After C&P exam how long for decision, the steps that follow
After your C&P exam, how long until a decision is one of the most common questions veterans ask. The honest answer is that it varies. It depends on your claim, on whether VA needs more evidence, and on VA's workload at the time. This guide walks through what happens after a compensation and pension exam, where to check your status, what to do if the exam was not adequate, and how to read your decision letter when it arrives.
Important note
This guide is general information about the VA claim process and is not medical or legal advice. MilitaryMedicine is an independent service and is not affiliated with the VA or the Department of Defense. For your claim status and current processing times, check VA.gov.
The examiner sends the report
After the exam, the VA examiner or the VA-contracted examiner completes the report, usually a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) and any medical opinion VA asked for. The report goes to the claims processor who handles your file. You can later request a copy of your exam report, and in many cases it shows up in your records online. Our va c&p exam guide explains what the exam covers.
Evidence gathering continues
Your claim may stay in the evidence gathering phase for a while after the exam. VA may still be waiting for other records, such as service treatment records, private medical records or another exam for a different condition. If VA finds that something is missing or unclear, it may ask the examiner for more information or schedule a new exam.
- Records from federal agencies, such as service records
- Private records you told VA about
- Additional exams for other conditions on the same claim
- Clarification from the examiner
Review and preparation for decision
When VA has the evidence it needs, a rater reviews the file and proposes a decision. The rater compares the evidence with the rating schedule in 38 CFR Part 4 and decides service connection and the rating for each condition. If you have more than one condition, the ratings are combined with the whole person method in 38 CFR 4.25. A second review may follow before the decision is final.
The decision letter arrives
The claim then moves to preparation for notification. VA assembles the decision packet and sends you a decision letter by mail. It also shows up online. The letter lists each condition, whether it is service connected, the rating and the effective date, and it explains the reasons. If you are owed back pay, it is paid after the decision. Keep the letter in a safe place, because its date starts the clock for any review you may want to request. You generally have one year from that date to ask for a higher-level review or a Board appeal.
Why timing varies and how to check your status
VA does not process every claim on the same schedule. A claim with one condition and complete records may move faster than a claim with many conditions, missing records or extra exams. VA publishes current average processing times on VA.gov, and those numbers change. To check your own claim, sign in on VA.gov and open your claim status, or call VA. The status page shows which phase your claim is in and whether VA needs anything from you.
- Check your claim status on VA.gov after you sign in
- Call VA if the status page is unclear
- Respond quickly if VA asks for more evidence
- Keep your address and contact details current with VA
What if the exam was not adequate
Sometimes an exam report is incomplete. The examiner may not have reviewed your records, may have missed a condition, may not have answered the question VA asked, or may have given an opinion without reasons. VA may not rely on an inadequate exam. If you think your exam was inadequate, you can tell VA in writing while the claim is still open and explain why. You can also send a private medical opinion that addresses the gaps. An accredited representative can help you spot these problems.
- The examiner did not review your claims file
- Key symptoms or flare-ups were not recorded
- The opinion has a conclusion but no reasons
- A condition you claimed was not examined
Next steps after your decision letter
Read the letter carefully, condition by condition. Check the ratings, the effective dates and the reasons. If you agree, you can use the va combined rating calculator and our va math guide to confirm how the ratings combine. If you disagree, you have review options, and each has time limits.
- Supplemental claim: send new and relevant evidence
- Higher-level review: a more senior reviewer looks at the same evidence
- Board appeal: a Veterans Law Judge reviews the decision
Our va appeals attorney guide explains each option and when a representative can help. If your claim involves PTSD, our va rating for ptsd guide explains how the levels work.
Getting help after a decision
Accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) help with claims and reviews at no cost. Accredited attorneys and claims agents generally may not charge you before VA issues an initial decision on a claim (38 CFR 14.636). After that, they may charge a fee, and a fee of 20 percent or less of past-due benefits is presumed reasonable.