Benefits of Working With a VA Accredited Attorney
I often get asked the question…Does a veteran need to hire an attorney to assist with his/her VA disability appeal? The answer to that question is no; a veteran can file an appeal of an adverse disability claim decision on his/her own or utilize the services of a Veterans Service Organization to assist. However, there are many benefits to hiring a VA attorney. All VA attorneys practicing before the Agency, Board of Appeals or Court of Appeal for Veterans’ Claims must be accredited with the VA. Accreditation requires a State Bar Report of Good Standing as well as continuing legal education requirements. Accredited VA attorneys cannot charge a fee until an initial decision has been issued by the VA. Unfortunately, in some communities there are companies that claim to be “consultants” and charge exorbitant fees to assist veteran’s with filing VA disability claims. Those “consultants” are not VA accredited representatives or attorneys. In February 2019