A Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is the medical evaluation the VA uses to (1) confirm whether your condition is connected to your service and (2) measure how severe it is. The exam often drives your rating, so how clearly you describe your symptoms matters. Here’s how to walk in prepared. It’s general education, not legal advice.
What a C&P exam is (and isn’t)
The exam is done by a VA clinician or a contracted provider (QTC, VES, Optum Serve, or Loyal Source). It’s not treatment. The examiner is documenting your condition on a standardized form, not there to help you feel better that day. There’s no cost to you, and the VA generally reimburses travel mileage. Keep your address, email, and phone number current with the VA so you don’t miss the notice.
Before the exam
- Know what each exam is for. Mental health, hearing, vision, dental, and TBI usually get their own separate exams. Most physical conditions are grouped into one. If you’re unsure, call the exam provider and ask.
- Read the DBQ for your condition. Examiners often ask questions straight from the Disability Benefit Questionnaire, and knowing it tells you what evidence matters.
- Skim the rating criteria. Check how your condition is rated in our conditions library so you know which symptoms the examiner is measuring.
- Bring a photo ID and a current medication list. Fill out any paperwork mailed to you before the day of the exam.
- Plan your logistics. Know the route and leave early. Arriving late can mean a rushed exam or a reschedule. Need a ride? Family, public transit, a local VSO, or the VA’s Veterans Transportation Program can help.
- Have a support plan for tough exams. If a mental health exam may bring up dark feelings, arrange a safe place and a person to be with afterward. In crisis, call 988 then press 1.
During the exam: the 5 things that matter most
- Be completely honest. Never exaggerate or “perform.” Examiners can flag suspected exaggeration (malingering), which can sink a claim. The truth, fully told, is what helps you.
- Describe your worst days, not just today. If the exam day is a good day, tell the examiner what a bad flare-up looks like and how often they happen.
- During range-of-motion tests, say exactly when pain starts and stop when it’s too much. Don’t push through silently. The examiner records where pain begins.
- For mental health, describe your worst day in the past month: sleep, focus, relationships, work, and how symptoms affect daily life.
- Explain the real-world impact. If the examiner doesn’t ask, volunteer how the condition affects your work, relationships, and daily function.
After the exam
For most claims, once the exam is done your part is finished unless you have more evidence to submit. Decisions can take a few weeks to a few months. You can request a copy of a VA-conducted exam about 30 days after it’s finalized through the VA’s medical-records download tool. For a contractor exam, request your C-file. If you disagree with the decision, you generally have one year to appeal. Miss it and you can lose accrued back pay.
ACE exams and reexaminations
An ACE exam (Acceptable Clinical Evidence) is a records-only review. You won’t attend in person, though the examiner may call for a quick clarification, so answer your phone that day. Many conditions are now made static (no future review) from the start, but some, like active cancer or conditions the rating schedule flags, get scheduled reexaminations. A reexamination looks only at current severity, not service connection. Skipping a required reexamination can reduce or end a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How soon will I be scheduled?
Sometimes within two weeks. Within a month is common, though it can occasionally take several months.
Can I bring someone with me?
Usually yes, though an examiner can decline. A support person shouldn’t answer questions for you.
Do I have to attend?
It’s strongly in your interest to attend even if you submitted your own DBQ or medical opinion. Missing an exam tied to a supplemental or increase claim can lead to denial. Missing a reexamination can reduce your rating.
I got a bill after my exam. Is that right?
No. C&P exams are free. Contact the contractor that performed the exam (QTC, VES, and so on). Billing errors on added tests do happen. If they don’t fix it, call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
VA.gov says “exam request no longer needed.” Is my claim denied?
Not necessarily. It often just means a contractor accepted the assignment and will reach out to schedule.
Prepare with the free assistant
Want help thinking through what to say for your specific condition? Our free AI assistant can walk you through the DBQ questions and how your condition is rated. No account, nothing stored.
References
- 38 CFR 3.326 (Examinations), 3.327 (Reexaminations), and 3.655 (Failure to report for examination).
- VA DBQ library and the M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual (examination requests).
General educational information only, not legal advice or a rating decision, and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For help with your claim, work with a free VA-accredited representative.