What a VA claim exam is—and what it is not
After you file a disability benefits claim, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may ask you to have a claim exam, also known as a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. This guide explains what to expect at a C&P exam using VA’s published guidance, marking which points are VA rules and which are tips.
According to VA, the exam helps VA determine whether you have a service-connected disability and, if you do, helps VA rate it. VA bases your rating on how severe your disability is, and your rating affects how much disability compensation you receive, which VA says may include monthly payments and enrollment in VA health care.
Important: A claim exam is not like a normal medical appointment. VA states that the provider won’t treat you for any illness or injury, give you referrals to other providers, or prescribe medicine. The purpose is to gather information that helps VA decide your claim.
Disclaimer: VetBenefitIQ is an independent educational site. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by VA. This article is for education only—not legal, medical, or claims advice—and does not constitute claims representation. We do not guarantee eligibility, approval, ratings, timelines, or payments. Confirm current rules on VA.gov or with an accredited representative.
Does everyone who files a claim need an exam?
No. VA says it will ask you to have a claim exam only if it needs more information to decide your claim.
If your file already has enough medical evidence, VA says it will follow the Acceptable Clinical Evidence (ACE) process: VA reviews your medical records and asks you to submit more evidence if needed, instead of asking you to have an exam.
VA’s Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) page adds that in most instances you are entitled to a no-cost disability examination by VA, and that if an exam is scheduled, you must report for it.
When you might need more than one exam
VA describes three situations. If you claim more than one condition, you may need more than one exam, and VA says it will try to schedule them on the same day. For some conditions, you may need follow-up review exams, where the provider determines whether the severity of your condition has changed. And if you request a decision review of your claim decision, VA may ask you to have another exam. VA explains its decision review options here. VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/resources/choosing-a-decision-review-option/
How VA contacts you to schedule
You cannot start the scheduling process yourself; VA says it starts the process by contacting you. Staff at your local VA medical center or a VA contractor will mail you a letter with the date and time of your exam, and you may also get a phone call or email. VA says you may be asked for personal information and identification so they can confirm they are really communicating with you.
What VA asks of you: Make sure VA has your up-to-date address, phone number, and email address. VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/change-address/
Tip (not a VA requirement): VA’s claim exam page lists the caller ID each contractor uses, such as “VA EXAM-QTC” or “VA EXAM-VES.” If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and call the number printed on your exam letter.
Confirming your appointment
VA requirement: You’ll need to confirm your appointment. VA says to call the number on your exam letter to confirm the place and time, or confirm on the call if you are contacted by phone.
When you confirm, VA says you can request help with transportation or other accommodations. You can also request a male or female provider if you are having a reproductive health, breast, rectal, or mental health exam, or if your claim is related to a mental or physical health condition resulting from military sexual trauma (MST).
Rescheduling: the 48-hour and 5-day rules
VA requirement: To change the day or time, tell the VA medical center or contractor at least 48 hours in advance. VA notes that rescheduling may delay your claim.
Contractor exams: VA says you can only reschedule a contractor exam once per exam, and the new appointment must be within 5 days of the original. If you are not available during those 5 days, tell the contractor, then call VA so it can start the process again when you are available.
VA says to call the number on your appointment letter. When we checked VA’s claim exam page on October 30, 2026, it listed these contractor numbers: Loyal Source Government Services (LSGS) 833-832-7077 (TTY: 711); OptumServe Health Services (OSHS) 866-933-8387; Leidos QTC Health Services (QTC) 800-682-9701; and Veterans Evaluation Services (VES) 877-637-8387, or +1-713-255-5656 from outside the continental U.S. VA’s own line is 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. Numbers can change, so use the one on your letter first.
Where the exam happens
In some cases, VA may schedule a telehealth exam by phone or video from your home. For in-person exams, you go to your local VA medical center or a contractor location.
VA says contractors try to find a location within 50 miles of your home, or within 100 miles if you need a specialist provider (dental, eye, hearing, or mental health exams). If you live in an area with limited providers, the exam may be farther away, and VA says it will ask your permission before scheduling beyond those distances.
Travel pay for claim exams
VA says it will pay you back for travel to and from a claim exam at a VA medical center. VA’s travel pay page lists a scheduled claim exam among the reasons a Veteran may be eligible for travel reimbursement, and it says to plan to file within 30 days of the appointment, because claims filed after the 30-day limit are usually denied. Filing details, including VA’s Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS), are on VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/health-care/file-travel-pay-reimbursement
If your exam is with a contractor, the contractor pays you back for travel. VA says that if you don’t get a travel payment within 14 days after your appointment, call the contractor.
Not eligible (per VA): Active-duty service members and people who live outside the U.S. or the U.S. territories aren’t eligible for claim exam travel reimbursement.
What happens if you miss your exam
VA says missing your exam will delay your claim, and VA may decide your claim based on the existing evidence, which could affect your benefits.
If you missed it for what VA considers a good reason (good cause), VA says it will schedule a new appointment. VA’s examples include a death in your immediate family, homelessness, hospitalization, or a terminal illness.
