Fill Out VA Form 21-22 Online
Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Appoints a veterans service organization to represent a claimant before the VA.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
VA Form 21-22, Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative, is the form that officially authorizes a veterans service organization (VSO) to act on your behalf in VA claims and benefits matters. Once it is on file, your VSO can access your records, file forms for you, and communicate with the VA about your case.
You can fill out the 21-22 in the Universal PDF editor and download the completed PDF. Both you and the VSO representative sign it, so a clean typed copy makes the handoff easier.
What is VA Form 21-22 used for
The form creates a formal representation relationship between you and a VA-recognized service organization. It covers matters such as disability compensation, pension, health care, education, and other VA benefits, and it includes authorizations that control what information the VA may share with your representative.
If you want an individual, such as an accredited attorney or claims agent, to represent you instead of an organization, the VA uses a different form, VA Form 21-22a, for that appointment.
Who files VA Form 21-22
Veterans, dependents, and survivors who want a recognized VSO to help with claims, decision reviews, or appeals. VSO representatives are accredited by the VA and routinely handle everything from first-time disability claims on VA Form 21-526EZ to Board appeals on VA Form 10182.
Contact the organization before submitting the form. The VSO must accept the appointment and sign the form, so most organizations will have you complete the 21-22 together with one of their representatives.
How to fill out VA Form 21-22
The form has a few distinct parts:
- Veteran information: name, Social Security number, VA file number, and date of birth
- Claimant information, if the person filing is not the veteran, such as a surviving spouse
- Service organization: the name of the VSO you are appointing
- Authorizations: decide whether to permit access to protected health information and whether to allow changes of address, and read these boxes carefully
- Signatures: both the claimant and the VSO representative sign and date the form
Where to send it
In most cases the VSO you appoint files the form with the VA for you. If you submit it yourself, use the submission details in the current form's instructions or file it online where available. The appointment takes effect once the VA accepts the form.
Frequently asked questions
The 21-22 appoints a veterans service organization as your representative. The 21-22a appoints an individual, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or private individual, instead of an organization.
The VA maintains a searchable directory of accredited representatives and recognized organizations. Many national organizations and county or state veteran service offices can take appointments.
Yes. Filing a new VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a generally replaces the prior appointment, and you can revoke a representation at any time.
No. Your representative acts on your behalf, but the claim remains yours, and the authorization boxes on the form let you limit access to certain information.
Yes. Complete your sections in the Universal PDF editor and download the PDF. The VSO representative still needs to sign it, so coordinate with the organization before it is submitted.
Related forms
Universal PDF is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Forms are provided from official government sources; always confirm you have the current version before filing.