Updated for 2025 — Written by the founder of HadIt.com Veterans
🗣️ “That exam report carried more weight than years of treatment records.”
— Tbird, Navy Veteran
📋 What Is a VA C&P Exam?
This isn’t a treatment appointment. The VA Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is a medical evaluation to:- Confirm your diagnosis
- Determine if it’s service-connected
- Document how severe it is for rating purposes
📋 What to Expect During the Exam
Depending on what’s being evaluated:- Mental health: Mood, memory, suicidal thoughts
- Musculoskeletal: Pain, movement, range
- PTSD/MST: Trauma, triggers, daily impact
- Aid & Attendance: Bathing, dressing, safety
- Review your C-file
- Ask about symptoms and limitations
- Observe you from the moment you enter
📝 How to Prepare
The exam starts before you sit with the doctor.When I went for one of mine, I didn’t realize until I saw my report that I had rearranged chairs in the waiting room. The doctor noted I had barricaded myself in. I hadn’t even noticed I did it. But it made the report.
🦆 A Word About Ducky
Just like Ducky here — you might look calm and put-together on the surface, but underneath, you’re paddling like hell to keep it together. Most of us are.
The C&P exam is the one place you don’t have to hide that struggle. That’s where you show them the paddling.
The C&P exam is the one place you don’t have to hide that struggle. That’s where you show them the paddling.
✅ VA C&P Exam Prep Checklist
Before the exam:- Review your claim file
- Keep a symptom journal
- Bring updated med records and medication list
- Be ready to describe your worst days
🏥 During the Exam
I once had a DRO hearing. I was shaking so bad, I couldn’t drive. I called a cab. When I met with my VSO, I was still shaking. He told the DRO, “She couldn’t drive here.” That went into the file. I had a lot of documentation — and I won that one.- Be honest — don’t downplay
- Describe how symptoms affect daily life
- Speak up if you don’t understand something
📄 After the Exam
- You won’t get results on the spot
- The examiner writes a report, not a rating
- You can request your exam copy from MyHealtheVet
📌 Side Note: Documentation Matters
At my SSDI exam, the examiner had three piles of files. “These are all yours,” she said. “You’ve been dealing with this a long time.” She couldn’t guarantee approval, but said I probably wouldn’t have a problem — and I didn’t. Paper trails matter. They speak when you can’t.⚖️ Know Your Rights
If your C&P exam felt rushed, dismissive, or incorrect:- Write down what happened after the exam
- Submit a VA Form 21-4138
- You can request a re-exam or file a Higher-Level Review
🔗 Helpful Resources
The exam may last an hour — but its impact can last a lifetime. Go in prepared.
