VA Form 21-22a (Appointment of Individual as Claimant's Representative) appoints a single accredited attorney or claims agent to represent you before the VA. It's the individual-representative counterpart to VA Form 21-22, which appoints an organization (a VSO).
21-22 vs. 21-22a
- •21-22 → appoints a VSO (VFW, DAV, American Legion, state agency). Free.
- •21-22a → appoints an individual accredited attorney or claims agent.
When fees are — and aren't — allowed
This is the key thing veterans miss:
- •*No one can charge you to file your initial claim.*
- •An attorney or accredited agent may charge a fee only after the VA has issued a decision and you're pursuing a review or appeal — and the fee must be reasonable and in a written agreement the VA can review.
If anyone asks for money to file your first claim, that's a red flag.
You can switch anytime
You're never locked in. You can change representatives at any time by appointing a new one — no permission needed.
Tip
Many veterans win without paid representation — especially with a VSO (free) and good preparation. Know what your claim needs before deciding whether to bring in a paid attorney or agent.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Put this to work
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A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) helps with your claim at no cost — filing, evidence review, and appeals. Find an accredited representative on VA.gov →
This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.