Thousands of Veterans are being attacked by predatory sharks. Unaccredited “consultants” are taking advantage of Veterans by illegally charging fees to assist them in filing their VA disability claims. These “claim sharks” often employ deceptive and aggressive tactics to lure Veterans into unfair contracts and charge enormous upfront fees and a percentage of future benefits. Many claim sharks also make false promises about speeding up the claims process or guaranteeing a specific disability rating. They often charge fees that are significantly higher than the Veteran's potential retroactive compensation, potentially costing them thousands of dollars. Claim sharks are not VA-accredited, so they are not required to adhere to professional and ethical standards.
As VA accredited attorneys, at Cuddigan Law we do not charge any upfront fees. We work on a contingency basis. We only get paid when you win your claim and our fee is a percentage of your back pay. We do not get any portion of your future benefits. We do not make false promises, instead we fight to get you the benefits you have rightfully earned. You can always contact our office for a free consultation about your case.
Claim sharks exist because of a legal loophole. While under federal law it is illegal for companies that aren’t accredited by the VA to charge Veterans fees for helping file their disability claims there’s no criminal penalty for breaking the law. Recent attempts in Congress to put a stop to these shady operators have stalled out. Seventeen state governments have stepped and passed laws to rein in these bad actors. (At the time this article was written, the Nebraska Unicameral is considering LB693 which would make the practices of claim sharks illegal. Attorneys, agents, or companies properly accredited by the federal VA would not be impacted by LB 693.
To protect yourself from sharks:
- Verify any claim representative's accreditation with the VA's accreditation portal.
- Never agree to payments from future benefits.
- Never give up your VA login or password, or your direct deposit information.
- Report suspicious activity to the VA Office of General Counsel or your state's Attorney General.
