VA Compensation and Pension Exam – Do’s and Don’ts

SGT Mark Stevens — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:20:46 -0400

From: hadit.com

VA Compensation and Pension Exam – Do’s and Don’ts
Written by: Steve A. Neff MSW

The following is written from a VA Compensation and Pension Examiners perspective relating to psychiatric exams. It is a good guideline for all exams but I only did psych exams. I’ve been examined by the VA for multiple problems and this is my format when I go to be examined. A little common sense and clarity of thinking will go a long ways towards getting you what you are entitled.

Be on time or a little early.

Be polite. Yelling at the examiner for the injustices you perceive will do nothing but alienate him/her.

Curse at your risk. You can get your point across much better with proper English than you can with outlandish language.

This person is going to judge you. It’s his/her job and that is why you are there. To be adjudicated fairly. How would you like to be remembered? A skuzzy stereotypical veteran? Or a troubled one who is doing the best he/she can?

Do not talk about alcohol or drug related issues. You are not there to be assessed for those problems. You are there to be assessed for your psychiatric functioning as today relates to your service history. If the examiner asks about alcohol or drugs, politely remind them that you are not there for those issues, if you’ve ever had them, but for how impaired you are in your daily functioning. It’s best to avoid even talking about them.

Got a VA horror story? I can tell you a worse one. Don’t waste your time with how badly you believe you’ve been mistreated. The examiner only has a short time to figure out how impaired you are and they need the facts. In coherent, concise, sentences, and not rambling rants that lead no where.

Answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you don’t know say so.

This is nearly a no brainer but be honest. Don’t embellish your stories with fanciful tales. Just the facts please . Be able to document everything you tell the examiner. You may run into someone like me who checked stories out. If possible have letters from people you served with, unit diary copies of incidents that occurred during your time and space, and letters from family members. Family member letters usually don’t add a lot of weight to your case because families are there to support you and examiners understand that.

If sleep is a problem for you don’t sleep the night before. Go in on the ragged edge of tired out. But do your best not to be rude and insensitive. Payback in a VA Compensation and Pension exam is you lose. Not all examiners are that way but I have met a few that should not have been examiners.

When responding to examiners you need to pick the worst moment of time relating to that question. You need to be rated for the worst times you have had. I always picked a really bad day and related all of my answers to that day. The day I could not sleep, was anxious and startled easily, was grouchy to my wife and friends, felt like my heart was coming out of my chest, and nothing went right for me. That day should have been in the last 30-90 days. If it was a year ago you may not need to be having this exam. The questions you are being asked are on a script in front of the examiner. After examiners do this for a while they get a sense of what is in front of them. It’s not too difficult to determine when someone is flat-out lying and when they are struggling with memory. The above does not mean that examiners cannot be scammed because they can be

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 9 at 2015 3:28 PM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:28:59 -0400

This is great advice. Thanks for sharing brother.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 9 at 2015 6:33 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 18:33:23 -0400

Thanks for the reminder. This is good advice to share.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 9 at 2015 6:38 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 18:38:36 -0400

Thanks for the sage advice.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2016 4:45 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 04:45:19 -0400

What if the VA doesn't take ROM at all for your unfitting condition.

Response by Cpl Ropell Henderson made Oct 30 at 2016 12:39 PM

Cpl Ropell Henderson — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:39:58 -0400

if ur examiner tell u u defentinly have ptsd at end of the axzime is that a good sign i might get a rating he said he forward my info to reginoal

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made Feb 27 at 2018 1:35 PM

LTC Wayne Dandridge — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:35:56 -0500

Good advice for sure. Thanks. Sincerely, Larry

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2020 12:38 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 00:38:42 -0400

If people could do all the things you say why the "hell" would they be seeking treatment for mental health issues!!??

Response by Sgt James Biear made Apr 12 at 2023 6:16 AM

Sgt James Biear — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:16:10 -0400

Thank you for the information provided.