Accreditation
Not accredited by the VA
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 |
Under 38 CFR 14.629, only a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative may represent a veteran on a VA claim. Under 38 U.S.C. 5904, even accredited representatives may not charge a fee for preparing an initial claim.
What they charge
Contingency-style fees tied to the size of the disability rating increase obtained.
- Fees reported as five times the amount of the veteran's monthly compensation increase
- Plaintiffs state the company collected over $250 million during the class period
Source: Reported figures from case coverage and class counsel's case summary. This multiple does not appear in the text of the court's orders and is not presented here as a judicial finding.
The lawsuit
| Case | Ford v. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC |
|---|---|
| Case number | 1:23-cv-00756-CCE-LPA |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina |
| Judge | Chief Judge Catherine C. Eagles |
| Filed | 2023 |
| Status | Three classes certified December 30, 2025. Summary judgment for the plaintiffs on liability for the North Carolina unfair trade practices claims, August 3, 2026. Part of the Debt Collection Act claim survives for trial. No damages determined; no trial date currently set. Exclusion deadline passed May 4, 2026. |
| Class | Three certified classes covering veterans who paid Veterans Guardian under a consulting contract for an initial claim, for a non-initial claim, or who were sent an invoice and paid it — all between August 23, 2019 and the date of the court's order approving class notice. |
What the court has ruled
- Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment was "GRANTED as to liability on the unfair trade practices claims in Counts I and II." Part of the North Carolina Debt Collection Act claim in Count III was dismissed to the extent it rested on N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-54(4); the remaining aspects of Count III may proceed to trial. Guardian's own summary judgment motion was otherwise DENIED.2026-08-03 — Docket entry 183, Memorandum Opinion and Order signed by Chief Judge Catherine C. Eagles, 08/03/2026 (M.D.N.C. 1:23-cv-00756), read from the docket
- Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment was granted in part, and it was "deemed established for purposes of this case that the defendant, Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, acts as an unaccredited agent on behalf of the class members in preparing and presenting initial and non-initial claims to the Veterans Administration, in violation of federal law." Guardian's argument that it was entitled to judgment because it is not an agent was DENIED.2026-05-20 — Docket entry 175, Memorandum Opinion and Order signed by Chief Judge Catherine C. Eagles, 05/20/2026 (M.D.N.C. 1:23-cv-00756), read from the docket
- Plaintiffs' motion for class certification was granted, certifying three classes.2025-12-30 — Docket entry 131, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 12/30/2025 (M.D.N.C. 1:23-cv-00756)
What the court has not decided: Liability is not the same as an award. No damages have been determined and no final judgment has been entered. The surviving portion of the Debt Collection Act claim in Count III is still headed for trial, and Guardian won dismissal of the part of that claim resting on N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-54(4). Veterans Guardian disputes the plaintiffs' claims and has the right to appeal.
Claims brought
- North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (UDTPA)
- North Carolina Debt Collection Act (NCDCA)
What the lawsuit alleges
- That Veterans Guardian provided VA disability claim assistance without the federal accreditation required to do so
- That it charged fees federal law does not permit it to charge
- That its invoicing and collection practices violated the North Carolina Debt Collection Act
The company denies wrongdoing. Veterans Guardian disputes the plaintiffs' claims and has publicly responded to the class certification. No final judgment has been entered and no damages have been awarded.
Primary court documents
Third-party records
- Better Business Bureau rating: A+, BBB Accredited, 4.56 out of 5 from 84 customer reviews — Worth understanding rather than dismissing: this rating coexists with a federal court ruling that the company is liable for unfair trade practices. BBB ratings measure complaint volume and how a business responds to complaints — they are not an assessment of whether a business is operating lawfully. "BBB Accredited" is a paid membership; businesses pay dues to BBB to carry it. Neither the rating nor the accreditation reflects the court's 2026 rulings. source
What this means for you
- A high BBB rating or a good review score is not a legal clearance. This company holds an A+ and is BBB Accredited while a federal court has found it liable for unfair trade practices. Check the docket, not the badge.
- If you paid Veterans Guardian under a consulting contract between August 23, 2019 and the class notice date, you are almost certainly a class member. The deadline to exclude yourself was May 4, 2026 and has passed, so you are bound by whatever the case produces.
- You do not need to do anything now. There is no claim form, because there is no settlement or damages award yet.
- A liability ruling is not a damages award. The court has decided the company is liable on the unfair trade practices counts; what class members actually recover has not been determined, and part of the case still goes to trial.
- Nothing in this case affects your VA rating or your claim. It concerns the fees the company charged, not the benefits you were awarded.
- If Veterans Guardian is currently invoicing you, that debt has not been cancelled by any court order. This is unlike the Just4Veterans settlement, which did cancel unpaid fees for its class.
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
- Official court-approved class action website — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Key dates — trial date listed as none set — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Class definitions and FAQ — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Class counsel — Berger Montague — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Docket — CourtListener — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Veterans Guardian's public response to class certification — 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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