VA Claim Sharks 2026:
An Honest CPA's Warning

Veterans have the right to choose who helps them — but they should choose wisely. Most non-accredited companies and helpers are genuine. However, some practices cross into risky territory. This is a plain-English guide to the warning signs, from a retired CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner.

Red Flags of a Claim Shark

• Fake Urgency & FOMO — "File now before benefits disappear!" or "Tinnitus / Sleep Apnea changes are coming — don't miss out!" tactics create panic. These are classic predatory marketing techniques targeting veterans, a group consumer-protection regulators have specifically warned about.
• Heavy Pressure to Sign Contracts Fast — Pushing you to sign complicated agreements before you can review them carefully is a major red flag for predatory practices.
• Undisclosed Referral Fees or Disguised Contractor Offers — Offers to "work for them" under disguised independent contractor arrangements are often nothing more than illegal referral fees. Lack of transparency is a big warning sign. If they aren't the actual person who will work your claim, that's a major red flag.
• VA Form 0845 Abuse — Aggressively pushing this form gives broad, long-term access to your records. These authorizations do not expire until you revoke them, and your sensitive data can end up sold on the dark web. Vets should always upload and sign their own forms. See: VA Form 0845 Risks
• Using Veterans (or Non-Vets) as Front Men — Some operations use credible-looking people to sign you up, then hand your file off to others. The VA requires that only the accredited person touches a claim for good reason — that same best practice (one dedicated person handling your claim) is smart even with non-accredited helpers.
• Lack of Proper Bonding or Insurance — Many of these companies have little to no bonding or insurance when handling your private medical and financial data. If something goes wrong, there is often no real recourse.

Risks for Veterans Wanting to Work For or Refer

• Independent Contractor Trap — Companies label you an "independent contractor," but if you are wearing their shirts, representing their company, using their scripts, supervising their staff, or they control leads and client relationships, you are at high risk of being reclassified as an employee by the IRS. In that case there can be serious tax consequences, which is why it is worth understanding the arrangement before you sign on. (Educational only — not tax advice; consult a tax professional.)
• Illegal Steering & Referral Fees — Paying or receiving referral fees (steering) for VA claims is heavily restricted or outright illegal under federal anti-kickback rules and many state laws — whether the company is accredited or not.

Best Practice Model for Non-Accredited Helpers

Even if you are not VA-accredited, the smartest and most ethical way to help veterans is to follow these standards:

• Educate veterans on their rights and options without pressure or false promises
• Personally work the claim yourself — avoid unauthorized hand-offs to call centers or third parties
• Maintain direct, transparent communication with the veteran at all times
• Charge only reasonable fees (Florida law, for example, sets clear caps to protect veterans from excessive charges)

Common Non-Accredited Business Models

Many larger non-accredited companies use these approaches:

• Referral / Kickback Model — You bring in veterans and receive a percentage or flat fee per signed client.
• Call Center / Hand-Off Model — Sales people sign up the client, then the actual claim work is handed off.
• Medical Provider / DBQ Model — Partner with doctors or clinics to rapidly produce DBQs and medical opinions.
• AI / High-Volume Model — Use AI tools to generate large numbers of claims quickly.
• Independent Contractor with Back-Office Support — Veterans or advocates do most of the work but rely on the company for leads.
• Mixed / Hybrid Models — Combination of the above.

Monte Fisher, CPA (Ret.), CFE

Retired CPA · Certified Fraud Examiner

As a retired CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, I work with veterans personally — educating them on their options and reviewing their files. No layers. No hidden hand-offs. For representation, I always point you to a free accredited VSO first.