🩺 Free Exam Prep Tool

Prepare for Your C&P Exam
or DBQ Appointment

Answer a few plain-English questions about your symptoms. Get a clean, printable Symptom Summary to bring to your doctor — so nothing important goes undocumented.

⚠️ This tool helps you prepare — it does not replace your doctor's assessment. The Symptom Summary is not an official VA form. It is a communication aid to help your doctor understand your condition during the exam.
How It Works

Three steps to a better exam

1
Pick your condition
Choose the condition you're claiming below. Each condition has its own tailored question set.
2
Describe your symptoms
Answer questions in plain language — no VA jargon. Tell us how your condition actually affects your life.
3
Print your summary
Get a formatted Symptom Summary with your answers, the VA rating criteria, and questions to ask your doctor.
4
Bring it to your exam
Hand it to your examining doctor so they understand your full symptom picture — not just what you remember to say in 15 minutes.

Choose Your Condition

Select your condition below to start your prep. Each tool is tailored to that condition's specific symptoms, 38 CFR rating criteria, and what the DBQ will measure.

🦵
Available Most Common
Knee & Lower Leg
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5260–5263
Meniscus tears, ACL injuries, arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome, instability. Range of motion is the key rating factor.
⏱ ~10 minutes
🧠
Available Most Common
PTSD
38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9411
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — how symptoms affect your occupational and social functioning. GAF score matters.
⏱ ~15 minutes
🦴
Available Most Common
Lumbar Spine (Lower Back)
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5235–5243
Herniated discs, DDD, radiculopathy, stenosis. Forward flexion angle and radiculopathy into legs are critical.
⏱ ~12 minutes
💪
Available
Shoulder & Arm
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5200–5203
Rotator cuff tears, SLAP lesions, AC separation, labral tears. Dominant vs. non-dominant arm affects rating.
⏱ ~10 minutes
👂
Available Most Common
Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
38 CFR § 4.85, DC 6260, 6100
Ringing in the ears and noise-induced hearing loss. Tinnitus is rated at flat 10%. Hearing loss by audiogram results.
⏱ ~10 minutes
😴
Available
Sleep Apnea
38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6847
Obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP requirement, and daytime impairment. CPAP requirement = 50% rating.
⏱ ~10 minutes
❤️
Available
Hypertension
38 CFR § 4.104, DC 7101
High blood pressure — rated by diastolic and systolic readings. Document all medication history.
⏱ ~8 minutes
🩸
Available
Diabetes Mellitus Type II
38 CFR § 4.119, DC 7913
Type 2 diabetes — treatment intensity, complications (neuropathy, retinopathy), and regulation affect rating.
⏱ ~12 minutes
🧬
Available
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8045
Cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms from TBI. Rated on worst facet — document all symptom domains.
⏱ ~15 minutes
💬
Available
Mental Health (Depression / Anxiety)
38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9434, 9400
MDD, generalized anxiety, adjustment disorders. Occupational and social impairment percentage drives the rating.
⏱ ~15 minutes
🦴
Coming Soon New
Cervical Spine (Neck)
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5235–5243
Neck disc disease, radiculopathy into arms, range of motion limitation. Forward flexion is the primary rating factor.
⏱ ~12 minutes
Coming Soon
🤕
Available New
Migraines
38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8100
Prostrating attacks, frequency, and economic inadaptability. Documenting attack frequency and severity is critical.
⏱ ~10 minutes
🦴
Available New
Hip & Thigh
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5250–5256
Hip arthritis, bursitis, labral tears, total hip replacement. Flexion and abduction are key measurements.
⏱ ~10 minutes
🦶
Available New
Ankle & Foot
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5270–5284
Ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, flatfoot, Achilles issues. Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion angles drive ratings.
⏱ ~10 minutes
💪
Coming Soon New
Elbow & Forearm
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5205–5213
Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, epicondylitis, ulnar nerve issues. Flexion, extension, and supination measured.
⏱ ~10 minutes
Coming Soon
Coming Soon New
Wrist, Hand & Fingers
38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215–5235
Carpal tunnel, wrist fractures, finger amputation or limitation, grip strength loss.
⏱ ~10 minutes
Coming Soon
🫁
Coming Soon New
Respiratory & Asthma
38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6600–6606
Asthma, burn pit exposure respiratory conditions, COPD. FEV-1 ratio and treatment intensity drive rating.
⏱ ~12 minutes
Coming Soon

What's in your Symptom Summary?

The printable document includes everything your doctor needs to complete a thorough DBQ — organized, clear, and in the language VA raters look for.

✓ Your symptom answers ✓ 38 CFR rating criteria ✓ Questions to ask your doctor ✓ What the DBQ will measure Service connection context Treatment history Daily life impact Functional limitations