Thousands of veterans struggle with benefits systems daily, and safe professional help can support them as they seek tools and resources. Each veteran’s story is unique, and one-size-fits-all advice and processes don’t work. Private consultants can help close the gaps for veterans.
Veterans Guardian has helped tens of thousands of veterans navigate the VA disability claims process since 2017. It’s a legitimate organization that’s also been the subject of litigation and regulatory scrutiny, leading to questions about how it operates. For veterans considering the company’s services, sorting through competing information can be difficult.
This article provides a factual look at what Veterans Guardian is and what veterans should know before deciding whether its services are right for them.
What Is Veterans Guardian?
Veterans Guardian is a privately owned, veteran-founded consulting firm that helps veterans prepare VA disability claims. The company isn’t affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and isn’t VA-accredited. It’s also not a law firm.
The company was founded in 2017 by Scott Greenblatt, a retired Army officer with 25 years of active duty service and 10 overseas combat deployments, alongside Bill Taylor. The company grew out of a firsthand understanding of how difficult the VA claims process can be for veterans who’ve already given so much and how much difference the right guidance can make. According to Veterans Guardian, more than 90% of the vets who work with it receive an increase in their VA rating.
That perspective also shapes who Veterans Guardian hires. Approximately 62% of staff are veterans or military spouses, and many have backgrounds as former VA employees or military leaders. They’re people who’ve seen the system on the inside and choose to work to support veterans from the outside.
A commitment to the military community has earned the company federal recognition through the Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets Medallion Award and repeated Military Friendly Employer designations.
What Services Does Veterans Guardian Provide?
Veterans Guardian is a pre-filing consultation. With the goal of helping veterans understand their options and organize documentation for claims before submission.
Services include a five-step consulting process:
- Provide initial information and inform veterans of available free options
- Initial phone consult. During the initial call, a veteran’s medical and military history is reviewed to help understand positioning and eligibility for various benefits claims.
- Case prefiling support. Recommendations are made based on the specific situation and the veteran’s documented medical history.
- Evidence collection. Veterans receive support in gathering and organizing documentation before filing their claim.
- Pre-filing support. Veterans will receive support and expert guidance when preparing their claim packet for submission.
Veterans Guardian offers free initial consultations to veterans considering its services.
How Does Veterans Guardian Charge for These Services?
Veterans Guardian operates on a success-based fee model. According to the company, a consulting fee applies only if a veteran receives a rating increase; veterans who don’t receive an increase aren’t charged.
The company offers an initial consultation at no cost, which can help veterans decide whether the services may be right for them. In that consultation, veterans are verbally informed that there are free options available to them and that a consultant is not required to get a successful outcome with their claim.
Veterans Guardian’s Position on Industry Regulations
The VA disability consulting industry has attracted increasing regulatory attention in recent years, and Veterans Guardian is vocal about the need for clearer standards across the board. The company has publicly supported legislative efforts at both the state and federal levels to create a regulatory framework for private claims consulting.
According to Veterans Guardian, the goal should be to establish consumer protections for veterans while preserving their right to choose the type of assistance that best suits them. Strong industry oversight might include:
- Requirements for transparent fee structures
- Prohibitions on up-front charges
- Mandated disclosures
Veterans Guardian vs. Free Alternatives
It’s worth noting that free alternatives exist for similar services. VA-accredited claims agents and Veterans Service Organizations such as the VFW and DAV provide claims assistance at no charge to veterans. For many veterans, those options work well.
However, the existence of a free alternative doesn’t mean a paid service is not legitimate. Consider tax preparation, which you can do for free via IRS filing tools. Volunteer tax assistance programs also provide free tax return help each year. Those free options don’t make CPAs or paid tax software like TurboTax less legitimate.
Individuals choose tax-filing services based on their situation, timeline and the complexity of what they’re dealing with. Free services don’t always meet those needs.
The same logic can be applied to veteran claims. VSOs may be under-resourced and managing high caseloads. Wait times for VSO appointments can be months, and the level of individualized attention varies by location and availability.
For veterans navigating complex claims, the difference between generalized assistance and dedicated, personalized support can be significant in maximizing benefits. Veterans Guardian positions itself as that dedicated option.
What Veterans Are Saying About Veterans Guardian
Veterans Guardian holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received only two complaints in the past three years. That’s a notably low figure for a company that reports more than 69,000 approved claims.
On Birdeye, an independent review platform, Veterans Guardian carries a 4.8-star rating across more than 3,400 reviews. A consistent theme across those reviews is clear communication, personalized support and successful rating increases.
Here’s a sample of recent client experiences:
- “Veteran Guardians helped me to increase my rating from 30 to 60% first go round and then from 60 to 80%. They made the process very simple and straightforward, always there to coach you and provide encouragement along the way.”
- “I went from a 30% rating to 70% in roughly 60 days. The staff and administration are top-notch.”
- “I had much success. The customer service was great. Each consultant that I spoke with was fast, efficient and thorough. They kept me in the loop the entire time. There were no hidden fees or fine print. What you see is what you get.”
- “I have been trying on my own to have my claims go through the VA since 2008. I started using Veterans Guardian in 2023, and by 2025, I was at 100%.”
Veterans Guardian Offers Optional Services
The company itself states that its services aren’t required to file a VA disability claim, a level of transparency more common among legitimate organizations than illegitimate ones.
Whether Veterans Guardian’s services are the right fit for a vet depends on their individual situation, the complexity of their claim and their comfort with the cost. However, the company does appear to provide the pre-filing consulting services it describes and has helped a large number of veterans navigate the claims process successfully.