A VA-accredited claims agent is a non-attorney professional who has been licensed by the VA Office of General Counsel (OGC) to assist veterans with VA claims. The accreditation is governed by 38 CFR § 14.629 — the same regulation that accredits attorneys who represent veterans.
Claims agents are independent practitioners — they're not employed by VSOs or the VA. They work for themselves or for private organizations. Many specialize in specific types of claims: PTSD, TBI, toxic exposure, Gulf War illness, military sexual trauma, or complex appeals. This specialization is often their biggest advantage over generalist VSO service officers who handle a wide variety of cases.
To become accredited under 38 CFR § 14.629, a claims agent must:
The exam and accreditation process is administered by the VA OGC. There are far fewer accredited agents than VSO service officers — which means finding a good one takes more effort, but often means more individual attention.
An accredited claims agent has the same legal authority as a VSO representative or an accredited attorney when it comes to VA claims, with one exception (CAVC). Specifically, they can:
The one thing accredited agents cannot do that attorneys can: represent veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). For CAVC appeals, only VA-accredited attorneys are permitted to appear.
Under 38 USC § 5904 and 38 CFR § 14.636, no agent may charge a fee to a veteran for services related to an initial VA claim. The fee prohibition applies until after a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) has been filed following a denial. This is the same rule that applies to accredited attorneys.
After a NOD is filed and a denial is appealed, accredited agents may charge flat fees or hourly rates — unlike attorneys, who are limited to contingency fees. The VA OGC must approve any fee agreement between an agent and a veteran before fees can be charged.
VSOs: Always free, including appeals.
Agents: Free for initial claims; flat fees allowed after NOD (regulated by VA OGC).
Attorneys: Free for initial claims; 20% contingency after NOD (VA-capped).
This means if your claim is denied and you want an agent to help with your appeal, you may pay them — but the amount must be approved by the VA.
Always free
Best for: New claims, ongoing general support
Limitation: High caseloads, generalist knowledge
Free for initial claim
Best for: Complex conditions, focused attention
Limitation: May charge fees for appeals
Free for initial claim
Best for: BVA/CAVC appeals with legal complexity
Limitation: 20% contingency if you win on appeal
The VA OGC maintains a public, searchable database of all accredited agents and attorneys at:
To search for agents specifically:
When contacting an agent, ask:
Not everyone who offers to help with VA claims is accredited. A significant cottage industry of unaccredited "claims consultants," "veterans benefit advisors," and online services charge veterans upfront fees for work that VSOs and accredited agents do for free.
Before working with anyone on your VA claim, verify their accreditation at the OGC database. If they are not listed, they are not legally authorized to represent you before the VA — and charging you for that work is a federal violation. Report suspected unauthorized fee-charging to the VA OGC at va.gov/ogc.
claim.vet provides free AI-powered claim preparation, not accredited representation. It's the research and organization layer — helping you identify conditions, understand evidence requirements, and prepare your file before you engage a claims agent or VSO. Think of it as the preparation that makes your claims agent's work easier and your outcome better.
Learn more about all your free options at free-va-claim-help, or get started at claim.vet now.
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