Veterans seeking help filing disability claims are protected by clear federal rules: Those who assist with preparation and presentation of claims must be accredited by the VA, and no one – not even accredited attorneys or claims agents – may charge a veteran to help with an initial claim.

But rules without an enforcement mechanism have left veterans vulnerable to predatory actors.

A recent federal court decision offers a troubling illustration of this enforcement gap. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting openly acknowledges it is not VA-accredited, but it has prepared claim forms and evidence packets for veterans and has charged a fee equal to five times any resulting monthly benefit increase.