneys are experts in VA law. As VA accredited attorneys, Chad Barr Law is:
- Passed a thorough background check.
- Highly trained in VA law
- Continue ongoing VA disability legal education.
- Adhere to highly ethical standards.
- Stay updated on any changes that could impact veterans’ claims.
- Transparent about our fees.
Avoiding Claim Sharks: Tips for Veterans
Here are some common signs that the person or business is a claim shark.
- There is no transparency on what fee you will be charged.
- They guarantee to get you to 100% or guaranteed results.
- They offer you an up-front lump-sum payment in exchange for your monthly VA payments going forward. VA benefits can’t be assigned to a beneficiary.
- They insist they can get you your benefits faster for a fee.
- They refer you to a doctor who coaches you on what to say for medical conditions that don’t reflect your true condition.
- You are given doctor signed forms that falsely report your medical conditions.
One of the best ways to avoid fraud is to check to make sure their name is on the VA accreditation search.
The Value of VA Accredited Attorneys
The VA accredited attorneys at Chad Barr Law offer immense value to veterans. We provide experienced guidance through the complex VA system, transparency in our fees, and are extremely ethical in procedures of VA law.
If you are seeking help for appealing your VA disability because of a denial or wanting to increase your benefits, call 888-2-VETLAW or fill out our free case review form today. Let us bring you peace of mind as we fight for your earned benefits.
