Table of Contents
- What Are VA Forms 21-22 and 21-22a?
- VA Form 21-22 vs. 21-22a: Which One Do You Need?
- What Power of Attorney Actually Authorizes
- How to File VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a
- How to Change or Revoke Your Representative
- Attorney and Claims-Agent Fees (38 CFR 14.636)
- Finding an Accredited VSO or Attorney
- FAQ
- Conclusion
What Are VA Forms 21-22 and 21-22a?
VA Form 21-22 and VA Form 21-22a are the two power-of-attorney forms veterans use to appoint someone to represent them before VA. Nearly every veteran who works with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or hires a VA-accredited attorney signs one of these two forms first — before that representative can view your claims file, submit evidence on your behalf, or talk to VA about your case.
Both forms accomplish the same legal purpose: they authorize VA to disclose your claim information to your chosen representative and give that representative standing to act on your behalf. The form you use depends on who you're appointing.
VA Form 21-22 vs. 21-22a: Which One Do You Need?
Use VA Form 21-22 to appoint a Veterans Service Organization (VSO); use VA Form 21-22a to appoint an individual attorney or claims agent. They are not interchangeable — each form names a different category of representative and carries different fee rules.
| Feature | VA Form 21-22 | VA Form 21-22a |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative | Appointment of Attorney or Agent as Claimant's Representative |
| Who you're appointing | A VSO (e.g. DAV, VFW, American Legion) and one of its accredited service officers | A VA-accredited individual attorney or claims agent |
| Cost to you | Free — VSOs cannot charge for representation | May charge a fee, but only under a written fee agreement (see below) |
You can only have one active representative for a given claim at a time. Some veterans start with a free VSO and later switch to a paid attorney for a complex appeal — that's a normal, common path, not a special exception.
What Power of Attorney Actually Authorizes
Signing either form gives your representative the legal standing to:
- Review your entire VA claims file, including medical records VA holds.
- Submit evidence, statements, and additional forms on your behalf.
- Receive copies of VA decision letters and correspondence about your claim.
- Communicate directly with VA claims processors about your case.
It does not give your representative authority over your VA benefit payments, your medical treatment decisions, or any legal matter outside the specific VA claim named on the form.
How to File VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a
There are three ways to file, in order of speed and reliability:
- Through your representative directly. Most VSOs and accredited attorneys submit the form for you as part of onboarding you as a client — this is the fastest and most reliable path, since it goes straight into VA's system without a mail-processing delay.
- Online at VA.gov. You must be signed in to VA.gov to submit the form electronically.
- By mail. Send the completed, signed form to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
Before signing anything, confirm your chosen representative is currently VA-accredited (see the accreditation search below) — an unaccredited "advocate" or "consultant" cannot legally file a valid power of attorney with VA.
How to Change or Revoke Your Representative
You can revoke a power of attorney, or discharge an attorney or agent, at any time. In practice, the easiest way to switch representatives is simply to file a new Form 21-22 or 21-22a naming the new representative — under VA regulation, filing a new power of attorney automatically revokes the prior one, unless you specifically state otherwise on the new form.
If you want to drop a representative without naming a replacement, submit a signed, dated statement to VA identifying the claim and stating that you revoke the existing power of attorney.
Attorney and Claims-Agent Fees (38 CFR 14.636)
VSOs represent you for free, full stop — a VSO charging a fee for representation is a red flag. Attorneys and claims agents appointed on Form 21-22a can charge a fee, but only under strict federal rules:
- The fee agreement must be in writing and signed by both the claimant and the attorney or agent.
- Under a direct-pay fee agreement, the total fee generally cannot exceed 20% of any past-due benefits awarded on the claim.
- The fee must be entirely contingent on a favorable result — no fee if the claim isn't won.
- A copy of a direct-pay fee agreement must be filed with VA's Agency of Original Jurisdiction within 30 days of signing it.
These rules come from 38 CFR § 14.636, the federal regulation governing representation fees before VA. Read any fee agreement in full before signing, and ask specifically how and when the 20% is calculated.
Finding an Accredited VSO or Attorney
VA's Office of General Counsel maintains the official, searchable list of every VA-accredited VSO representative, claims agent, and attorney — searchable by name, state, or zip code, at va.gov's accreditation search. Confirm accreditation on that list before signing any contract or appointment form — it's the only way to verify a representative is legally authorized to act on your VA claim.
Conclusion
VA Form 21-22 and 21-22a both exist to answer one question: who is legally allowed to see your claim file and speak to VA on your behalf. Pick a VSO (Form 21-22) for free, accredited help, or an attorney/claims agent (Form 21-22a) for paid representation under a regulated fee agreement — and always confirm accreditation before you sign. For the claim itself, see our guide to filing a VA claim and VA claim checklist. For the full form library, visit the VA Forms Hub.