An ACE exam, or Acceptable Clinical Evidence review, is one of the ways the VA can satisfy its duty to provide a medical examination under 38 CFR 3.159. Instead of scheduling an in-person compensation and pension (C&P) exam, a VA contracted examiner (often through companies like Optum, LHI, or QTC) reviews your existing medical records, service treatment records, and any evidence you submitted, including private medical opinions or buddy statements, to determine whether they contain enough detail to evaluate your claimed condition without a physical examination.
If the examiner determines the file already contains sufficient information to rate the condition accurately, they will complete the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) based on the records alone. If the records are incomplete or ambiguous, the VA will revert to scheduling an in-person or telehealth exam instead. This means that being flagged for an ACE exam does not guarantee you won't still be asked to attend an exam later if the reviewing clinician decides more information is needed.
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 →For conditions like erectile dysfunction, the file review typically focuses on whether service-connected medication, treatment, or an already-service-connected condition (such as diabetes, prostate cancer treatment, or a back/spine disability with nerve involvement) is documented as a contributing cause. If your records already clearly establish onset, continuity, and a nexus to a service-connected condition, an ACE review can resolve the exam requirement faster than waiting for an in-person appointment, but processing time still depends on the complexity of the file and regional workload, and there is no fixed turnaround guaranteed by regulation.
Appearing on the VA's scheduling portal (such as through Optum/OptumServe) with a future date does not necessarily mean an in-person exam will happen. Sometimes a placeholder date appears while the file is still under review, and it is cancelled once the ACE reviewer determines the records are sufficient. If the date passes with no further action required, that typically means the file review satisfied the exam requirement.
If you want to improve the odds of a favorable ACE review, make sure any private treatment records, nexus letters, or buddy statements supporting onset and causation are already uploaded to your claim before the review occurs, since the examiner will only consider what's in the file at the time of review. The concrete next step is to check your claim status on VA.gov or call the VA benefits hotline to confirm whether the listed appointment is still required or has already been resolved through file review.
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