The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded from a February 2024 rating decision, which awarded service connection for a hiatal hernia and a right shoulder strain, was denied.
The deciding factor: The fee agreement between the Veteran and the Appellant is valid, but the representation was provided prior to the notice of the AOJ's initial decision with respect to the case, making the Appellant ineligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the February 2024 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- hiatal hernia, right shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25094972
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
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