What does the examiner check at a Asthma C&P exam?

Pulmonary Function Test values — FEV-1 (percent predicted) and FEV-1/FVC ratio — the objective drivers under DC 6602 The full list is on this page.

What should I bring to a Asthma C&P exam?

A short written summary of your worst days: what happens, how often, how long it lasts. A symptom log or calendar if you keep one — dates beat memory. Names and doses of medications, and whether they actually help.

Asthma: C&P Exam Prep

The C&P (Compensation & Pension) exam is where a asthma claim is usually won or lost. Here is exactly what the examiner measures, and how to describe your condition accurately and completely so the rating reflects your real life.

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Sources: 38 CFR Part 4 (rating schedule), VA DBQ 21-0960L-1

Describe your worst day and how often it happens — not your average day

C&P exams are snapshots. If you happen to feel okay that day and describe an okay day, that is what gets rated. The law (Sharp v. Shulkin) requires the examiner to account for your flare-ups and worst days, but only if you describe them. Give concrete frequency and duration: "three or four days a week I cannot…", "twice a month it lays me out for two days", not "sometimes it is bad."

The honest line: Report the full, honest picture — the bad days you tend to downplay included. Never invent or exaggerate symptoms. Overstating is both wrong and easy for an examiner to catch, and it can sink an otherwise valid claim.

What the examiner will assess

Taken from the Respiratory Conditions (Other Than Tuberculosis and Sleep Apnea) DBQ (21-0960L-1) — these are the rating drivers.

1Pulmonary Function Test values — FEV-1 (percent predicted) and FEV-1/FVC ratio — the objective drivers under DC 6602
2Whether daily inhalational/oral bronchodilator or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication is required (30% level)
3Frequency of physician visits for exacerbations (at least monthly supports 60%)
4Intermittent courses (3+/year) of systemic corticosteroids (60%); daily high-dose or immunosuppressive meds (100%)

How the rating tiers work

The examiner's findings map onto these tiers under 38 CFR 4.97, DC 6602 (bronchial asthma). Know which describes your real function so you can report the details that matter.

10%FEV-1 of 71 to 80 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.

30%FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.

60%FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, or at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids.

100%FEV-1 less than 40 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.

Symptoms to describe (if you have them)

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Coughing (especially at night)
• Difficulty breathing with exercise
• Triggered by allergens or cold air
• Use of rescue inhaler
• Fatigue

Functional limits that raise a rating

• Exercise intolerance
• Difficulty in dusty/smoky environments
• Frequent use of medications
• ER visits for severe attacks
• Missing work due to symptoms
• Avoiding certain activities

Which exam you might get

In-person exam

A clinician examines you at a VA facility or a contractor (LHI, QTC, VES, MSLA). Bring your notes; you can hand them over.

Telehealth / video

Same questions over video. Have your notes on paper, not the same screen, and a quiet, private space.

Records-only (ACE)

No appointment — the examiner reviews your file. Everything rests on what is already documented, so your statements and medical records must carry the full picture.

Mention connected (secondary) conditions

Asthma commonly leads to these. If you have any, raise them — they can each be rated on their own, and examiners will not connect the dots for you.

Chronic Sinusitis Allergic Rhinitis GERD Sleep Apnea

What to bring

✓ A short written summary of your worst days: what happens, how often, how long it lasts.
✓ A symptom log or calendar if you keep one — dates beat memory.
✓ Names and doses of medications, and whether they actually help.
✓ Any private treatment records the VA may not have.
✓ A buddy statement or family note describing what they witness, if you have one.
✓ Your list of secondary conditions you believe are connected (see below).

Terms the examiner uses, in plain English

Prostrating: So severe you have to stop what you are doing and lie down (used for migraines).

Ankylosis: A joint frozen or fused so it cannot move at all — very different from "stiff" or "limited."

Occupational and social impairment: How much the condition hurts your ability to work AND to keep up relationships — the driver for mental-health ratings.

Flare-up: A period when the condition gets temporarily worse. Frequency and duration matter as much as severity.

Functional loss: What you cannot do because of the condition — lift, walk, focus, sleep, be around people.

Range of motion (ROM): How far a joint moves, measured in degrees. Report where PAIN begins, not just where motion stops.

Painful motion: Motion that hurts counts toward a rating even if the joint still moves — say exactly where the pain starts.

Deficiencies in most areas: A higher mental-health tier: the condition damages work, school, family, mood, and judgment across the board.

Before and after the exam

Asthma rating & evidence

The full 38 CFR breakdown and the peer-reviewed studies behind the claim.

Build the claim & statement

Chart your claim and draft your personal statement first.

Educational content, not professional advice

This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.

MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.

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