How to Prepare for a VA C&P Exam

Mission Brief

The C&P exam is the VA’s eyes-on snapshot of your disability. Walk in prepared and you control the narrative; wing it and the rater fills gaps with assumptions.

Treat the appointment like an inspection. In the days leading up, rehearse your worst days, pack the documentation that backs it up, and understand which diagnostic code the examiner is grading against. If the exam goes sideways, your notes become ammunition for a rebuttal, supplemental claim, or Higher-Level Review.

This guide walks you through the entire cycle—pre-exam prep, day-of execution, and post-exam follow-through—so the VA sees the same limitations you live with every day.

• Stay consistent: align everything you say with what is in your medical records, logs, and lay statements.
• Lead with function: describe how often, how long, and how hard the condition hits work, family, or sleep.
• Document everything: note arrival time, questions asked, and whether the examiner reviewed your evidence.

Situation Brief

When the VA schedules a C&P exam, they are validating service connection, severity, or secondary links. The examiner’s report carries major weight, so you need a concise, accurate story anchored in evidence.

Pro tip: Always confirm the exam type—DBQ, telehealth, in-person—so you prep the right measurements and evidence.

C&P Exam Prep Checklist

Complete this sequence before exam day so you are focused on execution, not scrambling for paperwork.

• Confirm appointment date, time, location, parking, and whether you need to fast or bring imaging.
• Review your claim binder: service records, private medical evidence, lay statements, and the symptom logs you have already submitted.
• Rehearse explanations for best, average, and worst days—use plain language and tie everything to function.
• List medications, side effects, and assistive devices; note how often you use each and what happens if you skip it.
• Pack supporting items (brace, CPAP data, cane, hearing aids) and a notebook to log what happens during the exam.
• Plan transportation and arrive 15 minutes early so stress doesn’t spike your vitals or range of motion.

If you need to reschedule, call immediately, document who you spoke with, and follow up with a secure message.

Step-by-Step Playbook

1. Review the exam notice: Identify which contention or condition the VA is examining and confirm the location, provider, and prep instructions.
2. Study the rating criteria: Read the diagnostic code in 38 CFR Part 4 and note the measurements or functional limits that match higher ratings.
3. Rehearse your symptom story: Use your logs to explain frequency, duration, and severity of flare-ups in a calm, consistent way.
4. Execute the exam: Arrive early, answer honestly, demonstrate painful motion or limitations, and make sure the examiner records your statements.
5. Document the encounter: Immediately write down questions asked, tests performed, and anything the examiner seemed to ignore.
6. Follow up on the report: Request a copy via My HealtheVet or FOIA, compare it to your notes, and contest inaccuracies with a supplemental claim or HLR if needed.

Never exaggerate or minimize symptoms—consistency across medical records, lay evidence, and exam dialogue keeps your credibility airtight.

Evidence Arsenal

Bring proof that mirrors your story so the examiner cannot brush off your limitations.

Reminder: You can bring reference notes, but do not read from a script—maintain natural conversation while hitting your key points.

Intel & Tools

Treat the exam like standing watch—log every event, hold contractors accountable, and keep the claim moving.

• Daily logbook: record sleep, pain spikes, mobility limits, and medication side effects so recall stays sharp.
• Post-exam report request: submit a My HealtheVet or Privacy Act request within 48 hours to capture the examiner’s write-up.
• Escalation drill: if the exam was rushed or inaccurate, prepare a sworn statement and loop in your VSO or attorney before filing a rebuttal.

Keep every log, voicemail, and secure message synced to your binder so no detail gets lost if you need to challenge the results.

Next Actions & Support

Document any missed calls or letters—contractors often make one attempt and move on. Your log proves you stayed available.