How Long Does a C&P Exam Take? Duration Guide by Condition
One of the first questions veterans ask after receiving a C&P exam appointment is how long it will take. The answer matters for practical reasons like planning time off work and arranging childcare, but it also matters because exam duration can be an indicator of whether you received a thorough evaluation.
The honest answer is that it depends. A tinnitus evaluation might take 15 minutes. A comprehensive PTSD exam can run 90 minutes or longer. Multiple conditions in one appointment can push the total well past two hours. This guide breaks down typical durations by condition type so you know what to expect and can recognize when an exam seems too short.
Duration Is Not Everything: A focused 30-minute exam where you clearly communicate your limitations can produce better results than a rambling 90-minute appointment where critical information gets lost. What matters most is the quality and accuracy of the information documented, not the time spent.
General Duration Ranges
Most C&P exams fall into one of these timeframes:
| Exam Type | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Simple, single condition (tinnitus, scar) | 10-20 minutes |
| Standard physical condition (single joint, skin) | 20-45 minutes |
| Comprehensive evaluation (mental health, multiple joints) | 45-90 minutes |
| Extended evaluation (TBI with cognitive testing, multiple complex conditions) | 90-120+ minutes |
Mental Health Exams
Mental health evaluations are typically the longest C&P exams because they cannot rely on quick physical measurements. Everything depends on detailed discussion and clinical observation.
PTSD: 60-90 Minutes
A thorough PTSD exam includes:
- Detailed trauma history: 15-25 minutes
- Current symptom assessment across all PTSD categories: 15-20 minutes
- Functional impact on work, relationships, and daily life: 10-15 minutes
- Mental status examination: 10-15 minutes
- Treatment history and medication review: 5-10 minutes
Exams involving multiple traumatic events or complex trauma histories may extend to 90-120 minutes.
Depression and Anxiety: 45-75 Minutes
Slightly shorter than PTSD exams but still comprehensive. The examiner covers symptom onset and history, current severity, daily functioning impact, mental status observations, and treatment response.
Multiple Mental Health Conditions: 90-120 Minutes
If you are being evaluated for PTSD, depression, and anxiety simultaneously, expect 90 to 120 minutes. The examiner must assess each condition separately while distinguishing overlapping symptoms.
Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Exams
Physical exams for joints and spine conditions are faster because they involve measurable, objective testing.
Single Joint (Knee, Shoulder, Ankle): 15-30 Minutes
- Symptom and injury history: 5-10 minutes
- Physical examination and palpation: 3-5 minutes
- Range of motion testing with repeated measurements: 5-10 minutes
- Strength testing and special tests: 2-5 minutes
- Gait assessment: 2-3 minutes
Multiple Joints: 30-60 Minutes
Each additional joint adds 10 to 20 minutes. Evaluating both knees, a shoulder, and an ankle might take 45 to 60 minutes total.
Spine (Neck or Lower Back): 30-45 Minutes
Spine exams take longer than single joint exams because they include range of motion in multiple directions plus neurological testing (reflexes, sensation, straight leg raise).
Combined Spine and Joints: 60-90 Minutes
A comprehensive musculoskeletal exam covering spine and multiple joints can run 60 to 90 minutes.
Other Common Condition Durations
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus: 20-45 Minutes
The audiogram in the soundproof booth takes 15-30 minutes. The hearing history discussion and tinnitus assessment add another 5-15 minutes.
Sleep Apnea: 15-30 Minutes
Relatively quick because the key evidence is your sleep study results, which were obtained separately. The examiner reviews the study, discusses CPAP compliance and effectiveness, and assesses daytime symptoms.
Traumatic Brain Injury: 60-120 Minutes
TBI exams are lengthy because they include cognitive function testing (30-45 minutes on its own) plus a neurological physical exam, injury history, and functional impact assessment.
Cardiovascular Conditions: 20-40 Minutes
Cardiac history, physical examination, possibly an ECG/EKG, and review of existing test results.
Respiratory Conditions: 25-40 Minutes
Respiratory history, lung examination, and pulmonary function testing (spirometry).
