LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Veterans across Nevada debate how to regulate private services that promise help for veterans to access federal benefits, as a bill proposes an accreditation mandate while companies call for a crackdown on bad actors.
Assembly Bill 145 is backed by Assemblymembers Reuben D’Silva and Ken Gray — both veterans and disabled veterans. Numerous leaders from veteran organizations across Nevada voiced their support, noting concerns from across the country and the state over predatory “claim sharks.”
Private services can handle veterans’ claims, promising easier and quicker access to federal benefits and even greater payments, through experts with knowledge of the system.
Even reputable companies point out that bad actors may leave veterans with bills and claims that soar into the thousands of dollars.
[Companies] bill them $7,500 for about an hour, two hours max of work…it’s a lot of money and they’re not getting accredited,” said Frank Wagar, the Southern Nevada representative for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “There is no regulation whatsoever,” he said. Wagar recently served as director for the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.
Wagar said he has spoken to veterans across the country: one veteran in Florida was served a bill for $19,000.
Veterans can get assistance to access their benefits for free through a VSO — or Veteran Service Officer. Wagar and others argue, the VSOs or other free services provide virtually the same amount of assistance as a private service.
Numerous veterans testified in support and opposition. Those opposed shared stories of years of waiting for benefits, until they paid a service like Veteran Benefits Guide in Las Vegas for help.
“The bill as currently written would reduce their freedom of choice and access to services,” said Josh Smith, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Veteran Benefits Guide. A company spokesperson said, the company would like the bill to focus on ways to curb bad actors — not mandate accreditation from all companies.
The debate lies in whether, once accredited, a company can charge a veteran for services. A spokesperson for Veteran Benefits Guide tells FOX5, private companies cannot collect at all; Wager and Assemblyman D’Silva counter to FOX5, the initial fee must be free — not follow-up claims and appeals.
A company spokesperson tells FOX5, the team of veteran employees works with veterans on payment plans and never collects if someone cannot pay.
D’Silva tells FOX5, he’s working on a compromise for the bill prior to a committee vote.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
