VA.gov | Veterans Affairs (2024)

FAQs

What not to say at a VA C&P exam? ›

Evans said it's vital to remember that you're attending a medical exam, not a social event. “View your entire conversation as something that will affect your claim,” he said. That means, even if you know the medical professional, don't make small talk or say you're “fine” or “having a good day.”

And one of these must be true:

You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or. You have 2 or more service-connected disabilities, with at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more.

Shows the Impact: Explain how your disability impacts your life beyond just medical symptoms. Discuss day-to-day life, changes in your routines, challenges in physical and mental wellbeing, how it impacts your social relationships, etc. It's important to really emphasize to the VA how your life has been affected.

It's not uncommon for veterans to experience strong emotions, such as crying during a C&P exam, especially when discussing traumatic events or mental health issues. This is a natural response and can be an important part of conveying the impact of your condition to the examiner.

No, there aren't any VA disability claims that cannot be proven. In fact, all VA claims must be proven on an “at least as likely as not” basis. If you have no evidence (no proof), your VA claim will be denied. Also, you must first ensure you're even eligible for VA disability benefits under the law.

What is the VA Disability 100% Rule? The VA disability 100 percent rule states that if a veteran is assigned a 100 percent rating, the rating cannot be reduced unless material evidence indicates that the veteran's service-connected condition has significantly improved.

To receive a rating of 100 percent, there must be sufficient evidence to support the severity of the service-connected condition. This can come from medical documentation as well as testimony from friends, family, co-workers, and others who can attest to the seriousness of the disability.

The VA 5-year rule protects your disability claim by not allowing the VA to reduce your disability rating unless your condition has significantly improved over time. This rule pertains to a rating that has been in effect for five years or longer. After a five-year period, the rating is considered a stabilized rating.

What gives you highest VA disability? ›

The rating is determined after the VA examines the evidence submitted in the service member's claim for benefits. According to the most recent VA Annual Benefits Report, the top VA disability claims are: Tinnitus – A ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking or hissing in one or both ears.

A VA rater probably won't want to read more than 3 to 5 paragraphs, so you should aim to limit it to that length. Your Statement in Support of Claim should contain four sections: Name of the current disability that you are claiming (note that you can write a different VA disability statement for each condition);

E.g. “I attended my GP with symptoms of suspected [disability] on [date]. I was referred to a specialist consultant on [date] and after further tests was diagnosed with [disability] on [date].”

So, if you are writing a buddy statement for a family member with PTSD, you might write, “My brother, [Veteran], currently shows signs of anger issues, anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. He has angry outbursts about three times per week.” Be sure to only include facts like this if you know that they're true.

Be straightforward and honest with your answers to questions. Note if your conditions are interfering with your work or home life. If you are limited by pain, anxiety or other issues not accurately able to be measured at the appointment, be sure to let the examiner know.

Limit the Information You Provide.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your answers around 20 seconds or less. The reason for this is that the information offered in a lengthy explanation is often lost. Losing or not being able to glean the specific facts they need to make a decision can result in a denial of your claim.

You must include supporting evidence, such as doctor's notes or medical test results, that shows your disability prevents you from holding down a steady job. You can make your TDIU claim simultaneously with your initial disability claim or submit it later.