A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) completed during a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam becomes part of your claims file, and you have a right to obtain a copy of it. The most common way is through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act request, since your C-file is protected health and claims information that the VA will only release through a formal request process rather than handing it over automatically.
There are a few ways to request it. You can submit a request online through the VA's FOIA portal, mail or fax a written request to the VA regional office handling your claim, or in some cases request it in person at a regional office if that office offers walk-in or scheduled appointments for record requests. Requirements and turnaround times vary significantly by regional office, so what works quickly at one location may take longer at another. If you go in person, be prepared to fill out a written request form on the spot and provide identifying information such as your full name, VA file number or Social Security number, and the approximate date of the exam.
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 →You can also request your complete claims file (C-file) rather than just the DBQ, which will include the DBQ along with exam notes, rating decisions, and other evidence. This is done using a Privacy Act/FOIA request, and many veterans do this before filing a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review so they know exactly what evidence the rater considered.
If the exam was done by a contracted examiner (such as through QTC, LHI, or similar vendors) rather than VA staff directly, the DBQ still becomes part of your VA claims file once submitted, so the same request process applies regardless of who performed the exam.
Keep in mind that processing times, whether in-person requests are accepted, and how quickly staff can pull the document depend entirely on the specific regional office and current workload, so one veteran's fast experience is not a guarantee of the same outcome elsewhere.
If you need your DBQ, start by submitting a written FOIA or Privacy Act request for your C-file or the specific exam report, and if your regional office allows in-person appointments for record requests, that route may get you a faster answer than mail alone.
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