Does a VA claims agent charge for an initial claim?
Last verified September 1, 2026 · Reviewed by Esteban Magallon, VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Details
- 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 CFR § 14.636(c) set the point at which a fee may first be charged.
- A permitted post-decision fee must be reasonable; a contingency of 20% of past-due benefits is presumed reasonable under § 14.636(f).
- Reimbursement of actual expenses, such as record retrieval, is treated separately from fees.
- Anyone charging for initial-claim help without accreditation is operating outside 38 CFR § 14.629.
Related
This is general educational information about VA claims — not legal or medical advice. Individual outcomes depend on the record. Oakridge Claims is a private VA-Accredited Claims Agent practice and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.