The C&P exam notice is easy to miss, it can arrive with little warning, sometimes to an old address. But under 38 CFR § 3.655, failing to appear without good cause can sink your claim, so it is worth understanding the stakes.

The consequences

For an original claim, a missed exam generally means the VA decides on the evidence already in the file, often a denial. For an increase or reopened claim, it can mean an outright denial. Either way, you lose the examiner's findings that might have supported you.

What counts as good cause

Illness, a family emergency, a hospitalization, or never actually receiving the notice can all qualify as good cause to reschedule. If any of those applies, contact the VA immediately and document why you missed it.

This is also why keeping your address current matters so much. If you missed an exam, do not give up, request a new one with your explanation and get back on the schedule.

The adequacy standard for C&P examinations is codified in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 3 (Obtaining Medical Examinations and Medical Opinions), and the body-system-specific requirements in Chapter 4. When an examiner fails to address functional loss, skips required testing, or provides a "bare conclusion" without a rationale, the exam is legally inadequate under Barr v. Nicholson. Under Sharp v. Shulkin, an examiner who dismisses flare-up impact without a reasoned explanation has produced a deficient opinion. Under Correia v. McDonald, musculoskeletal exams must include active, passive, and weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing testing, skip any one of those, and the exam is incomplete.