Skin Conditions: 10-20 Minutes
Quick exams relying primarily on visual assessment and measurement of affected body surface area.
Migraines: 15-30 Minutes
History-based evaluation covering headache frequency, severity, prostrating episodes, and functional impact.
Gastrointestinal Conditions: 20-35 Minutes
Symptom history, abdominal examination, and review of diagnostic testing.
Multiple Conditions in One Appointment
If you have multiple conditions being evaluated by the same examiner, the total time depends on whether the conditions are related.
Related conditions (both knees, neck and back, multiple mental health diagnoses) allow some consolidation. A single injury history may cover multiple conditions, and one functional impact discussion applies across related issues. Expect each additional related condition to add 10-20 minutes.
Unrelated conditions (knee injury plus PTSD plus tinnitus) require nearly the full time for each because there is minimal overlap. Total time is close to the sum of individual exam durations.
Separate appointments are scheduled when conditions require different specialists. You may have one appointment with a psychologist for PTSD, another with a physician for orthopedic conditions, and a third with an audiologist for hearing loss.
Your Total Time Commitment
The exam itself is only part of your day. Budget for the full experience:
- Travel time: varies
- Arrival and check-in: 15-20 minutes
- Wait time in the lobby: 0-45 minutes
- The actual exam: varies by condition
- Post-exam checkout: 5-10 minutes
- Travel home: varies
Example: For a 45-minute exam with a 30-minute drive each way, plan for approximately 2.5 hours total. For mental health exams, plan for a half-day minimum since the exam is longer and can be emotionally draining.
Plan Extra Time for Mental Health Exams: Do not schedule anything stressful immediately after a PTSD or mental health C&P exam. These appointments involve discussing traumatic experiences in detail and can leave you emotionally exhausted. Consider having someone else drive you home.
When a Short Exam Is a Red Flag
Not every short exam is a problem. A 15-minute tinnitus evaluation or scar assessment can be perfectly adequate. But certain situations should concern you:
- PTSD exam under 30 minutes: Likely insufficient for a thorough trauma and symptom assessment
- TBI exam under 45 minutes: Not enough time for cognitive testing and neurological evaluation
- Multiple joint exam under 20 minutes: Insufficient for proper range of motion testing of each joint
- Any exam where claimed conditions were not addressed: Regardless of duration, if the examiner did not evaluate all your claimed conditions, the exam is incomplete
What to Do If Your Exam Seems Too Short
During the exam: Speak up politely. "I want to make sure we thoroughly cover my [condition]. I still have symptoms I haven't had a chance to describe."
Immediately after: Write down the start time, end time, what was covered, and what was not.
After you leave: Request a copy of the exam report. If the exam was inadequate, submit a written statement explaining why and consider getting a private DBQ from your treating physician. Your VSO can help you request a new examination if the first was clearly insufficient.
Short Exams That Are Perfectly Fine
Some conditions simply do not require lengthy evaluations:
- Tinnitus: straightforward yes-or-no diagnosis
- Simple scar evaluation: visual assessment only
- Follow-up exam for a previously rated condition with minimal changes
- Basic skin condition with visible evidence
Use your judgment. Was there enough time to thoroughly address your specific condition? Did the examiner evaluate everything necessary? If yes, the duration is not a concern.
From Exam to Decision: The Timeline After
After your C&P exam, the examiner completes their DBQ report and submits it to the VA within 3 to 10 days. Then:
- A rating specialist reviews the exam alongside all other evidence
- If the exam was incomplete, the VA may order a second exam
- The rating specialist makes a decision
Most veterans receive their rating decision 3 to 6 months after the C&P exam, though timelines vary based on claim complexity and regional office workload.
How the Benefits Finder Helps
Understanding what benefits are at stake at different rating levels can motivate you to ensure your C&P exam is thorough enough. If an exam seems too short, knowing the financial impact of an inaccurate rating makes it worth speaking up or seeking additional evidence.
Use the Veterans Benefits Finder to see every benefit available at your current or expected disability rating.
Next Step: Complete your benefits profile to understand the full value of your disability rating. When you know what is at stake, you are more likely to ensure your C&P exam gives the VA an accurate picture of your conditions.
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