AGs Target Company Charging Vets for Free VA Help
If you've filed a VA disability claim, you already know how confusing the paperwork can be. That confusion is exactly what one company is accused of exploiting, and this week attorneys general in New York and Illinois said they intend to do something about it.
What the Investigations Allege
Both states say Trajector Medical, a Florida-based claims-assistance company, engaged in "fraudulent, illegal and deceptive business practices" by charging veterans between $4,500 and more than $20,000 to prepare initial VA disability claims, according to NPR. Federal law requires that this exact kind of help, preparing and filing an initial disability claim, be provided at no cost by an accredited representative. Investigators say Trajector's own client contracts acknowledge it isn't properly accredited to charge for that work in the first place. The attorneys general are also looking into whether the company misused veterans' personal information gathered through automated "callbots."
The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a wave of civil lawsuits and a reported 60% drop in revenue during the first half of 2026, a decline it attributes to tightening state rules. Since 2024, Trajector has already pulled its services from 23 states where local law now limits or blocks this kind of operation, per NPR's reporting. Bankruptcy pauses the private lawsuits, but it doesn't stop state law enforcement from pursuing its own case.
Free, Accredited Help Already Exists
The frustrating part of this story is that no veteran needs to pay a private company for this service at all. Veterans Service Organizations, county and state veterans affairs offices, and VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents are required to prepare and file initial disability claims free of charge. If you're not sure where to start, your state's veterans affairs department is usually the fastest path to a real, accredited representative rather than a call center.
A handful of states have gone further and written these protections directly into law. Virginia's SAVE Act and Mississippi's PLUS Act, both enacted earlier this year, set new guardrails on companies that charge veterans for benefits help while still preserving a veteran's right to choose their own representative, according to the National Association for Veterans Rights. If you're in one of those states, it's worth knowing what other benefits your service has unlocked. Our guides for Virginia and Mississippi veterans are a good place to check.
What This Means for You
If a company is asking you to sign a contract and pay a fee before it will help you file a VA disability claim, that alone is worth a second look. Free, accredited help exists in every state, and using it costs you nothing but a little time.
At Operation WarriorFit, we hear from veterans and first responders every week who are working through the VA system while also trying to rebuild their health and their community after service. Protecting your benefits and protecting your fitness go hand in hand. If you're a veteran, service member, or first responder looking for support getting back into training, or just a free race entry to give yourself something to work toward, see if you qualify here.