An advocate for veterans in Cape Breton has been told he won’t be able to represent them anymore, a move some think was made because his track record is too good.

For more than seven years, Keith Neville of Sydney has helped veterans navigate the review and appeal process to get services.

Now NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer is joining veterans in voicing support for Neville and outrage with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, which recently told Neville he can no longer be a representative.

Stoffer said he, like Neville himself, believes the decision was made because Neville has been too successful.

“He’s achieved 48 results, so I think what it is, is a personal hunt against him, to scare him off so (the Veterans Review and Appeal Board) can go on their way and keep denying these people what they’re owed,” said Stoffer, the MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore.

The board sent Neville letters saying he was not competent to handle veterans’ cases and that he was only doing it for the money — something Neville says is not the case.

“I said to each veteran ‘I don’t want anything; I may win or lose but I’ll take a can of Diet Pepsi,’” Neville said.

Canadian veterans have the right to ask anyone to represent them in their dealings with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board — whether it’s filling out forms or advocating on their behalf — as long as a consent form is signed.

Some question whether the board overstepped its powers with its letter barring Neville.

“Am I in Canada or am I in some third world country somewhere? They have no right to tell me I can’t have somebody to represent me,” said Doug Clarke, a Canadian Forces veteran.

Stoffer also questioned whether the board acted within its powers, saying he plans to write a letter to the veterans affairs minister to ask what he plans to do about the decision.

“If this is happening to Mr. Neville, how many other people is this happening to and who the hell is (the Veterans Review and Appeal Board) to say who can or cannot represent someone,” Stoffer said.

Margret Collins, the widow of a Canadian veteran, said Neville’s help was invaluable to her family.

“I would have never received anything. I would have lost my house,” Collins recalled.

“We had medical (bills) but there’s all kinds of things that you need,” she said, adding that frequent trips to Halifax for treatment added to their expenses.

Many veterans say that with the current system it’s only getting harder to get the help they need.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore