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The VA claim exam, called a C&P exam, differs from a regular medical appointment. You will not be treated for a disability or medical condition.
A C&P exam only occurs if you file a compensation or pension claim for the first time. The VA uses these exams to help determine if your disability is service-connected, the level of your disability, or if your condition should receive an increased rating due to it worsening. You are allowed to utilize a third-party medical provider for your exam if you already have a rating.
Exams may take place may last as little as 15 minutes or an hour or longer, depending on the circumstances of your case. An examiner may ask questions, conduct a limited physical exam or simply review your files with you.
The best way to go through a C&P exam is to be well prepared with complete medical evidence and documentation you submit with your application. For first time filers, Veteran Ratings consulting partners will help prepare you on what to expect at your C&P exam.
Veteran Ratings and our Veteran consulting partners will walk you through the entire process leading up to your C&P exam if you are a first time filer. If you are seeking an increase, not only will we guide you through the process but we refer you to our private network of doctors who will provide a medical examination.
How Long After a C&P Exam Will I Get a Decision in 2023?
For most cases, there is about a four-month lead time just to get an appointment. The decision process after an appointment depends on how complex your claim is and the number of conditions you’ve claimed.
As of May 2023, the average time to complete disability-related claims was slightly over 100 days. You can check the most recent average-time estimate here.
Factors Affecting the VA Claim Decision Timelines
The provider will write an exam report and send it to the VA. Your evidence and exam report will be reviewed, and the VA will decide on your claim and send you a decision letter.
Your decision timeline could be extended for several reasons:
- You do not attend your C&P exam. If you have a conflict, try to reschedule as early as possible. If you don’t attend, a processor could rate your claim“as is” only using the information in your existing file.
- Make sure the VA regional office and the VA medical center nearest to you have your current address, phone, and email information so that the VA can more
- quickly communicate with you about any needs.
- Your medical records and evidence are incomplete
- There are “red flags” in the documentation you submit
Working with Veteran Ratings consulting partners avoids many of these problems because you will receive guidance on what to do, the right documentation to gather, and what you should do to present your claim in a way that give you the best chance of approval at the highest possible rating.
How to Get a Copy of Your Claim Results
You must request a copy of the final exam report, but you can’t get the results at your exam or directly from the provider.
To request your exam report, you must fill out a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act Request and submit it to your nearest VA regional office. Veteran Ratings can also assist you with this request to ensure the most efficient processing possible
Tips for a Smooth VA Claim Process
C&P exams are only for first-time filers. Veteran Ratings and our network of third-party medical providers can guide Veterans in gathering the evidence they need to ensure the best outcome for their C&P exam. Because we have several years of experience with VA claims, we understand what the VA considers important and how a Veteran should present it as a first-time filer.
Thorough documentation before a C&P exam gives Veterans the best chance for approval at the highest possible rating without added delays due to requests for more information or having submitted information misinterpreted.
FAQs About a C&P Exam Decision Timeline
Does everyone who files a claim need to have a VA claim exam?
No. The VA will require a C&P exam only if more information is needed to decide your claim.
Veterans who work with Veteran Ratings can avoid the C&P exam and instead use our third party doctors who will do a medical examination that will replace the C&P exam in most cases.
Medical evidence may include doctor and hospital reports, test results, and other documents. However, using Veteran Ratings dramatically reduces the possibility that more evidence will be needed, speeding up your claim request.
Will I need more than one VA claim exam?
In some cases, you may need more than one exam. That might happen when:
- You submit a claim for more than one condition. However, the VA often tries to schedule all your exams on the same day.
- For some conditions, you may need follow-up exams so that a provider can determine whether the severity of your condition has changed since your last exam.
- You may be asked to get another exam if you request a decision review of your claim decision.
Under what circumstances will I need a specialist provider?
You’ll need a specialist provider for dental, eye, hearing, and mental health exams. Veteran Ratings network of doctors can do a mental health exam when required.
Will VA pay for my travel to and from a claim exam?
Yes. The VA reimburses Veterans for travel to and from their claim exam at a VA medical center.
Can I submit additional evidence or documentation after the C&P exam?
If you’re waiting for a decision on your disability claim, you still have the opportunity to upload evidence to support that claim using the VA’s claim status tool. However, working with Veteran Ratings minimizes this need since we assist you with a thorough quality-controlled initial submission process to help you avoid delays or added steps.
