VA C&P Exams (Compensation and Pension)

Claim Exam Information

The VA orders compensation and pension exams if they need more information to decide your claim.

During Step 3 of their claim process, they may ask you to have an exam. They may request this to help determine if a claimed disability is related to your service or to determine the severity of your disability.

Not every claim requires an exam. It depends on what medical evidence is already in your file and what you included with your application. If they ask you to have an exam, they’ll schedule your appointment at one of their facilities or with one of their contracted medical examiners.

Examinations with Medical Disability Examination Contractors

A contractor will contact you by email or phone to schedule your appointment. If they can’t reach you in one of these ways, they’ll schedule your appointment and mail you the details about it.

The VA uses several contractors to provide claim exams:

  • Loyal Source Government Services, customer service number 833-832-7077.
  • OptumServe Health Services, customer service number 866-933-8387 (TTY: 711).
  • Leidos QTC Health Services, customer service number 800-682-9701.
  • Veterans Evaluation Services, customer service number 877-637-8387. If you’re outside the continental U.S., customer service number +1-713-255-5656.

Note: The contractor list here isn’t an official recommendation or endorsement. If they determine that you need an exam, they’ll assign a contractor to you based on location and availability. You can’t request a specific contractor.

Will I be contacted by email during my claims process?

During the claims process, the VA may contact you through an email notification system called govDelivery. They’ll email you to tell you in advance about phone calls and text messages you’ll get from contractors about your disability exam.

This email informs you that one of their contractors will contact you to schedule an exam. To receive email notifications from the VA, please provide a valid email address on your claim form or call 1-800-827-1000.

If you think the VA shouldn’t have contacted you, or you would like to confirm that you need to have a claim exam, please call 1-800-827-1000. You can also contact your nearest regional office.