C&P Exams:
Show Up, Speak Up, Follow Up

Your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is often where a VA claim is won or lost. This guide covers every step: who does C&P exams, how to get ready, and when and how to reschedule safely. It also explains what to do if the examiner doesn't show up or your exam is by video or on a weekend, and how to describe your worst days and flare-ups. After the exam, it shows how to get your exam report, spot an inadequate exam (like skipped range-of-motion tests), add a witness statement, and challenge a bad exam. Download our free C&P Exam Guide and Trackers (PDF). It's a full guide with examples by condition, plus 12 printable logs: a daily symptom log, flare-up tracker, headache log, sleep and mental health log, medication tracker, exam prep sheet, after-exam notes and more. Each step links to VA's official sources.