Current as of September 2026. Rules, forms, and figures change; verify at va.gov.
This is general education, not legal or claims advice, and not guidance for your specific claim.
What you need before you start
- Your C&P appointment letter (date, location, whether a VA facility or a contractor runs the exam).
- Access to VA.gov, or a free accredited representative who can pull records and forms.
- Your medical records: service treatment records, current diagnosis, recent treatment notes.
- A way to make two complete copies of your evidence package.
Start Here: The Basics
A Compensation and Pension exam, called a C&P exam, is the medical appointment the VA uses to evaluate a claimed condition. An examiner reviews your records and completes a standardized form the rater relies on heavily. The exam does not decide the claim by itself, but it carries real weight.
The steps
1Learn what a C&P exam actually is before you prepare for it.
It is a fact finding evaluation, not a treatment visit. The examiner completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), and the rater uses that form to decide your claim.
Done when you can say in one sentence that the exam produces a DBQ that becomes the record.
2Request the DBQ form for your condition and read every question on it.
Ask VA.gov or your accredited representative for the DBQ that matches your condition, and read each question the examiner must answer.
Done when you have the right DBQ in hand and know what the exam will measure.
3Gather medical evidence in the categories the examiner uses.
Pull service connection evidence, current diagnosis, current treatment and functional impact records, and evidence of worsening if you seek an increase.
Do not bring superseded records, unrelated conditions, or duplicates. They bury your best evidence.
Done when each category that applies to you is covered by your strongest, most recent documents.
4Prepare your symptoms in functional limitation language.
For each main symptom use frequency, severity, duration, and impact. Translate pain into what you cannot do.
If the examiner documents something inaccurate, then correct it on the spot before you leave.
Done when you can state your top functional limitations out loud, each with frequency, severity, duration, and impact.
Frequently asked questions
What happens at a VA C&P exam?
A VA or contract examiner reviews your records and may examine you in person, by telehealth, or through a records only review, then completes a DBQ the rater uses to decide the claim.
What should I bring to a C&P exam?
Bring an organized evidence package with your strongest, most recent records and a one page condition summary. Make two complete copies and keep one for yourself.
How do I describe my symptoms at a C&P exam?
Describe each symptom by how often it happens, how bad it is, how long it lasts, and what it stops you from doing, rather than describing pain alone.
The Prepare for Your C&P Exam Field Guide is coming soon
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Get free, accredited help
Help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer, claims agent, or VA accredited attorney is always free. Representation begins only when you sign VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a. Nothing on this page creates or implies a representative relationship.
Anyone charging an upfront fee to file an initial claim, or guaranteeing a rating, is a claim shark. You can report them to the VA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-488-8244.
Keep going: the full guide
The VA C&P Exam Playbook
Written by J. Erickson, FWD Assist HQ. FWD Assist HQ publishes plain-language education for veterans. We do not develop evidence, file claims, or represent veterans before the VA.