VETERAN LEGAL AID & ADVOCACY

No. Federal law prohibits anyone — attorney, claims agent, or consultant — from charging a fee to prepare and file an initial VA claim. Fees may only be charged after the VA issues an initial decision and you file an appeal, and even then the agreement must be filed with the VA and is generally limited to 20% of past-due benefits. Anyone asking for a percentage of your retroactive award to file a first claim is operating outside the law. Free filing help is available from VA-accredited VSOs such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion.

Accreditation is the VA's authorization for someone to represent claimants — it requires a character and fitness review, an exam for attorneys and agents, and ongoing continuing education. Only accredited representatives can access your claims file and act on your behalf. You can verify anyone's accreditation in seconds using the VA's public search at va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp, and you should, because unaccredited consultants advertising heavily to veterans are common.

It depends on the reason for the discharge, not just its characterization. Boards now apply liberal consideration to discharges connected to PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, or sexual orientation under the repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy — meaning the burden on you is lighter than it once was. Apply to a Discharge Review Board with DD Form 293 if the discharge was within the last 15 years, or to a Board for Correction of Military Records with DD Form 149 if it was longer ago. There is no filing fee, and a denial can be refiled with new evidence.

Veterans Treatment Courts divert justice-involved veterans out of the traditional criminal process into a supervised program of VA treatment, judicial monitoring, and peer mentorship, with charges often reduced or dismissed on completion. There are more than 600 nationwide, but they are county-level and eligibility rules vary — typically non-violent offenses tied to service-connected conditions. Ask your defense attorney to request a transfer early; the referral usually has to happen before a plea is entered.

Start with your local Legal Services Corporation-funded legal aid office, which handles housing, family, consumer, and public benefits matters at no cost for low-income clients, and many have dedicated veteran units. Also check whether a nearby VA medical center hosts a Medical-Legal Partnership with attorneys on site, and whether a local law school runs a veterans clinic. The searchable directory at lawhelp.org lists providers by state and problem type.