By Mike Roberts, PhD · Founder, VA Claim Commander · Disabled veteran · Updated October 4, 2026
To see your C&P exam results before VA decides your claim, request the exam report from VA with VA Form 20-10206, the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request; this works whether VA or a VA contractor did the exam. If the exam was at a VA medical center, the report is also filed in your VA health record, where you can download it through My HealtheVet's Blue Button after a holding period. You can't get results at the exam or from the examiner.
You can't get them at the exam
VA's claim exam page says you need to request a copy of the final exam report, and that you can't get the results at your exam or directly from the provider. That's true for exams by VA clinicians and by VA's contracted exam providers.
Option 1: VA Form 20-10206 (any exam)
Request the report with VA Form 20-10206, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act request. VA's exam page lists three ways to send it:
- Online: submit VA Form 20-10206 on VA.gov.
- By mail: Department of Veterans Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
- In person: at your nearest VA regional office.
On the form, ask specifically for the C&P exam report and give the exam date and the condition. Under VA's Privacy Act rule, you can ask for access to records VA keeps about you and get a copy (38 CFR 1.577).
This is the route for an exam done by a VA contractor. Those reports go to VA for your claim and may not show up in your VA health record at all.
Option 2: Your VA health record (exams at a VA medical center)
If a VA medical center did your exam, the examiner's report is filed as a note in your VA health record. You can view and download notes with Blue Button in My HealtheVet or the medical records tool on VA.gov.
Under VA health policy (VHA Directive 6370), a C&P exam report is held back from Blue Button and other release-of-information requests for a set period after the examiner completes it. So it won't appear the day of your exam. If you don't see it after a few weeks, use VA Form 20-10206.
Option 3: Your representative
If you have a VA-accredited representative, they may be able to see the exam report in your claims file. Ask them for a copy.
Once you have the report
Read it before VA decides. Check:
- The facts. Right condition, right side of the body, right dates, the history you actually gave.
- What's missing. Symptoms, flare-ups, and limits you described that aren't in the report.
- The opinion, if there is one. Whether it gives reasons, and whether it looks at the records you sent.
If something's wrong and the claim is still pending, you can send a statement on VA Form 21-4138 or 21-10210 that points to the specific errors, add your own medical evidence, and ask for a new exam. See what to do after a bad C&P exam for the full steps.
Where we fit
Getting the report goes through VA; we can't request it for you. Once you have it, Commander can read the exam report next to your own records and show where they agree and where they don't, page by page. If you'd rather have someone review it with you for free, a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative can help. Find an accredited representative.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my C&P exam report?
Request it from VA with VA Form 20-10206, the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request, online at VA.gov, by mail to the Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, or at a VA regional office. VA says you can't get the results at the exam or from the examiner.
Can I see my C&P exam results on My HealtheVet?
You can if a VA medical center did the exam. The report is filed as a note in your VA health record, but VA policy holds it back from Blue Button for a period after the examiner completes it. Exams by VA contractors may not appear there; request those with VA Form 20-10206.
Why can't I see my contractor C&P exam in My HealtheVet?
Contractor exam reports go to VA for your claim and may not be filed in your VA health record. Request a copy from VA with VA Form 20-10206.
Can I get my C&P exam results before VA makes a decision?
You can request the report at any time with VA Form 20-10206, including while the claim is pending. Seeing it early gives you a chance to answer errors before the decision.
What should I do if my C&P exam report has mistakes?
If the claim is still pending, send VA a written statement listing each specific error, add any medical evidence that contradicts the report, and ask for a new exam. VA decides whether to schedule another one.
Can my VSO see my C&P exam report?
A VA-accredited representative you've appointed may be able to see the report in your claims file. Ask them for a copy.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
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This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.