VETERANS PRESS: What is an accredited representative?
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 2 years, 1 month AGO
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accredits three types of representatives — Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives, attorneys, and agents — to help ensure that claimants have access to responsible and qualified representation on their VA benefits claims. VA-accredited representatives must have good moral character and be capable of providing competent representation, and VA’s Office of General Counsel is responsible for making those determinations through its accreditation process. The accreditation process differs depending of which type of accreditation is being sought. An accredited VSO representative is someone who has been recommended for accreditation by a VSO that is recognized by VA to assist on VA benefit claims.
The VSO has certified to VA that the representative possesses good character and is fit to represent Veterans and their families as an employee or member of their organization. An attorney is someone who is a member in good standing of at least one State bar. When an attorney applies for VA accreditation, VA typically presumes that the attorney possesses the good character and fitness necessary to represent Veterans and their family members based on the attorney’s state license to practice law. An accredited claims agent is someone who is not an attorney but who has undergone a character review by OGC and has passed a written examination about VA law and procedures.
Beware, unaccredited individuals who prepare, present or prosecute VA benefit claims, or hold themselves out as being authorized to do so, are in violation of Federal law.
The VA Office of General Counsel maintains a list of VA-recognized organizations and VA-accredited individuals that are authorized to assist in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of VA benefit claims at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.
For local help, see the “Resource Directory” in this publication or see the “How can I get help?” section at Veteranshelpnet.com