VA Claims Agent Sample Test

Case Study #2: Sam is an accredited claims agent. In his town there is also an accredited attorney who is assisting veterans with claims for Pension.   The attorney meets with potential claimants and provides a pre-filing consultation but does not charge a fee for this. The attorney also charges for necessary legal arrangements for claimants where there is a need but does not charge for advice or assistance with claims.   Sam also finds out that the attorney subordinates actual assistance with claims to a financial planner who is not accredited and who completes all the paperwork on behalf of claimants. The financial planner sells financial and insurance products and reinvests assets for potential claimants but does not charge a fee for assistance with the claim. Sam also discovers that the requirement for a written and signed consent from the claimant and submission of that written consent to the appropriate Pension management office is not being done. The financial planner does not have a law degree, does not have certification as a paralegal and is not a law student. The attorney and the financial planner are both employees of a large financial planning firm. The attorney tells claimants that because they both are employees of the same firm, the financial planner can be considered a paralegal working under the attorney and therefore meets the requirements of§ 14.629 (c).

THE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON CASE STUDY #2.