Confirm the practical details
Check the appointment letter for the location, time, and scheduling contact. Confirm the appointment and request transportation help or accommodations when you need them. If you need to reschedule, VA says to tell the medical center or contractor at least 48 hours in advance; contractor rescheduling has additional limits.
Plan your route or video connection ahead of time. VA advises arriving 15 minutes early and wearing clothing that lets you move comfortably. Follow any specific instructions in your appointment letter.
Submit records before the appointment
VA advises submitting new non-VA medical records before your appointment. Bringing records to the examiner does not place them in the claim file: the provider may read them but cannot submit them for you.
Keep a copy and a receipt for what you submit. You can make a short personal note of treatment dates, symptom patterns, and concrete examples of daily difficulties. Use it to remember your experience accurately; do not copy another veteran’s symptoms or rehearse claims that are not true for you.
Understand the exam and what follows
The examiner may ask questions, examine you, or request tests. The exam is for gathering evidence, so the provider does not prescribe treatment or decide your claim. Ask the examiner if you do not understand a question or what a requested movement involves.
Afterward, the examiner sends a report to VA. VA considers it with the rest of your evidence. If something concerning happened, write a factual account while you remember it and use VA’s listed feedback channels. You can request the final exam report using VA’s Privacy Act or FOIA request process.
Your next-step checklist
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