We support access to a comprehensive Medical Benefits Package, including preventive, primary, and specialty care, diagnostic, inpatient, and outpatient care services.

SERVICES SUPPORTING VETERANS

Compensation and Pension examination

A C&P exam is an integral part of the VA claims process. It is an examination that the VA often asks those seeking disability compensation or pension benefits to undergoing as part of the process of considering their claim.

During the exam, the examiner will ask questions about your mental health condition and how it affects your daily life.  All you have to do is answer questions honestly, doing your best not to underestimate the pain you experience. This helps the VA properly rate your condition so you can receive the right amount of VA disability compensation. Compensation and pension exams typically take place at a VA medical center.

To qualify for this benefit program, you must have a service-connected disability resulting from injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by your active military service.

Compensation may also be paid to certain Veterans who were disabled from VA health care or while participating in VA Vocational Rehabilitation or Compensated Work Therapy programs.

Your service length is not considered when the VA determines your eligibility.

C&P examinations are critical evidence for determining the extent of permanent impairment and, thus, the percentage of disability that defines the benefits a veteran is awarded.

Compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. The veteran’s service must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.

Pension is available to veterans with limited income and 90 days or more of active military service (at least one day during a war period). Their discharge from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable, and they must be permanently disabled for reasons traceable to military or willful misconduct.

There are several types of C&P examinations: 1) Eating Disorders, 2) Mental Disorders, 3) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and 4) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

C&P examination entails:

A C&P examination determines mental conditions’ existence and/or status for rating purposes. It does not involve a traditional clinician-patient relationship where you act as a biased patient advocate. Still, it would help if you acted as an unbiased expert by describing the condition and any disabilities.

The Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) outline how to conduct and report each examination.

During the Safety Rite orientation, a Provider Liaison will provide this information.

Before performing exams, a telephonic or web-based Safety Rite orientation and completion of the eight Compensation Pension Examination Program (CPEP) modules are required.

Purpose and Intent of CPEP modules – As health care providers traditionally approach examinations in the purely clinical domain, training is critical to ensure that you have an understanding of the legal ramifications of the examinations and what elements are required by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to make a valid determination. Given the importance of thoroughly examining the veteran’s eligibility for future benefits and compensation, standards must be consistently enforced and applied fairly across all VISNs. As a result, VHA and VBA have determined the need for a training and certification program established for all clinicians performing C&P examinations, no matter where they are performed.

The CPEP modules include:

• General Certification Course
• Initial Mental Disorders
• Initial PTSD
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Medical Opinions
• Aggravation Opinions
• Gulf War

Upon completing each module, you must pass a test with an 80 percent or higher score.

You must also complete the Privacy and HIPAA Training and read and sign the VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior. These are required to be completed annually.

In addition, for psychologists, your doctoral degree in psychology must be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) in the field of study of clinical, counseling, or school.

We can also connect you with support to address critical living challenges: difficulty integrating back into family/community life, communicating their feelings and experiences with others who may not be able to relate to their military service, and translating the valuable skills acquired during military service into ones desired by employers. There is also a Wellness Program for Veterans, auditory processing disorder, tinnitus care, Hearing loss recovery, and Screening for assistance eligibility.