Legal Help Fee Schedule

[autumn]

what is the general fee % from accredited legal rep to re-open claim, NOD, for EED?

[john999]

20% of any retro. is the usual deal.

[broncovet]

John...that's close, but not exactly.

You see if the attorney wins, the VA normally awards EAJA fees. And the EAJA fees the VA pays the attorney will normally be deducted from the 20% you pay. Sometimes, the Vet winds up paying nothing, even with an attorney.

[jbasser]

The VA doesnt award EAJA (Equal Act for justice Ammendment) Fees.

This only applies to claims that go to the CVAC or court. The Attorneys have to file the documents to the court in order for the Veteran to obtain these fees.

Not all claimants get to use EAJA.

[broncovet]

Basser is correct. Most claimants do not hire an attorney at the "Board" level or below, however. If you are appealing a "Board" decision, then you should consider attorney representation. If you are appealing a RO decision, and hire an attorney to represent you at the Board, then you would likely pay the 20%.

This being said, the old adage "you get what you pay for" often applies.

I wish I would have hired an attorney at the Board level, instead of waiting until the CAVC level. There are mistakes, now, that neither I, nor an attorney, can fix.

You see, if you dont raise the issue before the Board, the CAVC will dismiss it. They wont hear your arguements in the first instance.

Edited July 26, 2013 by broncovet

[autumn]

it's to NOD/re-open a VARO decision for EED. legal folks asking for 30% if any retro. i thought it was like 20-25 so i though i'd post here and ask.

if its like "you get what you pay for", is 30% too high or not? so far the responses here are at 20%, but maybe legal folks don't work too hard for 20% i don't know.

kinda want to be sure before i sign somehting and/or question this with them you know?

[carlie]

autumn,

Who are these "legal folks" that you are considering ?