C&P Exam Basics
What a VA Compensation & Pension exam is, in verifiable facts: who schedules it, what the examiner does and does not decide, how the results feed the rating decision, and what happens if you miss one — with every statement deferring to VA.gov as the source of record.
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Verified 2026-07-30 against VA.gov — Current Veterans disability compensation rates (effective 2025-12-01)
Estimate only — not legal, financial, or benefits advice. Only VA can determine your actual benefit.
Official source: VA.gov — the VA claim exam ↗
🎓 Understand this tool
What it is
What a Compensation & Pension exam is and where it fits in a VA claim: an evidence-gathering appointment, not a decision.
How it works
VA (or a contractor) schedules the exam after a claim is filed. The examiner completes standardized questionnaires about your conditions; the rating specialist later weighs those findings with all other evidence against the rating schedule.
Getting the most from it
- Attend — a missed exam can leave the claim decided on incomplete evidence.
- Describe symptoms as they actually are on your worst days, accurately and completely.
- Afterward, you can request a copy of the exam report through your VA records.
Reading your result
The examiner's courtesy or brevity signals nothing about the outcome; ratings come from the schedule applied to documented findings, not from the appointment's tone.
What it can't tell you
This page is factual orientation only. It offers no coaching on what to say, no medical-evidence services, and no outcome predictions — the exam is a medical-legal process owned entirely by VA.
Frequently asked questions
No. The examiner documents findings for the rating specialist, who applies the rating schedule to all the evidence. The exam is one input, not the decision.
Related calculators
How Ratings Work
The VA rating system in plain, verifiable language: how each condition gets a percentage from the rating schedule, how multiple ratings combine under 38 CFR 4.25, what the bilateral factor is, and why the final number rounds to the nearest 10 — with every rule linked to its official source.
VA Combined Rating
Combine multiple VA disability ratings the way the VA actually does it: largest first against remaining capacity, with the bilateral factor for paired left/right limb conditions and final rounding to the nearest 10. Watch every step of the math, then see the 2026 monthly amount for your dependent situation.
COLA Watch — get the new pay tables and rates the week they drop
One email when the numbers change. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.