The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) today expressed its disagreement with the federal ruling in Ford v. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC. NAVR believes the court’s ruling was incorrect, and can negatively impact Veterans across the United States.
The Court found Veterans Guardian acted as an unaccredited agent under federal law and that charging fees for that work was an unfair trade practice under North Carolina law for any claims processed before October 2025. NAVR disagrees with that conclusion. The court’s reasoning, if upheld, could bar anyone outside the accreditation system from charging a Veteran for help with an initial claim. NAVR believes that would leave Veterans with fewer options, not more protection.
Veterans should decide for themselves who helps with their claims. Many weigh that decision based on what is available to them. Those who choose paid help do so because it fits their situation. If a Veteran hires a claims consultant, that Veteran is doing so for his or her own benefit, and that decision deserves respect. Taking that choice away through the courts does not make Veterans safer.
North Carolina regulates paid claims assistance through commonsense consumer-protection measures. It caps contingent fees, prohibits initial fees, and requires a written disclosure that the business is not affiliated with the VA and that free help is available. Veterans Guardian is fully in line with those requirements. A legislature that regulates an industry has made a deliberate policy choice, and NAVR believes courts should respect it.
The court’s ruling also raises questions about free speech. A federal court of appeals found that Veterans Guardian’s services are speech protected by the First Amendment. These questions should be argued fully in the courts and debated openly before lawmakers and the VA, and NAVR intends to take part in that debate.
NAVR supports rules that protect Veterans from bad actors and keep their choice of help intact. Those goals do not conflict. We will follow the appeal and keep advocating with lawmakers and the VA on these principles and beliefs.
About NAVR:
The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) is a national trade association committed to promoting ethical and transparent business practices among companies engaging with the service-disabled Veteran community. NAVR advocates for businesses that empower Veterans with professional and transparent solutions while advancing support for Veteran-owned businesses.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261111516240/en/
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