The War Horse and NPR

VA Warned These Companies They May Be Breaking the Law. Most Are Still in Business

Leah Rosenbaum

U.S. military veterans are supposed to receive free initial consultations about their benefits. But an investigation by NPR and The War Horse, which covers the military, found that companies across the country have been charging big bills — sometimes as much as $20,000. And no one was stopping them. 

At times, disabled veterans were billed even though the companies charging them did little work. The news outlets also found cases where companies used aggressive tactics to collect fees from veterans. The companies also used automated systems and veterans’ Social Security numbers to track the outcomes of their benefits claims to trigger invoices. 

The reporting caught some lawmakers’ attention, spurring legislation that aims to stop such predatory practices. 

The collaboration “deserves recognition because of the way it untangles a complex system, identifies key failures and highlights harms to vulnerable veterans,” a judge said. 

Read the Winning Work

This company charges disabled vets millions, even after VA said it’s likely illegal Dec. 2, 2025

VA Warned These Companies They May Be Breaking the Law. Most Are Still in Business Dec. 2, 2025

Firms that help military vets with their disability claims can charge exorbitant fees Dec. 2, 2025

Congress calls for a crackdown on companies charging disabled vets Dec. 10, 2025

Response to NPR’s investigation into companies charging vets for free benefits Dec. 13, 2025