The Complete Guide to C&P Exams: What to Say and What NOT to Say

What Is a C&P Exam and Why It Determines Your Rating

A Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is a medical evaluation the VA schedules to assess the current severity of your claimed condition. It is not a treatment appointment. The examiner's job is to generate a report that a VA rater will use to assign your disability percentage. That percentage directly determines your monthly tax-free compensation, your eligibility for additional benefits like TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability), and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

The C&P exam is typically conducted by a VA physician, a contract examiner from companies like VES (Veterans Evaluation Services) or QTC, or occasionally a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The exam may last anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on the complexity of your conditions. Everything you say during this exam is documented in the examiner's report, and that report is the single most influential piece of evidence in your claim.

Understand This: The C&P examiner is not your advocate. They are a neutral evaluator documenting your condition. It is your job to ensure they have the complete and accurate picture of how your condition affects your life.

How to Prepare Before Your Exam

Preparation is the difference between veterans who get the rating they deserve and veterans who get underrated. Start preparing at least two weeks before your scheduled exam.

Review Your Diagnostic Code Criteria

Every VA disability is rated under a specific diagnostic code in 38 CFR Part 4. Each code has defined criteria for each rating level (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%). Look up your condition's diagnostic code and read the criteria for each level. Your goal is to clearly communicate symptoms that match the criteria for the rating level that reflects your actual condition.

Keep a Symptom Journal

For at least two weeks before your exam, write down your symptoms every day. Note what happened, how severe it was on a scale of 1-10, how long it lasted, and what you could not do because of it. Pay special attention to flare-ups and bad days. This journal gives you specific, dated examples to reference during your exam.

Prepare Written Notes

Write down every symptom you experience, how often each one occurs, and specific examples of how each symptom limits your daily functioning. Organize your notes by topic so you can reference them quickly during the exam. There is absolutely no rule against bringing notes to a C&P exam, and it demonstrates thoroughness.

Gather Supporting Documents

Bring copies of recent medical records, any buddy statements you have collected, your symptom journal, and a list of all medications you take with their side effects. You do not need to formally submit these at the exam, but having them on hand helps you answer questions accurately.

What to Say During Your Exam

When the examiner asks you questions, your answers should be honest, specific, and focused on your worst days. Here are the principles that lead to accurate ratings:

• Describe your worst days in detail. The VA rates you based on the full spectrum of your condition, including flare-ups. If your worst days involve being bedridden, unable to work, or experiencing severe symptoms, say so with specific examples. "On my worst days, my back pain is so severe I cannot get out of bed for hours. This happens two to three times per month and each episode lasts one to two days."
• Use functional language. Instead of saying "my knee hurts," say "I cannot walk more than 200 yards without stopping. I cannot climb stairs without holding the railing. I cannot kneel to play with my children. I have to sit down after standing for 10 minutes." Functional limitations are what drive ratings.
• Quantify everything. How many times per week does it happen? How many minutes can you do an activity before the pain forces you to stop? How many hours of sleep do you lose? How many days of work have you missed? Numbers are more powerful than adjectives.
• Mention all symptoms, even ones you think are minor. Tingling in your leg, occasional dizziness, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep patterns. These details can support both your primary claim and future secondary claims.
• Describe the impact on employment. If your condition has caused you to miss work, reduce hours, change jobs, or stop working entirely, state that clearly with dates and details. Occupational impairment is a major factor in many rating criteria, especially for mental health conditions.

What NOT to Say During Your Exam

Certain phrases and behaviors can result in a lower rating even when your condition is severe. Avoid these at all costs:

• "I'm fine" or "I'm doing okay." This is the most damaging thing you can say. Military culture conditions you to minimize your suffering. In a C&P exam, minimizing equals a lower rating. If you are not fine, say so.
• "It's not that bad" or "I can manage." These phrases tell the examiner your condition is mild. If your condition disrupts your life, say that instead.
• "On a good day, I can..." Do not lead with your good days. The examiner will document your best-case scenario and your rating will reflect it. Lead with your worst days and your typical days.
• "I don't take medication because I don't like pills." This can be interpreted as your condition not being severe enough to require treatment. If you avoid medication, explain that you have tried it and experienced side effects, or that your doctor recommended alternatives.
• Do not joke or use sarcasm. Humor is a coping mechanism, but the examiner documents what you say at face value. A joking tone about your symptoms can be recorded as you not taking them seriously.
• Do not say "I was told to say..." This raises red flags about coaching and can undermine your credibility. You are describing your lived experience in your own words.

What the Examiner Is Looking For

Understanding the examiner's perspective helps you communicate effectively. The examiner is evaluating several things:

• Current severity of symptoms. Not what happened in service, but how bad your condition is right now.
• Functional impairment. How your condition limits your ability to perform daily activities, maintain employment, and engage in social relationships.
• Consistency. Whether your reported symptoms match what they observe during the exam and what your medical records show. Be honest and consistent.
• Range of motion (for musculoskeletal claims). The examiner will measure joint movement with a goniometer. Do not push through pain to demonstrate full range. Stop when the pain stops you.
• Flare-up impact. The examiner must document the additional functional loss during flare-ups, per the ruling in Sharp v. Shulkin (2017). If they do not ask, volunteer this information.

After the Exam

Immediately after your exam, write down everything you remember: what questions were asked, what you said, what the examiner tested, and approximately how long the exam lasted. If you remember something important you forgot to mention, you can submit a supplemental statement (VA Form 21-4138) to add it to your record. Request a copy of your C&P exam results once they are available and review them for accuracy. If the report contains errors or omissions, that is grounds for a new exam or a supplemental claim.

Ready to Get Your Rating Reviewed?

Proper C&P exam preparation can be the difference between a 30% and a 70% rating, which is over $600 per month in tax-free compensation. Use our free AI-powered claim analysis to understand what your examiner will be looking for based on your specific conditions, and use the VA Disability Calculator to see exactly what a higher rating means for your monthly compensation. Preparation is not optional. It is the most valuable thing you can do for your claim.

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