C&P Exam — Compensation and Pension Exam
A medical examination ordered by the VA to evaluate the nature and severity of a veteran's claimed disability.
Official source: va.gov
A C&P exam, or Compensation & Pension exam, is a medical check-up the VA asks you to go to. Its main goal is to figure out how bad your health problem is and if it's connected to your military service. This helps the VA decide on your disability rating and how much money you might get.
The exam applies to any veteran who has filed a claim for a service-connected disability. During the exam, a doctor or other medical expert will look at your body, ask you questions, and review your medical records. They will compare your symptoms and how they affect your life to the VA's rules for rating disabilities, called the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).
It's super important to go to your scheduled C&P exam. If you miss it without good reason and don't reschedule, the VA might say no to your claim. You can ask for a copy of the exam results to see what the doctor wrote by requesting it through your C-File. This file holds all your VA records.
In real life
- A veteran has a C&P exam to see if their knee pain is from their time in the service.
- Someone gets a C&P exam to help the VA decide their disability rating for hearing loss.
- A C&P exam helps the VA understand how a veteran's back injury affects them every day.
Also known as
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Frequently asked questions about C&P Exam
What is Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P Exam)?+
A medical examination ordered by the VA to evaluate the nature and severity of a veteran's claimed disability, used to establish or deny service connection and assign a disability rating. You are required to attend a scheduled C&P exam; missing it without rescheduling can result in a denial.
Who qualifies for C&P Exam?+
Veterans (and in some cases their dependents or survivors) who meet the program's specific service, discharge, and eligibility rules. Use the BK Calculator and Filing Success Score to check your situation.
How do I apply for C&P Exam?+
Apply at va.gov (search for the program by name) or work with a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through your state VA office.
Where can I get help?+
Use BenefitKarma's free Benefit Eligibility Screener to see what VA benefits you may have missed, or talk with a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through your state VA office.
Source: va.gov