After a C&P exam, the examiner submits a report to the VA rater who then makes a decision on your claim. The decision is mailed to you as a Rating Decision. You generally have one year from the decision date to appeal if you disagree.
The Compensation & Pension exam is a fact-gathering step, not a decision. The examiner — typically a contracted physician or VA medical professional — completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) covering the severity of your claimed condition and, where relevant, an opinion on whether the condition is service-connected. The completed DBQ goes back to the regional office.
A VA rater reviews the DBQ together with your other evidence — service treatment records, private medical records, lay statements — and applies the rating criteria from 38 CFR Part 4 to assign a percentage. The rater also decides whether the condition meets the legal standard for service connection.
You will receive a Rating Decision in the mail (and on VA.gov). The decision sets out the disability percentage, the effective date, and the reasons supporting the decision. Read it carefully — even favourable decisions can hide issues with effective dates or other ratings.
If you disagree with all or part of the decision, you generally have one year from the date on the decision letter to file an appeal under the Appeals Modernisation Act framework: Supplemental Claim with new evidence, Higher-Level Review of the existing record, or a Board of Veterans' Appeals appeal.
Related questions
Can I get a copy of my C&P exam report?
Yes. You can request a copy from the VA. Reviewing the report can help you understand the decision and identify any issues to challenge on appeal.
What if I disagree with the examiner's findings?
You can submit additional evidence on appeal, including a private medical opinion, and challenge the C&P findings under the appropriate AMA appeal lane.
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Last reviewed by Cross & York Editorial Team.