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Companion Toolkit

The VA C&P Exam Playbook

The Complete Guide to Preparing for Your VA C&P Exam and Getting the Rating You Deserve

Your Toolkit Includes

Editable guides, templates, trackers, and calculators designed to be used alongside the book. Each file mirrors a concept or chapter from the guide — download what you need, fill it in, and build your claim package at your own pace.

The VA C&P Exam Playbook

FWD Assist Publishing

Built by Joshua Christopherson. VA disability claims educator. Air Force and Air National Guard disabled veteran with hands-on VSO experience.

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About This Topic

A preparation guide for the VA Compensation and Pension examination — the medical evaluation that determines VA disability ratings. Covers what the examiner is looking for, how to describe your worst day accurately, which symptoms and functional limitations matter most, and what to do if the exam result is wrong.

What the Book Covers

Key topics and takeaways from The VA C&P Exam Playbook:

What the C&P examiner is actually evaluating
How to describe your condition accurately without minimizing it
Which symptoms and functional limitations matter most for your rating
What to do if the exam result doesn't reflect reality

Who This Is For

  • Veterans with an upcoming C&P exam
  • Veterans whose previous C&P exam resulted in a low or inaccurate rating
  • Veterans who minimize their symptoms and need to learn to describe them accurately
  • Anyone who wants to understand what the VA examiner is actually looking for

Download the Entire Toolkit

All 26 files in one zip · 0.3 MB

Download All (.zip)

Companion Toolkit

26 files for The VA C&P Exam Playbook — Organized by when you need them in the claims process.

Assessment & Preparation

1 file

ROM Rating Calculator

Calculate your combined VA disability rating using VA math

9 KB

Evidence Building

18 files

C&P Exam Binder System

Organize your C&P exam documentation in a structured binder for exam day

12 KB

C-File Request Guide Tracker

Request and track your VA C-File to verify what evidence VA already has

10 KB

Contractor Research Worksheet

Research government contracting opportunities for your veteran-owned business

11 KB

DBQ Review Rebuttal Kit

Review your Disability Benefits Questionnaire and draft a rebuttal if needed

12 KB

DBQ Walkthrough and Examiner Guide

Walk through the DBQ format and understand what your examiner is documenting

15 KB

Evidence Organization System

Organize and label every piece of evidence before submission

12 KB

Evidence Package Builder Universal

Assemble the complete evidence package VA needs to rate your claim

11 KB

Exam Timeline Manager

Track C&P exam scheduling, preparation milestones, and follow-up dates

7 KB

Functional Limitation Language Guide

Use the specific language VA raters look for when describing functional limitations

10 KB

Medical Appointment Log

Track every medical appointment, provider, and what was discussed

11 KB

Mental Health Exam Kit

Complete preparation kit for mental health C&P examinations

18 KB

Mental Health Exam Prep

Prepare for a mental health C&P exam with symptom documentation and talking points

12 KB

Physical Exam Prep Guide

Prepare for a physical C&P exam with range-of-motion and pain documentation

9 KB

Physical Exam Preparation Kit

Complete preparation kit for physical condition C&P examinations

15 KB

Reexamination Request Kit

Request a new C&P examination when the original was inadequate

14 KB

Symptom Documentation Templates

Templates for documenting symptoms in the format C&P examiners expect

14 KB

Symptom Function Log

Log daily symptoms and functional limitations with dates and severity

13 KB

TBI Domain Assessment

Self-assess TBI symptoms across VA's 10 diagnostic domains before your exam

8 KB

Statements & Letters

2 files

Buddy Statement Builder

Guide a buddy through writing a lay statement that supports your claim

39 KB

Personal Statement Builder

Write a personal statement that maps symptoms to the VA rating criteria

11 KB

Tracking & Monitoring

4 files

C&P Exam Condition Tracker

Track each condition being evaluated at your C&P exam with notes and prep

10 KB

Claims Master Tracker

Track every claim, rating, effective date, and status in one master spreadsheet

11 KB

Deadline Date Tracker

Log every VA deadline and window so nothing expires unnoticed

9 KB

Decision Letter Decoder

Break down a VA decision letter line by line to find errors and next steps

12 KB

Appeals & Reviews

1 file

Appeals Strategy Guide

Map your appeal options under the AMA and choose the right lane

11 KB

How to Use This Toolkit

Every file is yours to keep. The Word documents (.docx) are your guides, templates, and letter builders — open them, fill in your information, and use them with your claim. The spreadsheets (.xlsx) are your trackers and calculators — they include real formulas that do the math for you. Save them to your computer and update them as your situation changes.

Back to Book Details

Related Topics

Win Your VA Disability Claim

The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Filing, Evidence, and Getting the VA Rating You've Earned

Nexus Letters for VA Claims

How to Get, Write, and Use a Nexus Letter to Win Your VA Disability Service Connection

The Appeals Playbook

Your Complete Guide to Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and the Board of Veterans' Appeals

Disclaimer: FWD Assist HQ and FWD Assist Publishing provide educational resources only. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice, medical advice, or accredited representation. Always consult with an accredited VA attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Officer for personalized guidance.