When applying for disability benefits, every Veteran has to submit to a C&P examination, during which a contracted healthcare provider will examine your injuries or conditions to help determine what disability rating you’ll receive. Preparing for your C&P exam could help your disabilities be rated properly to maximize your disability compensation.
As of a few years ago, the VA has outsourced all compensation and pension examinations rather than having in-house C&P exams in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, you will now contract with a private medical professional for your C&P exams going forward.
However, this does not change how you should prepare for a C&P examination. Let’s look at some things you can do to prep for your exam, so you feel comfortable and maximize your chances of getting the disability rating you deserve.
You don’t need to worry about what clothes you wear. Just make sure you’re comfortable and have as much mobility as possible, depending on your potential disabilities or injuries.
It may be helpful to bring your spouse with you to your C&P exam. Your spouse can provide important eyewitness evidence and back up your claims about the severity of your symptoms or how they impact your day-to-day life.
You’ll also want to bring any relevant medical records, as well as assistive devices, such as canes, hearing aids, orthotic shoes, and the like. Your medical examiner might want to see how they are used or worn and ask you questions about why they are needed.
Again, this can support your claims about your symptoms or conditions and ensure you receive an accurate disability rating.
Take some time to review the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). This breaks down the questions the examiners are likely to ask. If you review these questions, you can anticipate them and prepare your answers, so you offer thorough, comprehensive evidence displaying your condition or disabilities.
Remember, it doesn’t pay to be static or to downplay or minimize your symptoms. Instead, be utterly honest about your pain, psychological symptoms, lack of abilities, and other effects. The more honest you are, the more accurate your disability rating will be.
If you sign up for a remote C&P exam using videoconferencing software and a webcam, the same tips above apply. Bring your spouse to the meeting, read the questions ahead of time, and be honest about everything you experience.
Preparing for a C&P can be time-consuming and nerve-racking, but you don’t have to do it alone. Berry Law can help you get the preparation you need to maximize your disability rating and provide the VA with the most accurate information possible through your C&P exam.
Contact us today to learn more and to receive a free consultation.
Sources:
Private Medical Evidence – Compensation | VA.gov
VA Claim Exam (C&P Exam) | Veterans Affairs
VA works to complete compensation & pension exams postponed due to the pandemic | VA News
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