Accreditation
VA-accredited
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
This is the distinction that matters most when choosing help. Under 38 CFR 14.629 only VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives may represent you. Under 38 U.S.C. 5904 nobody — including an accredited attorney — may charge a fee for preparing an initial claim, and fees charged after a decision has been appealed are regulated and subject to VA review. An unaccredited company is bound by none of that structure.
What they charge
Contingency, taken from retroactive benefits recovered on an appeal, with no upfront charge. Attorney fees in VA cases are regulated: they cannot be charged on an initial claim, and they are reviewable by the VA.
- The firm states it charges nothing upfront and collects only if it recovers retroactive benefits
Source: Hill & Ponton published FAQ and fee description
What this means for you
- Accredited does not mean endorsed, and it does not mean you need a lawyer. It means the representative is inside a regulated system with fee limits and a complaint route. Unaccredited companies are outside it.
- For an initial claim, nobody may lawfully charge you a fee — not a consultant, not a claims agent, not an accredited attorney. A free VSO can file it for you.
- Attorneys generally become relevant after a claim has been denied and you are appealing. That is the point at which a regulated contingency fee is permitted.
- Always verify accreditation yourself in the VA's database rather than relying on a company's own claim. It takes under a minute and it is the single check that separates the two categories on this site.
- This page is not a recommendation. It exists so the index is a record of what the public files show, not a list of companies with problems.
You can get this help for free
Only a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative may represent you on a VA claim (38 CFR 14.629). Accredited representatives may not charge you for preparing an initial claim, and VSOs do not charge veterans at all.
- Find a VA-accredited representative — the VA's official search
- Check whether someone is accredited — VA Office of General Counsel database
- DAV, VFW, American Legion, and your state or county veterans service office — all free
If a company sells its service as coaching, education, consulting, or a strategy session rather than claims assistance, check its accreditation before you sign anything.
Sources
- VA Office of General Counsel — accreditation search (verify any representative here) — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Hill & Ponton — VA-accredited attorneys and legal team — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Hill & Ponton — frequently asked questions, including fees — retrieved 2026-08-06
- 38 CFR 14.629 — who may represent VA claimants — retrieved 2026-08-06
Every statement on this page is drawn from public court records, official government databases, or the company's own published material. Last verified 2026-08-06.
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