Veteran Disability Compensation and Pension Exams (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Oct. 30, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF12799 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
T. Lynn Sears |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) within the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of
benefits and programs for veterans and their families. VBA
administers monetary benefits for disabled veterans: disability
compensation for veterans who have service-connected
disabilities and the needs-based pension benefit program for
wartime veterans.
In September 2024, it took VA an average of nearly 145 days
to complete a disability-related claim. The time for the VA to
review a claim depends on the type of claim, the number and
complexity of the injuries or disabilities claimed by the
veteran, and how long it takes to collect the evidence. A
Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to examine the illness
or injury claimed by the veteran may be part of the disability
claim process. This In Focus discusses C&P exams in the
VBA disability claims process, a topic of frequent constituent
inquiries and oversight questions.
