The Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is one of the most important steps in your VA disability claims process. It is a medical evaluation conducted by a VA-appointed healthcare provider to assess the severity of your disability and determine its connection to military service.
The outcome of this exam can significantly impact the approval and rating of a VA disability claim. Unfortunately, many veterans walk into their C&P exams unprepared, not fully realizing the weight this evaluation carries. And worse, many veterans sabotage the exam, hurting their chances for a VA disability rating increase.
In this article, we’ll tell you what not to do at your C&P exam so that you can maximize your chance of receiving 100% disabled veteran benefits.
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How Does the C&P Exam Affect Your VA Disability Rating?
Unlike a regular doctor’s visit, the C&P exam is not meant for treatment but rather for assessment. The examiner, a VA-appointed physician or contracted medical provider, will review the veteran’s medical history, perform a physical and/or psychological evaluation, and document their findings. These findings play a key role in the VA’s ruling on your disability claim. Veterans must approach the exam with the awareness that every detail matters.
The Big No-Nos:
Here are some of the most common things to avoid at your upcoming C&P exam.
Don’t Over-Emphasize Non-Service-Connected Conditions
The VA only has to compensate you for conditions that are related to your military service. Thus, it is to their benefit to write off certain conditions as non-service connected when possible.
For example, let’s say that you are seeking a VA rating for PTSD. Your provider may ask you about your childhood. Let’s say that your parents divorced when you were young. If you dominate the conversation with tales of the trauma you suffered due to this family dynamic, you’re just giving your examiner a reason to pass off your trauma as a childhood issue—not something related to your service.
But if you know that your trauma actually came from the sexual assault you suffered in the military or the constant shelling during your deployment that left you wondering if you’d live to see tomorrow, focus on that. Give your service connection center stage.
Don’t Exaggerate Your Range of Motion
If you have a condition affecting one of your joints and you don’t know what a goniometer is, you’ll soon find out. A goniometer, also known as a tensiometer, is a tool used by doctors and other healthcare professionals to see how much range of motion your joints have. If you have problems with your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc., your doctor will ask you to move the joint. As you move, they will measure the movement with their goniometer.
You may find yourself wondering how much you should move your joint. Should you move it until you feel unbearable pain? Or simply move it until it’s not comfortable anymore? Our best advice is to stop the moment you get into the pain zone. Don’t push into the pain. This is not a military exercise where you’re being asked ot suck it up and put service before self. Don’t be a hero. Stop when it hurts.
Don’t Forget Your Medical Records
People assume that because the medical exam is for VA benefits, the VA will naturally provide your doctor with all necessary medical records. This is not necessarily the case. You will likely not be seen by a VA doctor for your C&P exam but by a contracted physician. And they may not have your full record at their fingertips.
Your doctor will want to see your diagnosis, the treatment you have received, the progression of your injury or illness, and a connection between your service and your injury. When they have your full record, they’ll have a better chance of accessing all of this information.
Don’t Forget Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement describes in your own words your service-related injury and the effect it has on your daily life. It should include the following:
- The name of the injury or illness you are claiming
- The date that the injury/illness started to affect your life
- A description of the in-service incident that triggered your injury/illness
- An explanation of how your injury/illness has affected your personal and professional life over time
- A description of the medical treatment you have received or are receiving for your condition
Once you have a well-written personal statement, you’ll want to stick to that script during your C&P exam. This will keep you focused on saying the things that will substantiate your claim. It will also keep you from rambling or sharing unrelated events that could hurt your claim.
Don’t feel sheepish about reading your claim. When your examiner asks you about your condition, you can simply say, “I’ve made some notes so I don’t forget anything. I’d like to read from them to give you the most accurate picture.”
Don’t Forget Your True Audience
The physician performing your C&P exam is not assigning you a rating for your VA claim. Rather, they are completing your DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire). This form is used to explain your diagnosis to the VA and tell how it may or may not qualify you for a VA disability increase. Your C&P examiner is simply the go-between, feeding the VA rater data so that they can make an educated decision.
As such, your true audience—the VA rater—should be your focus. As you prepare for your exam, consider what your VA rater will want to know:
1. Do you have a medical diagnosis?
Your VA rater will want to see that you have a clear and current medical diagnosis for your injury or illness. If you don’t, you will want to make sure that you get a diagnosis from a doctor before your C&P exam.
2. Is your condition service-related?
Before your C&P exam, you need to make sure that you can draw a clear line between your military service and your injury. Did you develop tinnitus after working on the flight line? Did you develop asthma after working near burn pits in the Gulf War? Did you injure your knees from one too many ruck runs? Be prepared to make this connection (and support it with evidence like a nexus letter if possible).
If you are claiming a secondary condition, come prepared to show this connection. A secondary condition is one that develops due to a primary service-connected disability. For example, you may be rated for a hip condition that causes knee osteoarthritis over time. You will need to come to your exam prepared to present your diagnosis for your knee osteoarthritis and to show that your hip condition has led to your knee condition.
3. How severe is your condition?
Your VA rater will want to know how your condition limits your daily life. With the knee osteoarthritis example above, you would want to come prepared to show how your knee pain limits your ability to work, exercise, interact with your children and grandchildren, sleep well, etc.
This is not the time to be stoic. It is not complaining or sniveling to tell the truth. Don’t be shy about explaining the pain and discomfort your condition causes and the way it affects your professional and personal life.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up After the Exam
Once the C&P exam is complete, your role doesn’t end. Make sure to track the status of the claim and follow up with the VA as needed. Get a copy of the examiner’s report, if possible, and review it for accuracy. If there are any discrepancies or concerns, you have the right to address them and submit additional evidence if necessary.
The Takeaway
Avoid these “don’ts” for your C&P exam, and you’ll have a much better chance of getting a VA rating increase. For more tips to help prepare you for your C&P exam, contact VA Claims Academy. We have tried-and-true resources to provide VA disability increase help. These resources simplify the claims process, saving you countless hours and making sure you submit a claim that will be hard for the VA to deny.