If you’ve filed a claim for VA disability benefits, you may be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. Many veterans find this process confusing or even intimidating, especially because the outcome can significantly affect their rating. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a C&P Exam?
A C&P exam is a medical or psychological evaluation requested by the VA to help determine whether a condition is related to your military service and, if so, how severely it affects your daily functioning. The VA uses the results, along with your service records and medical history, to make decisions about disability ratings and benefits.
The exam is not a treatment appointment. The examiner is not your doctor, and the purpose is evaluation, not care. Understanding this distinction helps you approach the exam with the right mindset.
What the Evaluation Involves
The evaluation includes a review of your records, a structured clinical interview, and standardized psychological testing where appropriate. Time spent reviewing records and preparing the written report is part of the evaluation, even when it takes place outside your scheduled appointment.
How an Independent Evaluation Differs from a VA C&P Exam
A VA C&P exam is requested and administered by the VA to inform its own rating decision. An independent evaluation is requested by you and conducted by a private clinician with no affiliation to the VA. The completed report belongs to you. You decide whether and how to submit it.
Who Performs the Exam?
C&P exams may be conducted by VA staff clinicians or by contractors through private companies the VA partners with. The examiner may be a physician, psychologist, nurse practitioner, or other licensed clinician depending on the type of claim.
What Happens During a Mental Health C&P Exam?
For mental health claims, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety, the examiner will typically review your records, ask about your symptoms, and assess how your condition affects your ability to work and function socially. They may ask about your military experiences, current living situation, relationships, sleep, and daily activities.
Be honest and thorough. Many veterans unintentionally minimize their symptoms during exams. Describe your worst days, not just your average ones, and explain how your condition affects your life in concrete terms.
What Happens After?
The examiner submits a report, called a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), to the VA. The VA then uses this, along with other evidence, to assign a disability rating. You have the right to request a copy of this report.
Who Receives the Report
The completed report is provided directly to you. If an attorney referred you, the report may be shared with that attorney following your signed authorization. Dr. Howard does not share evaluation findings with the VA or any other party without your written consent.
What If You Disagree With the Results?
If you believe the exam was inadequate, rushed, or inaccurate, you have options. You can request a new exam, submit a rebuttal, or obtain an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) from a private clinician to counter the VA’s findings.
An independent psychological evaluation documents clinical findings. It does not guarantee a favorable VA rating decision, a service connection finding, or any particular outcome in your claim. All rating decisions are made exclusively by the VA.