If I update my address after filing a claim, will the VA schedule my C&P exam at the old or new address?

The VA schedules Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams based on the most current address on file at the time the exam request is processed and sent to the scheduling contractor, not the address that was listed at the moment you submitted your claim. VA systems (VBMS and the correspondence address in eBenefits/VA.gov) are typically synced within a short period after you make a change, and the regional office or the exam contractor (such as VES, LHI, or QTC) pulls your current physical/residential address when setting up the appointment location.

That said, timing matters. If your claim moves to the exam-scheduling stage very quickly after you update your address, there is a small chance the request could be generated before the update fully propagates through the system. This is uncommon but not impossible, especially if the claim was already far along or if there is a lag between VA.gov and VBMS. To reduce risk, it is worth confirming your address change through more than one channel: update it on VA.gov, and also call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 to confirm the change is reflected in your claims file, since the physical address (not just the mailing address) is what determines the geographic area used to assign your exam.

What would this rating pay you? (2026 rates)

Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.

per month ·  per year, tax-free

Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.

2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
RatingMonthly (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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If you do get scheduled at a location tied to your old address, you are not stuck. You can contact the VA or the exam vendor listed on your appointment notice to request rescheduling closer to your current residence. Missing a C&P exam without rescheduling can result in your claim being rated on the evidence already in file, which is often unfavorable, so it is important to act quickly if the location or timing is wrong rather than simply not showing up.

It is also worth noting that the VA distinguishes between mailing address and physical/residential address in its systems, and confusion between the two is a common source of scheduling mix-ups. Correspondence like decision letters and exam notifications generally goes to the mailing address, while the physical address is used to determine which regional exam network or provider is assigned.

The concrete next step is to call the VA National Call Center at 1-800-827-1000 to verbally confirm both your mailing and physical addresses are correctly updated in your claims file, and to ask them to note the correction if it has not yet synced, so that any C&P exam request is generated against your current location.

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Disclaimer: VetAid is not a law firm, medical practice, or Veterans Service Organization. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or professional advice. Consult with a qualified VA-accredited attorney or your VSO representative. Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1).