What happens at a C&P exam
A claim exam gathers information for VA’s claim decision. It is not a treatment appointment, and the examiner does not decide your claim. Read VA’s C&P exam overview for what an appointment can involve.
Before the exam: organize records and a timeline
Make a short timeline of symptoms, care, medication changes, and effects on daily activities. Mark approximate dates as estimates. Keep the confirmation that VA received a document with your copy of that document.
Follow VA’s evidence-submission instructions for your claim or review. Use your own facts; the note is a memory aid, not a set of answers.
Explain an ordinary day and times when symptoms get worse
Use examples you remember: an activity you stopped, a task you needed help with, or a change in your routine. Explain how often a problem occurs and how long it lasts when you know. If symptoms come and go, explain what changes. Say whether the exam day is like most days or better or worse than usual.
The condition walkthrough shows how to connect a symptom with a task, its frequency, and the adjustment you make. Use the fill-in outline to organize your own facts. Include activities you can still do and say when a date, frequency, or other detail is uncertain.
Check where, when, and how to attend
Read the appointment notice. Check the time and location, and contact the scheduler about any help you need to attend or take part. Contact the scheduler if you cannot attend. VA warns that missing an exam can affect how the claim is decided. See VA’s scheduling guidance.
Keep the notice accessible and plan the trip or telehealth setup in advance. During the exam, ask for clarification when you do not understand a question or instruction.
After the exam
After the appointment, write down the date, who examined you, what was discussed, and any problem you want to report. For example, note a question you did not understand or a record you could not find.
VA reviews the exam report with the rest of the evidence and sends a decision. You can request a copy of the final report through VA’s exam-report instructions.
Use the free C&P preparation tool
Open C&P exam preparation and choose the condition for your appointment. Work through four steps: see what may be checked, prepare your own answers, organize records and appointment details, then save your guide and review what happens after the exam. Each condition includes:
- A question walkthrough with an explanation, a fill-in outline, and a hypothetical worked answer.
- What VA looks for at each listed rating, including any measurements or medical test results in the condition guide.
- Preparation notes, questions an examiner may ask, and records to organize.
For back, neck, knee, shoulder, and ankle, the selected preparation page also opens an animated range-of-motion demonstration. Watch how the joint moves and how the angle is measured. Follow the examiner’s instructions at your own appointment. The full C&P tool also helps you explore conditions that may be linked to an already service-connected disability.
Related decision and exam guides
If the eventual decision raises questions, start with Denied or under-rated: what next? The discarded PTSD DBQ scenario covers a specific report-related pattern and carries an owner-review notice. See Decision-letter scenarios for other scenarios.
Frequently asked questions
How can worked answers help me prepare?
A worked answer shows the level of useful detail: the activity affected, how often it happens, how long it lasts, and what helps. Replace the example with your own experience using the fill-in outline. Use notes to remember facts and questions, and tell the examiner when you are unsure or need clarification.
Can I rely on handing new records to the examiner?
VA says to submit new non-VA records before the exam. The examiner may review copies you bring but cannot submit them for you. Follow the applicable submission instructions.
Official sources
Process sources checked September 27, 2026. Check VA guidance and your letter for the rules that apply to your issue.
Your next step
Choose your condition to see worked answers, what VA looks for at each listed rating, and any movement demonstration.