Please read carefully before using this website.
This disclaimer applies to the websites at drdavidhoward.com and veteranvoiceexams.com.
Audience guide:
- Veterans / C&P services
- Attorneys / legal evaluations
- All visitors
Important: This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological, clinical, legal, or therapeutic advice. Visiting this site or submitting a contact inquiry does not create a professional relationship of any kind.
Licensure and Jurisdiction
All visitors
This practice is licensed by the State of Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology. In-person evaluations are available to clients physically present in Tennessee. Remote (telepsychology) evaluations are conducted under the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) granted through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact). Under PsyPact, eligibility for remote services is determined by where you are physically located at the time each session takes place – not by your state of residence or where you are licensed. If you are physically present in a PsyPact participating state at the time of the evaluation, services may be available to you regardless of where you permanently reside. If you are physically present in a non-participating state at the time of service, this practice is not authorized to provide remote psychological services to you for that session. A current list of PsyPact participating states is available at psypact.org. It is your responsibility to confirm your state of physical presence participates in PsyPact prior to scheduling.
No Professional Relationship
All visitors
No psychologist-client, therapist-patient, or retaining-party relationship is created by browsing this website, reading its content, or submitting a contact inquiry. A professional relationship is established only through a formal written agreement signed by both parties prior to the commencement of any evaluation.
Nature of Independent C&P-Style Evaluations
Veterans / C&P services
Evaluations offered through this practice for the purpose of supporting VA compensation and pension (C&P) claims are independent psychological evaluations – they are not VA-administered C&P exams. This practice is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The completed report is provided directly to you, the veteran. You retain full ownership and control over the document and determine how and whether to submit it to the VA or other agencies.
Confidentiality and Records
Veterans / C&P services
Because the evaluation report is delivered directly to you, you control its use and disclosure. This practice maintains records in accordance with Tennessee law and applicable professional ethical standards. Please be aware that once you submit the report to the VA or any other third party, confidentiality protections over that document transfer to the receiving agency’s policies. You are encouraged to discuss with a VA-accredited claims agent, VSO, or attorney how and when to submit independent evaluation reports.
No Guarantee of Benefits or Nexus Determination
Veterans / C&P services
An independent psychological evaluation documents findings based on clinical interview, record review, and validated assessment measures. It does not guarantee a favorable VA rating decision, a service connection nexus finding, or any particular outcome in a benefits claim. All rating decisions are made exclusively by the VA. This practice makes no representations regarding the outcome of any claim.
Forensic Evaluations: Competency, NGRI, and Parental Capacity
Attorneys / legal evaluations
Information on this website regarding competency to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI), parental capacity, and immigration evaluations is intended for attorneys, courts, and other legal professionals. These are forensic evaluations in which the psychologist’s duty runs to the court or the retaining party – not to the individual being evaluated. Specifically, when Dr. Howard is appointed by the court or named in a court order for an evaluation, the primary obligation is to the court. In all other circumstances, Dr. Howard’s obligation is to the retaining party as defined in the informed consent. Findings are disclosed in a written report in accordance with the governing court order or the terms of the informed consent. Evaluees do not have a treating relationship with Dr. Howard, and standard therapeutic confidentiality protections do not apply. Legal proceedings involving these evaluations are subject to the laws and rules of the relevant jurisdiction, which may differ from Tennessee law.
Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product
Attorneys / legal evaluations
When retained by defense counsel, communications and draft work product may be protected under attorney-client privilege at the direction of retaining counsel. Attorneys are responsible for advising their clients of the nature and limitations of forensic evaluation, including the absence of a treating relationship and the potential uses of any resulting report.
Not a Substitute for Professional Advice
All visitors
Content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute psychological diagnosis, clinical treatment, legal opinion, or expert testimony. Nothing here should be relied upon in place of advice from a licensed mental health professional, VA-accredited representative, or qualified attorney.
Email Communications Are Not Confidential
All visitors
Email is not a confidential or encrypted means of communication and does not carry the protections of a privileged professional communication. Do not send sensitive personal, medical, legal, or military service records via email to this practice. Sending an email inquiry does not guarantee a response or create any professional relationship of any kind.
Once a formal professional relationship has been established through a signed agreement, records and sensitive documents should be submitted by one of the following methods: mail, fax, or a secure file transfer method designated at the time of engagement. This practice will advise you of the appropriate submission method prior to requesting any records or documentation.
This Website Is Not a Crisis Resource
All visitors
This website does not provide crisis intervention or emergency services. If you are a veteran in crisis, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting at VeteransCrisisLine.net. For all other psychiatric emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Do not use this website to communicate an emergency.
Limitation of Liability
All visitors
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and currency of information on this website, no warranty – express or implied – is made regarding its completeness or fitness for any particular purpose. This practice is not liable for any loss, claim, or damage arising from use of or reliance on any content found on this site.
Governing Law
All visitors
This practice is based in Tennessee, and this disclaimer is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee. For telepsychology services provided under PsyPact, the professional and ethical standards of Tennessee apply, as well as any applicable standards of the state in which you are physically present at the time of service. Nothing in this disclaimer limits any rights or obligations imposed by the laws of the state where you are physically located during the provision of services.
Last updated: June 2026
Questions? Contact Dr. David Howard at drhoward@veteranvoiceexams.com or 423-662-4555.