If you’re a veteran who has filed a claim for VA disability benefits, you’ll probably be asked to go to a Compensation and Pension exam, also called a C&P exam. This is one of the most important parts of your VA claim. The exam helps the VA understand how your health problems affect your life and whether they are connected to your time in the military.
It’s essential to attend the exam. If you don’t go the exam, VA can deny your claim outright.
This guide will help you understand what the C&P exam is, what happens during the exam, and how you can prepare for it.
What Is a C&P Exam?
The C&P exam is not a regular doctor visit. The person doing the exam (called the examiner) is not treating you or giving you medicine. They are there to check on your condition and write a report for the VA. That report helps the VA decide if your condition is related to your service and how bad it is.
The exam might be done by a VA doctor or a contractor who works with the VA. You might have more than one exam if you are claiming several different conditions.
If it’s a contract examiner (usually it is) then most of the time it’s going to feel rushed. Unfortunately, the big companies that do contract exams tend to rush through as many people as possible as quickly as possible because they make more money that way.
Getting Ready for the Exam
1. Know What the Exam Is For
Before the exam, make sure you know what condition or injury is being checked. Usually, the letter from the contract examiner or VA will tell you what the exam is for. For example, if your claim is for PTSD, knee pain, or sleep apnea, your exam will focus on that specific issue.
2. Look at the DBQ Form
A DBQ is a Disability Benefits Questionnaire. It’s a form that examiners use to check your symptoms. You don’t need to fill it out, but you can look at it online to get an idea of what questions the examiner may ask. Most DBQs are available online at VA.gov.
Note that the DBQ must be filled out by a licensed medical professional, not the veteran. You can get one filled out by your doctor as evidence for your claim.
3. Bring Medical Records if You Have Them
If you have medical records from private doctors, test results, or letters from your doctors, bring them to the exam. These papers can help show how your condition has affected you. If you’ve written in a journal about your symptoms, bring that too.
Don’t bring too much. Just the most important pages, and highlight the things you want the examiner to see. This should be material that has already been uploaded to VA, and make sure you tell the examiner that the things you brought are already in the file because they are not supposed to look at anything other than what is in the file. If you show up with a giant stack of paper, they will not look at it.
4. Practice What You Want to Say
Think about how your condition affects your daily life. For example:
- Does your pain keep you from walking or sleeping?
- Does your mental health keep you from being around people?
- Are you missing work or struggling at home?
Be ready to explain clearly and give real examples, like:
- “I can’t walk more than 5 minutes without back pain.”
- “I have panic attacks in crowded places.”
- “I miss work two times a month because of migraines.”
During the Exam
1. Tell the Truth
Be honest about your symptoms. Don’t say you’re “okay” if you’re really not. This is your chance to explain how your health problem affects you every day.
2. Be Consistent / Don’t Exaggerate
Make sure your answers match what you’ve told your doctors or what’s in your VA file. If you say something different, it could hurt your claim.
3. The Examiner Is Watching
The examiner may watch how you move, walk, sit, or talk. If you say you have shoulder pain but lift your arm with no problem, that could be a red flag. Be honest and don’t try to hide or fake anything.
4. Mental Health Exams Can Be Personal
If you’re being checked for PTSD, depression, or anxiety, you might be asked personal questions. The examiner may ask about trauma, anger, or even thoughts of hurting yourself. Try to stay calm and answer truthfully. These questions help the VA understand your condition.
After the Exam
You won’t get a decision right away. The examiner will write a report and send it to the VA. That report is used along with your medical records to decide your claim. You can ask for a copy of the report later if you want.
If you have an accredited representative, they will be able to see a copy as soon as it is uploaded to VA. Otherwise you will have to file a Privacy Act request to get a copy and you can expect a several month wait. Most VSOs won’t print it out and give you a copy, but an accredited agent or attorney usually will.
Tips for a Good Exam
- Don’t tough it out. Many veterans are used to pushing through pain. But during the exam, you need to explain how bad your symptoms really are. You want to make sure you describe what your symptoms are on the worst days.
- Stick to the reason you’re there. If the exam is for back pain, don’t bring up a new condition. You can file a new claim for that later.
- Write down what happened after the exam. Take notes on what the examiner asked and how you answered. This can help if you have to appeal the decision later. It’s especially important to do this if your examiner is rushed, hostile or doesn’t listen.
- Ask for help if you need it. A Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or accredited agent or attorney can help guide you through the process.
Final Thoughts
The C&P exam is very important. It can affect whether you get disability benefits and how much money you receive. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be honest, give clear examples, and explain how your condition makes life harder for you.
You know your body and your story better than anyone else. With a little preparation, you can make sure the VA gets the full picture.
