How to Handle Your Veteran’s C & P Exam

Every VA disability claim requires a C&P exam somewhere along the way. C&P stands for Compensation and Pension because it is in this exam that the severity of a veteran’s condition is decided. The level of severity of each condition is considered and combined to form the final VA disability rating. It can be nerve-racking, but the C&P exam is one of the most important elements of every VA disability claim.

Why do I need a C&P Exam?

If you are applying for VA Disability benefits or if you are appealing a claim that you were denied, you might be asked to have a C&P Exam. What exactly is a C&P exam and how do you handle it? C&P stands for compensation and pension but it is sometimes called a “Compensation and Evaluation” exam. Either way, if the VA asks you to have one, you should get the exam done. It gives the VA documentation from a doctor about your medical status and conditions that you are reporting as service-related.

What happens at a C&P exam is different than a typical visit to the doctor. Yes, you’ll meet with a doctor and go over whatever symptoms you want to discuss, but the goal isn’t to give you treatment. Don’t expect any advice on how to make anything better or be prescribed anything for your symptoms. This visit is designed to document what condition you think you might have.

Be Careful What You Say at Your C&P Exam

When your buddies at the VFW or church say “How are you?” you might be in the habit of saying something like “Alright, I guess.”

DON’T SAY THAT DURING YOUR C&P EXAM!

Everything you say is available to be recorded in your claim. The whole point of going to your C&P exam is to document that you are not alright! As you fill out your VA disability application, note the things you are trying to get rated for. You want to make sure you cover each one of those in your exam. Unlike a normal doctor’s visit, a C&P exam isn’t done until you have said the laundry list of every ailment or injury you have that could be service-connected to your active duty. Don’t rely on your memory.

For the weeks (or months) before your exam, write down any complaints or symptoms you have. If you only have flare-ups of depression once a month, mention that to the doctor even if you are as happy as a clam the day of your exam. Write down details of your ailment so you can give a complete description to the doctor, even if you aren’t showing symptoms the day of your exam.

The C&P Exam Could be the Most Important Appointment of Your Application Process

Since so much of the VA application process is done electronically, you don’t have to show up to many appointments or hearings as you apply or appeal your claim. But the C&P Exam needs to be done in person, like a normal doctor’s visit. Whatever you do, don’t skip this exam! The report from the doctor is directly tied to your claim, so you have to have it to move your case along. If you refuse to go or miss your appointment, they can deny your claim altogether. If you need to reschedule, call them ahead of time and don’t reschedule it more than once.

The level of importance can make it nerve-racking to go, but don’t give up. Make a day of it. Take your spouse or friend with you and arrive with plenty of time to spare. Plan to go out to eat afterward or do something fun. Remember, the doctor isn’t going to tell you to watch your diet and exercise after this appointment. They are there to document your claims, so order dessert!

How To Avoid a C&P Exam

If the keyword for a normal doctor’s appointment is healing, the keyword for a C&P exam is documentation. You want to have every one of your service-connected symptoms thoroughly documented. If you already have all your disability claims documented by a doctor that is familiar with VA law and veterans’ disability, you may not be asked to have a C&P exam.

For the sake of your fellow veterans and your family, you can’t tough this out and hold in any pain. A good C&P exam completely documents all your symptoms and shows how they are service-connected. You want a doctor that is familiar with the effects of Agent Orange, Burn Pits, PTSD, depression, and other common veterans disability claims.

C&P Exams to Appeal Your VA Disability Denial

If you already applied for VA disability and have been denied, you might still have a chance to appeal and get approved. Appeals can only be submitted if you have new evidence for your case. You can’t appeal a decision by submitting the same paperwork over and over again.

If you have a new injury or one that has become worse over time, you may request a new C&P exam to get additional evidence for your appeal. Talking to a different doctor, or one of our doctors that specialize in VA disability might give you better results than your first application. Expert opinions – especially experts who are familiar with VA disability law – are game-changers for many vets trying to get what they deserve from the VA.

This is Not Your Annual VA Checkup

While all the documentation from your annual VA checkup can be used in your case, the C&P exam doesn’t count for that same examination. This means you shouldn’t expect any healthcare results from the compensation and pension examination. Keep in mind why it is called that. This exam is also not a part of your VA healthcare or a review of your past medical records. Your medical records may be used to ask questions about certain conditions, but you should assume you are meeting with a blank slate.

Cover everything that you list on your disability rating. If the doctor rushes through something that you haven’t fully explained, ask them to slow down and hear you out. Just because you say “back pain” and the doctor can see “back pain” on your medical history, make sure you are clear about the details, frequency, and effects of that back pain. It might not say in your medical records that you cannot work because of back pain, so you have to say it.

Remember what disability rating you are applying for. VA math doesn’t work like real-world math, so take a look at our VA Disability Calculator to make sure you are covering all of your bases. You might be surprised to see how low a lot of disability ratings can combine. Go over your disability rating calculator results with your case manager or lawyer to make sure you know what to expect.

Will I Need Another Veteran’s Health Exam?

This all depends on what service-connected disabilities you are claiming. Here is a tip from the pros: claim as many as you can! You may need a follow-up VA C&P exam for PTSD or to get on the Agent Orange Registry. The decision will come from the VA after seeing the results of your C&P exam and the doctor’s recommendation. C&P examinations are only re-done if you think you had an unfair meeting or if something comes up and you forgot to tell them. (See above about taking notes all year to prepare for your C&P exam.)

You might feel like all of this rigmarole is designed to discourage you from getting your full VA benefits. Whether it is or not, you can partner with a firm like ours to walk you through the difficulties. We have helped thousands of veterans work their way through the VBA reviews, do VA math, and then help get a corrected effective date once all is said and done. You don’t have to pay for any of our services until you get your check. All of our claim work by our on-staff doctors is at no charge until we win it together.

Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your
combined VA rating and monthly payment

Is a VA C&P Exam for Depression Different?

If you are looking for a disability rating for depression, PTSD, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, your C&P exam may take longer than a physical disability exam. You will be reviewed and examined by a doctor and may have to review events and episodes from your past. If it is easier to talk through these events alone, you can ask your spouse to wait outside for these segments.

Due to the VA guidelines, you can only be rated for one mental health condition. This requires a psychiatrist that is familiar with VA disability and veterans’ mental health. The doctor needs to see the complete picture of your life:

• How your condition affects your family life
• How your mental health affects your ability to work
• Does your mental health affect other health issues like insomnia or high blood pressure?
• Has alcohol or drug abuse developed from your mental conditions?

You can download this checklist from the VA before your mental health C&P exam.

After your C&P Exam

You’ll feel great after your C&P Exam if you know that you honestly covered all of the conditions that you are applying for. There is no need to exaggerate for better results, that might make the doctor skeptical of your real conditions. It will take several weeks for the paperwork to make it through the system. If you work with a lawyer with access to the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), they can see if your C&P Exam has made it into your file.

It might take a few months but stay in contact with your VA disability lawyer or your VSO during that time. There may be follow-up exams or questions that need to be answered. The doctors on our VA disability team might have to clarify questions for you while they prepare your case. Be patient and work with us as we try to get you the biggest disability compensation we can.

Woods and Woods has helped thousands of veterans with their VA disability applications and appeals. Call us today to discuss your VA disability appeal or your first application. The call is free and we won’t charge you a single fee until we win your case.

All of our attorneys are VA-certified. Call us and join the thousands of veterans we have helped to receive the VA disability benefits they deserve.

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