PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025

The Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025, or PLUS for Veterans Act, significantly amends title 38, United States Code, to permit veterans to engage agents or attorneys for assistance with their initial claims for benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This marks a substantial change, as current law generally restricts fee agreements until after an initial decision and appeal, thereby expanding access to professional representation from the outset of the claims process. A central provision establishes specific requirements for these fee agreements: payments are prohibited until the claimant receives notice of the agency's initial decision, and fees must be contingent on a favorable resolution. The total amount payable is capped at the lesser of $12,500 (adjusted for inflation) or five times the monthly increase in benefits awarded to the claimant. To protect veterans, the Secretary is mandated to develop a standard disclosure form for these agreements, informing claimants about free services from recognized organizations, their right to choose a private physician, and prohibiting agent/attorney referrals to physicians with whom they have a business relationship. The bill also clarifies that medical examinations or reports do not constitute the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim, preventing charges for these specific services. The legislation streamlines the recognition process for agents and attorneys, allowing for conditional recognition, and prohibits penalizing individuals who charged fees for initial claims or were not recognized prior to the bill's enactment. It permits the Secretary to charge an assessment fee, up to $500, to recognized agents or attorneys who charge for initial claims, with these funds supporting administration. Finally, the bill reinstates and strengthens penalties for charging unauthorized fees and for violations by conditionally recognized individuals, explicitly stating that its provisions preempt inconsistent State laws .