Advocate-Power of Attorney

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RECOGNIZED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Membership in an organization is not a prerequisite to appointment of the organization as claimant’s representative.

The following is a listing of National Organizations recognized by the Secretary in the preparation and prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs

African American PTSD Association American Legion American Red Cross AMVETS American Ex-Prisoners of War, Inc. American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. American GI Forum, National Veteran Outreach Program Armed Forces Services Corporation Army and Navy Union, USA Blinded Veterans Association Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. Disabled American Veterans Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Fleet Reserve Association Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Inc. Jewish War Veterans of the United States Legion of Valor of the United States of America, Inc. Marine Corps League Military Order of the Purple Heart

National Amputation Foundation, Inc. National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc. National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. National Veterans Legal Services Program National Veterans Organization of America Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA Navy Mutual Aid Association Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc. Polish Legion of American Veterans, U.S.A. Swords to Plowshares, Veterans Rights Organization, Inc. The Retired Enlisted Association The Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc. The Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition United Spanish War Veterans of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. Vietnam Era Veterans Association Vietnam Veterans of America

Although agency titles vary, the following States and possessions maintain veterans service agencies which are recognized to present claims.

Alabama American SamoaArizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho

Illinois KansasKentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey

New Mexico New YorkNorth Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico

South Carolina South DakotaTennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Virgin Islands Washington West Virginia Wisconsin

PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974 or Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional communications, epidemiological or research studies, the collection of money owed to the United States, litigation in which the United States is a party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel administration) as identified in the VA system of records, 58VA21/22/28, Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records-VA, published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is voluntary. However, the requested information is considered relevant and necessary to recognize a service organization as your representative and/or identify disclosable records. VA uses your SSN to identify your claim file. Providing your SSN will help ensure that your records are properly associated with your claim file. Giving us your SSN account information is voluntary. Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of benefits. VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing to provide his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect. The responses you submit are considered confidential (38 U.S.C. 5701). Information submitted is subject to verification through computer matching programs with other agencies.

 

RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to recognize the service organization you name to act on your behalf in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits (38 U.S.C. 5902). We will also use the information to identify any VA records that we may disclose to the service organization (38 U.S.C. 5701(b)). Title 38, United States Code, allows us to ask for this information. We estimate that you will need an average of 5 minutes to review the instructions, find the information, and complete this form. VA cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not displayed. Valid OMB control numbers can be located on the OMB Internet Page at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/library/OMBINV.VA.EPA.html#VA. If desired, you can call 1-800-827-1000 to get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.

 

VA FORM 21-22, JUN 2009