VA Disability Advocate (VADA): VA Disability Advocate - Things You Know About Your C&P Exam Before You Attend.

VA Disability Advocate - Things to Know About your C&P Exam

The purpose of the C&P Exam is NOT to convince the doctor that your injury is service-connected but to let him or her conduct their exam and draw their conclusion. In the end, your current disability either is or is not related to military service. Regardless of what the doctor says, what the VA rater says, the limitations or symptoms either are or are not, related to your time in service.

A doctor’s opinion can’t change what is or is not. It’s just another piece of the puzzle of proof, and the C&P Exam is just another piece of that puzzle. It is not the only piece – but if we view it as such, we often make our claims harder than they have to be. And we certainly make them more stressful. The amount of time the examiner spends with you during your exam depends on what conditions you claimed and if VA needs more information to make a decision. The length of your visit could be very short or last an hour or more.

7 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT C&P EXAMS

THEY ARE MANDATORY: If there is one thing that I would like to remind all Veterans of is the importance of attending a C&P Exam. I have seen far too many Vets get denied because they simply didn’t attend their exam. Find any way possible to attend this exam.
You will likely have more than one: Not only will you have an exam for each condition you file for but once the appeals process starts, you will likely have to go back again for the same condition. Often times Veterans have to have a C&P at every step in the process.
You’re probably going to be upset after the exam. We work with Veterans all of the time, and we have been doing this for a while, so we know what happens at the exams. Frequently we hear stories from our clients about how the doctor was rude, didn’t fully examine We work with Veterans all of the time, and we have been doing this for a while, so we know what happens at the exams. Frequently we hear stories from our clients about how the doctor was rude, didn’t fully examine them or was just plain not interested in what you have to say. Not all VA examiners are like this, but some are, and that is why we are here. Because…
We can get you an Independent Exam to combat what the VA says: We have a network of doctors set up that can independently evaluate you and give their honest medical opinion regarding your claims. This is in turn submitted to the VA to support your claim.
You may not even be there: On occasion, your exam will simply consist of a doctor reviewing your files. This is often referred to as a “chart review.” While it is not always an ideal situation, it does not mean that you will get denied. Sometimes in-person exams are not necessary.
It may not be at the VA: it’s possible to have a C&P exam at a non-VA location. For instance, the Winston Salem VA will occasionally contract their exams out to an organization called QTC. These are treated just like a regular C&P except they are just performed elsewhere.
You may not even know about the exam: I’ve spoken to Veterans who have received notices in the mail to attend an exam a week after the appointment. If this occurs, or if you can’t attend on the date assigned, you can make arrangements to reschedule your exam.