A Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination is one piece of evidence the VA rating activity uses to decide a claim, but the examiner does not make the final decision. Regardless of how friendly, confident, or brief an examiner is, or what they say out loud during the appointment, the only thing that legally matters is what ends up written in the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) and medical opinion that gets submitted to the file. A rater at the Veterans Benefits Administration reviews that report, along with service treatment records, VA treatment records, and any lay statements, before issuing a decision. Positive verbal comments during the exam are not binding and have no legal weight.
Regarding range of motion (ROM) testing specifically, 38 CFR Part 4 and the relevant DBQ protocols for musculoskeletal conditions like flat feet (pes planus) and ankle conditions generally call for measured ROM, including notation of painful motion, functional loss, and any additional limitation with repetition. If an examiner skips this testing, it does not automatically help or hurt the claim, but it can matter if the written report lacks the objective findings needed to support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes (for example, 5276 for flat feet or 5271 for limited ankle motion). An incomplete exam can sometimes work against a veteran if the file lacks the detail needed to justify a higher percentage, even when the underlying condition is service-connected.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →Secondary conditions, such as ankles, knees, hips, or back problems attributed to an altered gait from flat feet, still require a medical nexus opinion explicitly linking them to the already service-connected condition. An examiner stating an intention to write a favorable report is a good sign, but it is not a guarantee, since the rater can still weigh the evidence differently, request clarification, or order a new exam if the report is inconsistent or insufficient.
Veterans who feel an exam was incomplete, especially missing ROM measurements on a joint condition, can request their C&P exam report through a records request or review it once available in the claims file, and if the resulting rating decision seems inconsistent with the exam findings, they can file a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) with new evidence or a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) to challenge the decision. The concrete next step is to wait for the written DBQ and rating decision, then compare the documented findings against the regulations for each claimed condition before deciding whether an appeal or supplemental claim is needed.
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