Veteran Benefits Guide Statement on PLUS for Veterans Act
May 12, 2023
VBG Supports Bipartisan PLUS for Veterans Act, Which Would Allow Honorable Companies to Continue Serving Veterans While Cracking Down on Bad Actors
Las Vegas, Nevada – Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG), a leading guide for Veterans in navigating the Veterans Administration’s (VA) disability compensation benefits process, released the following statement from VBG’s Founder and CEO, Josh Smith, on the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services (PLUS) for Veterans Act, which was introduced recently in the U.S. Congress by Representative Lt. General Jack Bergman (R-MI) and co-sponsored by Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC):
“Veteran Benefits Guide strongly supports the PLUS for Veterans Act and commends Representative Bergman for his leadership on this important issue.
“The PLUS for Veterans Act would take appropriate steps to crack down on bad actors seeking to take advantage of Veterans, while preserving the right of Veterans to seek assistance from honorable companies like VBG in preparing their claims.
“The reality is that the current VA disability compensation benefits process is not working well for many Veterans, who must navigate a complex and arcane claims process that often leaves them waiting years to receive their benefits and receiving less than they have earned.
“To address this problem, VBG provides specially trained case managers, many of whom are Veterans themselves, to guide Veterans through the entire claims process. With VBG’s help, Veterans receive thorough and timely medical exams from a trusted network of qualified medical service providers and submit fully developed, accurate claims to the VA, which helps avoid the need for appeals and speeds up the final benefits decision. VBG’s role in the process also helps cut back on VA paperwork and reduces the VA case backlog and necessary labor.
“More than seventy percent of VBG clients first tried navigating the VA process on their own or with the help of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative, but were either denied the full benefit they earned or felt the process was too slow.
“Notably, VBG’s business practices already comply with the guardrails that would be established under the PLUS for Veterans Act. In exchange for its service, VBG is paid a one-time nominal fee (only if the Veteran receives an increase in their disability benefit), which represents a small percentage of the increase in benefits the Veteran receives. Our medical service providers are independent, not employees of VBG. And all of our Veteran clients sign an acknowledgement of the availability of free services.
“By enacting the PLUS for Veterans Act, Congress can drive bad actors out of the marketplace but continue to give Veterans the choice to seek experienced private sector guidance to help them receive the full benefits they earned from their service in a timely manner. We urge Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”
About Veteran Benefits Guide
Veteran Benefits Guide was founded in 2015 by former United States Marine Josh Smith. After his honorable discharge, Josh was employed by the Veteran Benefits Administration (VA) as a Rating Veteran Service Representative (Rater), where he witnessed firsthand that the VA’s methods were inefficient and flawed. Josh and his wife, Lauren, then created Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) to ensure that Veterans receive the correct disability benefits in a timely manner.
Since its founding, VBG has guided more than 35,000 veterans through the VA’s disability benefits process, helping them to receive favorable decisions. By increasing efficiency and expediency around the benefits process, VBG is also reducing unnecessary paperwork and helping alleviate the VA’s case backlog. VBG has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Learn more at VetBenefitsGuide.com.
Contact
Lisa Kalkes
Chief Marketing Officer
lkalkes@joshcogroup.com