Veteran Benefits Guide Statement on Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Round table on VA Accreditation and Veterans Benefits Assistance
March 22, 2023
VBG Urges Congress to Pass Accreditation Reform or Other Legislation That Allows Honorable Companies to Continue Serving Veterans
Las Vegas, Nevada –Veteran Benefits Guide(VBG), a leading guide for Veterans in navigating the Veterans Administration’s(VA) disability compensation benefits process, yesterday participated in a U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Roundtable on VA accreditation and Veterans benefits assistance. Following is a statement from VBG’s Founder and CEO, Josh Smith:
“Veteran Benefits Guide was pleased to participate in yesterday’s round table discussion that provided us with the opportunity to explain to Congress how we ethically and responsibly help Veterans to receive the full benefits they have earned in a timely manner.
“It is critical to crack down on bad actors who take advantage of our nation’s Veterans. But legislative efforts to protect Veterans should be paired with accreditation reform or other common-sense legislation that allows VBG and other honorable companies to continue helping Veterans file their claims with the VA.
“The current VA disability compensation benefits process is not working well for many Veterans. Only 5.2million of 19 million eligible Veterans are receiving benefits and the VA faces a backlog of almost 200,000 claims and a claims inventory of more than 700,000,which is rising daily. It often takes years for Veterans to receive their full benefits and many Veterans continue to receive less than they earned.
“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 an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative, but were either denied the full benefit they earned or felt the process was too slow. 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.
“By enacting accreditation reform or other relevant legislation, Congress can ensure trustworthy companies meeting standardized guidelines are allowed to continue serving Veterans, while driving bad actors out of the marketplace and protecting Veterans from fraud. VBG’s personnel, medical service provider network and procedures already meet standards required of VA-accredited agents and would meet any reasonable threshold for accreditation set by the VA.”
“More than seventy percent of VBG clients first tried navigating the VA process on their own or with the help of an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO)representative, but were either denied the full benefit they earned or felt the process was too slow. 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.
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 35,000veterans 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