Have you noticed advertisements from companies offering to help with the VA claims and appeals process? Do their services seem too good to be true, leaving you wondering whether to trust them? If so, you are not alone.
More Veterans are getting VA health care and benefits than ever before, which also presents opportunities for scammers to commit fraud against Veterans and their families. These increased benefits have led to a rise in shady companies and individuals that are not accredited by VA, offering claims assistance services and charging hefty fees when they do. This expansion of benefits has also attracted individuals and companies who are misleading Veterans to think it is okay to exaggerate disability symptoms in order to get higher disability ratings.
VA refers to these companies and individuals as “claims predators”; these claims predators are not accredited by VA. They are known to aggressively prey on Veterans’ benefits through various channels such as mail, telephone or online platforms. They try to take advantage of Veterans and their beneficiaries by using high-pressure tactics, sharing misleading information and making false promises to convince Veterans to sign up for their services. Unfortunately, these services usually come at a high cost to Veterans, with little to no actual benefit.
To avoid falling victim to claims predators, Veterans and their loved ones must be cautious when seeking assistance with their VA claims and appeals. It’s crucial to always verify the legitimacy of the individual or company before providing any information. VA strongly advises against working with unaccredited companies and individuals. Instead, VA recommends seeking help from VA accredited claims agents, attorneys and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). These individuals and organizations are recognized by VA, having established the good character and competence necessary to navigate the VA benefits system, ensuring Veterans and their beneficiaries receive the benefits they have rightfully earned.
It’s important that Veterans and their families know they should never pay a fee to file an initial claim for benefits. In fact, it’s unlawful for anyone to charge a fee for preparing an initial claim. Only VA accredited attorneys, claims agents and VSO representatives can lawfully assist Veterans with their initial benefits claims. Only accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge a fee to:
- Consult or advise VA claimants seeking review of or to appeal their claims.
- Collect evidence for a supplemental claim or an appeal.
- Prepare and file a supplemental claim.
- Submit requests for higher level review.
- Submit an appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals.
VA remains committed to educating Veterans about these fraudulent schemes by claims predators while providing the necessary resources and tools to help Veterans pursue their VA benefits claims safely. To learn more about fraud scams and how to safeguard your benefits, visit the Protecting Veterans from fraud website.
If you suspect a representative acted unlawfully or unethically while assisting you in filing a VA benefits claim, file a report and learn more at VSAFE.gov or call 1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-388-7233), a new government-wide website and call center designed to protect Veterans, service members, and their families from fraud and scams. These tools will inform Veterans and their families about common fraud schemes and help protect themselves, and provide an outlet for reporting and further assistance.
Remember, you earned your benefits, don’t let claims predators prey on you. Work with a VA recognized representative to receive the support you deserve.
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The VA process is a joke. Went for a hearing test, definite hearing loss but determined “not service connected” because I have a boat. What? I flew army helicopters for 26 years, most without the proper hearing protection due to a lack of ear plugs in the unit, while the boat I own has a 4 stroke, very quiet!
What have I got to lose with Trajector Medical, the VA has already screwed me?
These predatory companies are making $$$ because the VBA refuses to make changes to its M21 manual that would make the process of a disability claim easier for a Veteran. The VBA raters per the M21 require certain language that our private doctors do not understand and end up completing “insufficient” DBQ/MO that is ignored or given lower value versus a VBA contracted clinician trained to use the terminology needed but never seen the Veteran for care. Also, VA doctors are refusing to submit DBQs even though the Secretary of the VA has said he expects them to complete them. So a Vet with only VA Healthcare has to pay for a private DBQ/MO or be at the mercy of the VBA contracted clinician. These predatory companies know what is required for a “sufficient” DBQ/MO and many of us Veterans have no choice but to use these companies to get the strongest claim possible. The VBA has created this problem and it can fix it by changing the process and procedures. Make it easier for private and VA clinicians to submit sufficient DBAs and MO. Allow Veterans access to the DBQs/MOs that are completed during the claim process. This transparency will allow the vet to see the quality of the exam during the claim process and be able to issue a personal statement if in disagreement. Allow for a willing private clinician who is treating the veteran the ability to complete the same DBQs and answer the MO that raters ask for. Give them access to the veteran’s claim file. Some private clinicians would do this if it was available. The VBA can fix this by fixing its claim process.
These companies would not be necessary if the VA had not failed the veterans. VSOs are backlogged for two to three months. Vsos are undertrained and mostly worthless. The VA sends Veterans to multiple unwarranted c and p exams and wastes time and resources. the c and p examiners receive minimal training and offer inferior exams. When the veteran submits private DBQs the VA ignores them. And you wonderwhy veterans have gone to these private companies for help? Look no further than your own house .The VA is a terrible bureaucracy and is clueless about what each department is doing. I have seen this over and over. I was sent to 14 c and p exams for the same conditions over a two-week time frame.
