After a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, the examiner completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) and sends it directly to the VA or, if the exam was scheduled through a contracted vendor (such as LHI, QTC, or VES), to that vendor first, which then forwards it to the VA. The DBQ becomes part of your claims file (C-file) once it is received and processed, but it typically is not automatically sent to you.
You generally have two ways to obtain a copy. First, you can access your VA claims file directly. The fastest method is usually through the eBenefits or VA.gov portal, where you may be able to view or download uploaded documents under your claim status, though DBQs are not always visible there while a claim is still open. Second, you can submit a request for your Claims File (C-file) using VA Form 20-10206, or simply write a signed letter requesting a copy of your complete claims file, including any C&P exam reports. This is a request for your own records, not a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, so it is generally processed even while a claim is pending, since it falls under the Privacy Act rather than FOIA.
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 →Contacting the third-party exam vendor directly is usually not effective for obtaining the DBQ itself, since the vendor is contracted to conduct the exam and forward results to the VA, not to release copies of medical findings to veterans. Some vendors will confirm that the exam was completed and sent, but they are not the official custodian of your VA claims records once the DBQ is transmitted.
If you want the DBQ sooner rather than waiting for the rating decision, requesting your full claims file through the C-file request process is the most reliable route, though processing times for that request can vary and are separate from your disability claim timeline. Some veterans also ask their VSO (Veterans Service Organization) representative, if they have one, to check the file on their behalf, since accredited representatives often have review access to claims file documents including DBQs.
As a concrete next step, submit a written C-file request (VA Form 20-10206 or a signed letter) asking specifically for the DBQ from your recent C&P exam, and if you have a VSO, ask them to check whether the report has already been uploaded to your file.
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