As of May 2024, you can expect to get a VA rating decision within 90-120 calendar days after your final VA C&P exam.
Although you are likely to be scheduled for a C&P exam within the first 30 calendar days after submitting your claim, the rating process after the exam is currently the longest part of the VA claim process.
It’s important to note that this timeline can vary based on several factors including:
- Claim Complexity: More complex initial claims can take longer to process than a simple increase claim.
- C&P Examiner’s Documentation: The accuracy and completeness of the C&P examiner’s documentation can impact the ability of the VA rater to review and rate your claim.
- VBA Regional Office Workload: The current workload and speed of the VA Raters at the VBA Regional Office handling your claim can cause delays. Check the latest VA claims backlog data by state.
- Additional Evidence Requests: If the VA needs more evidence or clarification, this can extend the timeline. For example, sometimes there’s a conflict between the veteran’s submitted evidence and the C&P exam results.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- C&P Exam Timeline: While you are typically scheduled for a C&P exam within the first 2-4 weeks after submitting your VA claim, the rating process after completion of the exam is currently the most time-consuming part of the VA claim process. Be patient!
- VA Rating Decision After C&P Exam: Typically, you can expect to get a VA rating decision within 90-120 calendar days after your final C&P exam, though this can vary.
- Factors Delaying VA Claims: Common delays include claim complexity, insufficient or incomplete evidence, detailed documentation needs from C&P exams, high workload at VBA regional offices (to include speed of the VA Raters), and additional evidence requests from the VA.
- Proactive Support: You can help the VA approve your claim faster by providing all necessary evidence upfront. At VA Claims Insider, we teach veterans the “SEM Method” (Strategy + Education + Medical Evidence), ensuring you get the VA rating you deserve faster.
How Long After C&P Exam for Decision?
Right now, you can expect to receive a VA rating decision within 90-120 calendar days after completing your last C&P exam.
If it’s been longer than 120 calendar days, we recommend you call the VA hotline at 1-800-827-1000 and speak to a VA representative about your VA claim status.
Note: The VA’s published timeline for claims processing from submission to rating decision is around 150 calendar days for both fully developed claims and standard claims.
What Factors Can Delay a VA Disability Claim?
Receiving a timely VA rating decision is crucial for veterans seeking their rightfully earned VA benefits.
Several factors can delay the processing of a VA claim:
Claim Complexity
Multiple Conditions: Claims involving multiple conditions or secondary conditions can take longer to review and decide.
Complex Medical Issues: Conditions requiring extensive medical evidence or specialist opinions can also slow down the process.
Incomplete or Insufficient Evidence
Missing Documents: Incomplete medical records or lack of necessary documentation can delay the claim.
Inadequate Evidence: Insufficient evidence to support the claim may lead to additional requests from the VA, prolonging the process.
Accuracy and Completeness of C&P Exam Results
Detailed Documentation: The thoroughness and clarity of the C&P examiner’s report can impact the speed of the decision.
Additional Exams: If the initial C&P exam is deemed insufficient, additional exams may be required, causing delays. A veteran might get a second or third exam, which can significantly impact the rating timeline.
VBA Regional Office Workload
High Volume of Claims: VBA regional offices with a high volume of claims or a significant backlog may take longer to process individual claims. How quickly a VA Rater can review and rate claims also impacts the claim processing timelines.
Staffing Levels: Understaffed offices can experience delays in processing times. This has been a big problem for the VA since 2020.
Additional Evidence Requests
Clarification Needed: Requests for additional evidence or clarification can extend the timeline as the VA waits for the necessary information.
Veteran Response Time: Delays in responding to VA requests for additional information can further slow down the process.
Why are VA Claims Taking So Long Right Now?
There are the four main reasons why the VA is taking so long to decide your VA claim:
Sharp Rise in VA Claim Submissions
More claims than ever are being submitted to the VA, in particular, a sharp rise in PACT Act related claims for benefits.
For example, as of May 2024, there are 949,253 pending VA claims (submitted, but not decided), which is the highest number in a decade.
Note: Pending claims include VA disability compensation and pension claims that have been received by the VA and require development and a decision by a VA claims processor.
VBA Staffing Problems
The Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) is having trouble recruiting and retaining quality talent, especially among the VSRs and RVSRs (key personnel who adjudicate VA claims for benefits).
Even though the VA is making progress, their staffing issues have been a problem since 2020.
VBA Broken Systems and Outdated Technology
The VBA’s systems are broken and outdated, especially the Veteran Benefits Management System (VBMS), which is the primary system VA personnel use to review and adjudicate your disability claim.
In addition, the exam requesting system is outdated and does not properly send the correct exam information to the private C&P exam companies, which causes a delay in conducting adequate exams for rating purposes.
Finally, the cloud system that ties to tracked VA claim items is not working properly, which causes claims that should be sent to reviewers to get stuck in the cloud (station 499).
VSRs and RVSRs are Overdeveloping Claims
We have seen a spike in VSRs and RVSRs ordering C&P exams for veterans who have submitted a Fully Developed Claim with a privately prepared DBQ.
This is called “overdevelopment” of a VA claim and shouldn’t be happening.
Overdevelopment bogs down the VA system when in reality, the RVSR can make a rating decision on the submitted DBQ alone without ordering a separate C&P exam.
Stop snap-ordering C&P exams when they aren’t needed!
How to Speed Up Your VA Disability Claim
You can help the VA help you get your VA claim approved faster, regardless of the claims backlog!
The VA Rater is not out to deny your claim — it’s on you to give the VA all the evidence the VA Rater needs to make a more accurate rating decision faster.
At VA Claims Insider, we teach veterans the “SEM Method,” which stands for Strategy + Education + Medical Evidence = VA Rating You Deserve Faster (Regardless of the VA Claims Backlog)
#1. Strategy:
Your VA claim Strategy should focus on:
- 1-3 disability conditions per 1 claim only – simple, simple, simple, think less is more!
- Fully Developed Claims (FDCs) only and file it online at VA.gov – standard claims take longer.
- High-Value claims only (if eligible).
- Mental health claims, simple increase claims, and/or secondary claims (if eligible)
#2. Education:
Your VA claim Education should focus on:
- High-Value VA disability claims, which are claims that have a high likelihood of being rated at 30% or higher on their own.
- C&P exam preparation so you can crush your C&P exam and get the rating you deserve, faster.
#3. Medical Evidence:
Your VA claim Medical Evidence should focus on:
- Mental health evaluation and Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) is preferred, if and only if, you have a mental health condition.
- Medical evaluations to include first-time Medical Dx, Nexus Letters, and/or VA DBQs for high value claims only.
Wondering if you should get a Nexus Letter?
If you’ve already submitted your VA claim, you can call 1-800-827-1000 to check status.
Are You Stuck, Frustrated, and Underrated? WATCH THIS:
- VA Claims Insider is the #1 most trusted name in VA disability claims.
- 25,000+ disabled veterans served in our membership programs since 2016.
- 30% average VA rating increase for veterans who complete our #1 rated Elite program.
- Employs 215 teammates; comprised of 74 veterans and 16 military spouses.
- 4.7/5.0 average rating out of 4,500+ total reviews; over 4,000 5-star reviews.
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
