Claims evidence
What is a VA Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)?
A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is a VA form used to record medical findings relevant to a disability claim. VA publishes many DBQs for public use so a health care provider can document clinical information that may support a claim. A DBQ is evidence; it does not award service connection, set the final rating, or guarantee that VA will not request another examination.
What a DBQ does
DBQs organize condition-specific medical information in a standardized format that VA can review with the rest of the claim record. The appropriate health care professional completes the clinical findings and signs the form.
VA states that public DBQs can be used to submit medical evidence from a health care provider. The form should reflect actual findings rather than a desired rating outcome.
Not every DBQ is public
VA publishes many condition-specific DBQs, but some forms are not available for public use. VA's current public DBQ index identifies the forms available to Veterans and private health care providers.
Use the current VA-hosted DBQ or official index rather than an old downloaded copy from an unrelated site.
A DBQ does not eliminate VA's examination authority
VA states that it may still determine an additional disability examination is required to complete the claim. Submitting a private DBQ therefore does not guarantee that a C&P examination will be skipped.
VA also states that it does not pay or reimburse private costs incurred to complete or submit a DBQ.