Allows accredited agents and attorneys to charge veterans contingency fees for initial and supplemental VA benefit claims, capped at the lesser of $12,500 or five months of the resulting monthly benefit increase, while adding consumer protections, a fee cap on assessments, and penalties for misconduct.

• Permits fee agreements for VA claim representation that are payable only after a decision and capped at the lesser of $12,500 (inflation-adjusted) or five times the monthly benefit increase.
• Requires the VA to post lists of accredited representatives and free veterans service organizations, and to warn claimants about representative fees on its online claim portals.
• Bars fees for certain claims, such as those for presumptive service-connected conditions or filed while on active duty, and sets up fines of up to $50,000 and bars from recognition for violations.
• Sets a federal assessment of up to $500 on representatives who charge fees, deposited in a revolving fund, and extends a pension payment limit to April 30, 2032.

• Veterans' Affairs Committee (House)

Armed Forces and National Security