DBQ Medical Opinion No Longer Needed? Here’s What It Means For Your VA Claim! (2025)

FAQs

DBQ Medical Opinion No Longer Needed? Here’s What It Means For Your VA Claim!? ›

DBQ medical opinion no longer needed is an internal VA note from the Veteran Service Representative (VSR) assigned to your claim. They are telling the VA Rater (RVSR) one of four things: A DBQ medical opinion was already completed by the C&P examiner and was uploaded for review.

The phrase “VA C&P exam no longer needed” indicates that the VA has determined that a C&P exam is no longer required for the veteran's disability claim. This decision might be based on the availability of sufficient existing medical evidence or the completion of any necessary exams.

Since the VA discontinued DBQs in 2020, the agency works “with contracted providers in more than 30 foreign countries to conduct disability medical examinations.”

DBQs help collect necessary medical information to process your disability claims. You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers. This information helps to support your claims for disability benefits.

Yes, a doctor can fill out a DBQ for a veteran.

DBQ medical opinion no longer needed is an internal VA note from the Veteran Service Representative (VSR) assigned to your claim. They are telling the VA Rater (RVSR) one of four things: A DBQ medical opinion was already completed by the C&P examiner and was uploaded for review.

Beginning in 2014, most Veterans are no longer required to complete the annual financial assessment known as a Means Test if their income exceeds the national thresholds.

These structured medical forms are more than just paperwork; they are designed to align Veterans, healthcare providers and the VA to determine an accurate disability rating. From providing comprehensive medical evidence to establishing a foundation for future claims, the significance of DBQs is difficult to overstate.

In summary, DBQs are structured questionnaires completed by healthcare providers to document specific medical details about a veteran's disability, while C&P Exams are comprehensive medical evaluations conducted by the VA to assess the severity and impact of service-connected disabilities.

10-Year Rule:

The VA's 10-year rule ensures that the VA cannot terminate service connection for a disability that has been in place for ten years. The VA may still reduce the rating for the service connected condition but the VA cannot sever service connection.

Why does the VA ask for a medical opinion? ›

When the VA is looking to make a decision about a veteran's status, they will first review all the documentation provided. If the board concludes that certain medical issues are left unaddressed or that prior examinations the veteran went through weren't comprehensive, they'll demand an independent medical opinion.

The answer should address only the functional limitations caused by the condition at issue, regardless of any limitations caused by any other medical conditions. Providing one or more examples in the Veteran's own words will help the VA more fully understand the Veteran's condition.

What not to say at a C&P Exam? Under no circumstances should you lie or stretch the truth (also called malingering) when it comes to your VA disability claim. At your C&P exam, you should be appearing as you do on a normal day.

How does the DBQ compare to a NEXUS letter? As stated above the DBQ is really only a detailed physical exam is does not ask the physician to opine whether the condition is linked to service or not. The nexus letter is specifically focused on any potential linkage to service or secondary to service conditions.

Still, if you have a doctor you'd like to work with, know that any qualified medical physician can write a nexus opinion on your behalf. VA doctors are also allowed to write or sign nexus letters. You should speak with your doctor first to see if they will assist you with your disability claim.

This can be from either the VA doctor or a private doctor. You can file your increase request on VA.GOV or by filling out a VA Form 21-526b. If you have medical information from a private doctor, you must submit a VA Form 21-4142, which authorizes that doctor to share information with the VA.

We may request this to help us determine if a claimed disability is related to your service or to determine the severity of your disability. Not every claim requires an exam. It depends on what medical evidence is already in your file and what you included with your application.

If you have enough medical evidence in your file to support your claim, VA won't ask you to have a claim exam. Medical evidence may include doctor and hospital reports, test results, and other documents.

However, a foolproof way you can tell if it was favorable is by reviewing a copy of your C&P exam results. Ultimately, you may understand if you are going to receive a VA disability rating before receiving a decision. Again, you can get your information through your accredited representative.

If you filed a claim with VA directly for Veteran care, you can check the status of your VA claim through the eCAMS Provider Portal (ePP). ePP is a reporting tool that allows registered users on demand access to claim status and line level adjudication information.