VA Form 21-22a — Appointing an Accredited Agent or Attorney
Required Forms
What appointment actually changes
Once a 21-22a is accepted, the representative receives copies of VA correspondence, can view the electronic claims file under 38 CFR §§ 1.600–1.603, can submit filings and evidence electronically, and can appear at hearings and informal conferences.
Accreditation is federal. An accredited agent or attorney may represent a in any state or overseas; physical proximity has no bearing on how VA processes the .
Completing the form
- and claimant identifying information, including the VA file number.
- Representative information — the individual's name and VA accreditation number. Verify accreditation in VA's Office of General Counsel accreditation search before signing anything.
- Authorization boxes — you may limit access to records protected under 38 U.S.C. § 7332 (drug abuse, alcoholism, HIV, sickle cell). Limiting access can also limit the representative's ability to argue evidence in those records.
- Signatures — both the claimant and the representative sign. Submit through , by mail, or electronically through the representative.
Fees are governed separately
No one may charge a fee for preparing or filing an initial . Fees may be charged only for work after VA issues an initial decision on the issue, under 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 CFR § 14.636, and the written fee agreement must be filed with VA.
VA presumes a contingent fee of 20 percent of past-due benefits to be reasonable; up to 33⅓ percent may be allowed where justified. Each practitioner sets their own fee within those limits, so the written agreement controls. Oakridge Claims charges 20 percent.
Changing or revoking a representative
- Filing a new 21-22 or 21-22a automatically revokes the prior appointment.
- You may revoke in writing at any time without appointing anyone new.
- Revocation does not cancel a fee already earned on benefits awarded for work performed under a valid agreement.
- If a prior representative is still listed after a change, contact VA — stale appointments can delay correspondence.
Check this before you sign anything
| If your record shows this | What it means |
|---|---|
| The person asking you to sign is not listed in VA's accreditation search | Unaccredited parties may not represent you before VA. Verify first. |
| You are being asked to sign a fee agreement for an initial claim | Charging for initial-claim preparation is not permitted. Free accredited VSOs handle initial claims at no cost. |
| The agreement charges a percentage of your monthly benefit going forward | Fees are tied to past-due benefits, not to future monthly payments. Read the agreement carefully. |
| A 'consulting' or 'coaching' company asks for a flat fee and no 21-22a | Unaccredited fee-charging around VA claims is the pattern consumer-protection guidance warns about. |
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
VA Form 21-22: Appointing a Representative
How VA Form 21-22 appoints an accredited VSO (free), 21-22a appoints an accredited agent or attorney, and how to revoke or change representation.
Claims Agent vs. VSO vs. Attorney
Side-by-side comparison of the three VA-accredited representative types — fees, scope, when each makes sense.
VA Form 21-4142: Authorization to Release Records
How VA Form 21-4142 authorizes VA to request private medical records on your behalf, why deadlines matter, and when you should obtain records yourself instead.
How to Choose a VA Claims Representative
A step-by-step vetting checklist: verify OGC accreditation, read the fee agreement, confirm the fee cap under 38 CFR § 14.636, and understand the difference between an accredited agent, an attorney, and a VSO.