Veterans deserve meaningful consumer protections and the freedom to choose who they trust to help them navigate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits system. The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) remains committed to advancing both.
We respect the judicial process and recognize that the recent summary judgment ruling in Ford v. Veterans Guardian represents one step in an ongoing legal matter. However, we believe the decision raises significant legal and policy questions that extend far beyond a single company. In NAVR’s view, the ruling adopts an overly broad interpretation of the federal accreditation statute that blurs the important distinction between accredited representation before the VA and private consulting services that educate, advise, and support Veterans while Veterans remain in control of their own claims.
That distinction matters. The VA benefits system is often complex and difficult to navigate, and Veterans should have the freedom to choose the assistance that best meets their individual needs. Protecting Veterans from bad actors and preserving Veteran Choice are complementary goals, not competing ones.
The ruling also appears difficult to reconcile with North Carolina’s decision to establish a regulatory framework that permits private Veterans benefits consulting services while imposing strong consumer protections, transparency requirements, and accountability standards. Rather than prohibit these services, the General Assembly chose to regulate them responsibly.
This case is about more than a single company or a single court decision. It raises important questions about how Veterans access assistance, how responsible providers are regulated, and how Veteran Choice is preserved within the VA benefits system. Protecting Veterans from bad actors should never require eliminating responsible options that many Veterans voluntarily choose.
NAVR will continue to monitor this case as it progresses and advocate for policies that protect Veterans, promote transparency and accountability, and preserve Veteran Choice. We remain committed to working with lawmakers and responsible industry stakeholders to ensure Veterans have access to ethical, lawful assistance while maintaining the freedom to choose the support that best meets their individual needs.
Veterans have earned the right to make informed choices about their benefits. NAVR will continue to champion policies that put Veterans, and their freedom to choose, at the center of those decisions.