The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits was denied because the fee agreement was not valid as it did not cover services provided before notice of the initial decision and the claims were part of a new increased rating claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the fee agreement was invalid as it covered services prior to the Veteran being notified of the AOJ's initial decision, and the claims for increased ratings were separate from any previous claims, thus fees are not payable for an award resulting from the initial decision in an increased rating claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022922
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.