You can explain a missed exam by calling VA at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711), uploading a letter with VA’s claim status tool, or mailing a letter to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Claim status tool on VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/claim-or-appeal-status/
What to bring and how to prepare
What VA says: You don’t need to bring anything. If you have new non-VA medical records, such as records from a recent surgery or illness, submit them before your appointment: upload them with the claim status tool, send them through your accredited representative or VSO, or mail them to your nearest VA regional office. The provider may review records you bring, but VA says the provider can’t submit them for you.
VA also asks you to arrive 15 minutes early, because the provider may cancel your exam if you are late. VA suggests comfortable clothes so you can move freely, and it offers a claim exam video series on YouTube, linked from its claim exam page.
Tips (not VA requirements): Jot down how each claimed condition affects your work, sleep, and daily activities, plus current medications and recent treatment, so you can answer clearly. Describe symptoms honestly and specifically, without minimizing or exaggerating. For a phone or video exam, test your connection and choose a private space.
What happens during the exam
VA says the provider may perform a basic physical exam, which may or may not include physical contact. They may ask questions based on the medical records in your claim file, including questions from the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for each condition you are claiming. They may also ask you to get tests, such as X-rays or blood work, at no cost to you. VA’s public DBQs show the kinds of information providers collect. VA: https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp
You can ask the provider about what is happening during the exam. But VA says the provider can’t answer questions about the claims process, tell you the results, or make decisions about your claim.
How long it takes: VA says an exam may take only 15 minutes or may last an hour or more, depending on your conditions and how much information VA needs. The provider also spends time outside the exam reviewing your records.
Who examines you
Either a VA provider or a VA contract provider does the exam. VA says its contractors follow the same medical training and licensing standards as VA providers and follow VA privacy policies.
You can also have your own provider examine you and complete a DBQ to submit to VA. VA says it won’t pay or reimburse any costs related to your own provider completing a DBQ.
Family members and caregivers
VA says you may want to plan for childcare, because sensitive topics may come up. If you want a caregiver or family member with you, discuss it with the provider, who may ask them to wait outside the exam room. For sensitive physical exams, you can ask for a medical assistant or chaperone who works with the provider to stay in the room.
After the exam
The provider writes an exam report and sends it to VA. VA reviews all the evidence in your file, makes a decision, and sends you a decision letter. VA says processing time depends on how complex your claim is and how many conditions you claimed; VA publishes a current average on VA.gov, which changes over time.
According to VA, that evidence includes medical records you’ve given VA, the exam report, results of any tests the provider ordered, statements from you and others, and your military medical and personnel records.
How to get a copy of your exam report
You can’t get results at the exam or directly from the provider. To request the final exam report, VA says to submit a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act Request, VA Form 20-10206, online through VA’s personal records request tool, by mail to the Evidence Intake Center address above, or in person at a VA regional office. VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/forms/20-10206/
If you had a bad experience
VA encourages you to report concerns right away: through the contractor’s customer satisfaction survey, a letter submitted to your claim file, a call to the contractor who scheduled your exam, a call to VA at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711), or your local VA regional office.
Quick recap: VA requirements vs. tips
VA requirements and rules: Confirm your appointment. Give at least 48 hours’ notice to reschedule; a contractor exam can be rescheduled only once, within 5 days of the original date. Arrive 15 minutes early. Submit new non-VA records before the exam. If you miss an exam, explain why; VA reschedules if it finds good cause.
Tips (not VA requirements): Keep your contact information current, note how each condition affects daily life, and keep your exam letter handy.
Related VetBenefitIQ guides
A claim exam comes after you have started the claims process. If you haven’t filed yet, start with Where to Start With a VA Disability Claim
Need time to gather records before filing? An Intent to File can set a potential effective date. See Intent to File a VA Claim
Statements from you and others are part of the evidence VA reviews alongside your exam report. See How a Buddy Statement Actually Helps
Sources
VA claim exam (C&P exam), VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/resources/va-claim-exam/ (page last updated August 15, 2025; content checked October 30, 2026)
File and manage travel reimbursement claims, VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/health-care/file-travel-pay-reimbursement (last updated July 24, 2026)
Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), VA: https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp
VA Form 20-10206 (FOIA or Privacy Act Request), VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/forms/20-10206/ (form revision August 2023; page last updated July 7, 2026)
Choosing a decision review option, VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/resources/choosing-a-decision-review-option/ (last updated October 28, 2026)
Check your claim or appeal status, VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/claim-or-appeal-status/
Change your address, VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/change-address/
Get help from an accredited representative or VSO, VA.gov: https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/
Rules, phone numbers, and procedures can change. Confirm current instructions on VA.gov or with an accredited representative before you act.
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or claims advice. Use of VetBenefitIQ tools or articles does not guarantee eligibility, approval, ratings, timelines, or any specific outcome. VetBenefitIQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We do not provide claims representation. For official guidance on your situation, contact VA or an accredited representative.