A lot of vets have no chose but to get with a Lawyer, Like my case for asbestos exposure, I have had 2 c&p exams and both point to my asbestos exposure, the first even states a high probability of evidences that vet was exposed to asbestos while in the services, and later in the letter it states that asbestos may have contributed to lung issues but vet has smoking history so no, and another claim for insomnia was approved for 10% as secondary to my tinnitus, now there wanting to take that away for they say clear unmistakable error, I am 68 years old and been fighting this up and down roller-coaster for almost 2 years, I’m not getting a lawyer, I probably don’t have a lot of years left and I’m not gonna spend them worrying about what you think of me.
Thank you
Jimmy Adams
I wish I had known about this before I got scammed. My good friend got scammed as well. He told me about the program. They are called Trajector Medical. Please warn the community about them.
OMG, that group “Trajector Medical” is advertising on Instagram right now!
I had put my email address and phone number down and they’ve been calling me multiple times, but I purposely don’t answer and let it go to voicemail.
Three different people saying they are with “Trajector Medical” have called and left messages. They spoke good English, but if you listen very closely, you’ll hear an Indian accent, so that was a red flag for a scam right there. So I have not returned their calls.
There is also the contractor scam – in El Paso, Texas I was told that as far as the city is concerned disabled veterans are walking ATM machines. You just have to know what pressure to bring to bear. They considered VA benefits as free money, available to whoever could shake it loose. This attitude also includes crooked lawyers and judges who rule based on “friendship” and not the laws.Our attorney was promised a judgeship if he dropped the case and he ran. We. Have been representing ourselves to the consternation of the 16 attorneys that have been thrown against us by the contractors, we know how to use the law as well. The 2 judges that have been involved are looking for a logical way to rule in their favor. The VA does not care and in fact, protects some contractors from possible punishment. The Secretary of the VA is too busy with photo ops and no one else particularly cares. As far was I am concerned the VA protects their friends and screw the disabled veteran. My COngresswoman has much the same attitude and I helped her get elected. So think about that.
After toiling for about 15 years trying to get “someone “ from the VA to assist me in trying to get medical attention for Cancer of the Glottis that was caused by exposure to agent Orange. It got so bad that I could not eat, talk, sleep, breathe or eat. I was represented by more than a dozen so called Veteran’s Service Officers that didn’t even know what VSO stood for! Finally my wife took me to a civilian doctor who declared that immediate surgery was required. My wife told the civilian doctor that I was a 24 Year active duty veteran that had been exposed to agent. It was he, Dr Wilson demanded that immediate attention be give to my problem. Long story short I was immediately sent to surgery. They removed the cancerous parts at a great cost. While I greatly appreciate the help I received, I feel like the VA let me and my family down. After surgery I received 28 episodes of radiation therapy . The surgery resulted in my voice totally destroyed, the radiation therapy left. Me with a hideous radiation burns on my Neck. I received a whopping 10% disability because the cancer had been removed and I no longer had cancer! I have not been able to get a job because of my voice! I guess I should be grateful, my mom was shocked at what I sounded like and the gruesome burn marks on my neck. My point is that the front office overpaid so called VA administration has a great VA program. If these execs would only get out of their air conditioned offices and meet with us the wronged veterans that sacrificed too much compared to the attention we get. I was not drafted, I volunteered, and this is my compensation. People shy away from me because they can’t understand what I say when I speak, do I feel betrayed: YES. Does anyone care?
Maybe if the Claims process wasn’t such a convoluted steaming pile of sh-t meant to frustrate the veterans into giving up then those folks wouldn’t be as likely to scam the veterans.
Question: Does this include a group called Patriot Angels? I used them to help my mom get some benefits a few years back. They seemed legit and we were satisfied with the results.
I consider myself fortunate to have a VSO assist me in getting my appeal approved. It took two. The first one quit halfway through the process and was replaced by the one that got the approval. I feel that the frustration with navigating the VA process drives applicants towards the predators. It was disclosed that the VA has overpaid $1,000,000 and underpaid $850,000 to beneficiaries. The problem was caused by VA employees who haven’t had the experience or training to conduct the process correctly. The “bonus” that was misdirected and distributed among senior managers at the VA caused a lot of concern as well. Between the predators and incompetence, there isn’t much choice except with a seasoned VSO. The VA has improved immeasurably over the last few years and I hope it continues to follow that course. Wishing you the best there is to offer,
Dick Kraske