What Happens After a C&P Exam for PTSD or TBI?

Servicemembers in the armed forces can sustain various neurological injuries or mental trauma in the course of their duty. These injuries can lead to long-term or permanent disabilities that may qualify veterans for disability benefits. When a veteran applies for VA disability benefits for a service-connected traumatic brain injury or service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, the VA may ask the veteran to undergo a compensation and pension (C&P) examination. But what happens after the veteran attends a C&P exam?

The VA Reviews the Exam Report

After a veteran sits for a C&P exam, the examiner will complete a disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) to document the findings they made during the exam. The examiner will submit the DBQ to the VA claims reviewer. The examiner who conducts the C&P exam does not assign a disability rating for a veteran’s PTSD or TBI in the DBQ. Instead, the VA claims reviewer uses the examiner’s findings and medical opinions as documented in the DBQ to determine the disability rating for the veteran’s condition. 

The VA Decision-Making Process

When the claims reviewer receives the DBQ, they will compare the examiner’s medical findings to the rating criteria listed in the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). For TBIs, the VASRD rates TBIs based on facets of cognitive impairment and other residuals, such as memory, attention, concentration, executive functioning, judgment, social interaction, orientation, motor activity, visual-spatial orientation, neurobehavioral effects, and communication. For PTSD, the VASRD rates conditions based on the degree of occupational and social impairment caused by a veteran’s PTSD. 

How Long Does It Take to Get a Decision?

In most cases, it takes several weeks to a few months to receive a disability rating decision after sitting for a C&P exam. Although the VA will not automatically provide you with a copy of the examiner’s DBQ, you may request one from the VA. You can check the status of your disability benefits application on the VA’s website. Complex cases involving unique symptoms of TBIs or PTSD may increase the time it takes for the VA claims reviewer to determine a disability rating for a veteran’s condition. 

Receiving Your VA Rating Decision

When the VA claims reviewer assigns a disability rating to your PTSD or TBI, you will receive a decision letter from the VA notifying you of the decision on your disability benefits claim. The decision letter will state whether the claims reviewer found service connection for your TBI or PTSD, the disability rating assigned to your condition(s), the effective date of your disability, and the financial payments and benefits you will receive due to your disability rating. Your monthly compensation from VA disability will depend on your disability rating and the number of dependents in your household.

What If You Disagree with the Decision?

If you disagree with the VA’s disability rating decision after a C&P exam, you can pursue an administrative appeal of the determination. The VA offers three options for challenging a disability rating decision, including higher-level review by a more senior claims reviewer, supplemental claims that allow you to submit additional information, and a hearing before the Board of Veterans Appeals. Before appealing a decision, you should review the VA’s decision letter carefully to understand the reasons for the claims reviewer’s determination of your disability rating. 

Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today

When you file a VA disability benefits claim for service-connected PTSD or traumatic brain injuries, you may have to attend a C&P exam as part of the application process. Contact Veterans Benefits Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a VA disability attorney to learn more about what to expect after you undergo a C&P exam for a PTSD or TBI-related VA disability claim.