The Oklahoma Bar Journal February 2025

M ilitary & V eterans

Accredited Representatives and the Veterans’ Benefits Claim Process By Doris L. Gruntmeir

T HE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) plays a pivotal role in pro viding support and services to veterans, ensuring they receive the benefits and care they have earned through their service. Among the various programs administered by the VA, the Accreditation, Discipline and Fees (ADF) program, as outlined in 38 U.S.C. §§5902-5904 and 38 C.F.R. §§14.626-630, stands out as a critical framework designed to regulate the conduct of accredited representatives who assist veterans in navigating the complex landscape of benefits and claims. The overarching goal of the ADF program is to protect veterans from potential exploitation and ensure they receive competent assistance as they pursue benefits for which they may be entitled. Protecting veterans is particularly important, given the com plexities of the claims process, which can be overwhelming for any number of veterans.

program. 1 The statute lays out the criteria for accreditation, includ ing articulating the qualifications accredited representatives need to effectively assist veterans. These qualifications include educational requirements, experience handling veterans’ claims and a comprehen sive understanding of the VA’s pol icies, procedures and regulations. In addition, the ADF program provides that accredited represen tatives have certain responsibili ties, including providing accurate information, acting in the best interests of the veteran and main taining certain ethical standards

informed about changes in laws and regulations that affect veter ans’ benefits in order to provide accurate advice and assistance. This commitment to continuing education and professional devel opment is the foundation of the ADF program, as it directly and positively impacts the support received by veterans. The ADF program is vital to maintaining the integrity of the claims process and protecting veterans, many of whom are vul nerable to exploitation. Congress deemed this protection sufficiently necessary to codify the ADF

OVERVIEW The ADF program is a critical tool through which the VA ensures that individuals and organizations assisting veterans in their pursuit of benefits are not only qualified but also adhere to established standards of conduct. By ensuring that only qualified individuals and organizations are accredited, the VA aims to create a system upon which veterans may rely for repre sentation in their pursuit of bene fits. The ADF program also seeks to improve the quality of services provided to veterans. Accredited representatives are expected to stay

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL