ACE reviews versus C&P exams: What's the difference?

Many veterans have heard of both C&P exams and ACE reviews – and sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. Both of these are types of evaluations that many veterans have to go through in order to get their VA disability benefits, but they are not the same thing.

If veterans take the time to understand the differences between C&P exams and ACE reviews, they can better navigate the claims process. In this blog, we'll cover the similarities and differences, including everything that veterans need to know.

Here are the differences between ACE reviews and C&P exams:

What is a C&P exam?

C&P stands for compensation and pension. This VA-administered exam that assesses a veteran's condition for potential service-connection. C&P exams can be either in-person or virtual, typically conducted by a VA provider or another VA-contracted medical professional.

During a typical C&P exam, the examiner might:

• Review available medical records

• Gather information about your medical history

• Perform a physical exam or mental health evaluation

• Provide a medical opinion on diagnosis and/or severity

Related: Veterans who provide enough evidence to the VA can be exempt from a C&P exam. Here's how 

What is an ACE review?

ACE stands for Acceptable Clinical Evidence review. ACE reviews are different in that they don't require a veteran's presence – so they aren't an exam, but rather a review of a veteran's existing records in order to form a medical opinion.

The VA might request an ACE review if they feel the veteran likely already has enough medical evidence to prove service-connection. In this case, a physical exam would be unlikely to change the medical outcome, since the condition is already well-documented and stable.

The biggest between C&P exams and ACE reviews: Veteran involvement

Both C&P exams and ACE reviews are processes that help the VA understand a veteran's condition in order to determine whether or not they are eligible for service-connection. The biggest difference is simply a veteran's involvement:

• C&P exams require a veteran's attendance, either in-person or virtually.

• ACE reviews do not require attendance. They only require medical record submission.

There is no particular advantage of being requested to do one versus the other; it's all about how much medical evidence you provide. That's what really makes a difference in the claim process. Read more on fully developed claims here, and how you can make yours as prepared as possible for the VA.

Need expert medical documentation? We can help

Your story plus our support: together, we can create a clear pathway to prove service-connection to the VA. Our team of medical professionals help veterans prove their conditions to the VA through Nexus Letters, DBQs, and other additional services to boost your claim. As veterans ourselves, we know the VA well and are ready to share our expertise.

Step 1 to getting started: Sign up for a Medical Evidence Assessment; this is how every veteran begins working with us. If you're not ready to sign up yet, you can also view other services here.

Rather than struggling alone, work with one of our professional medical experts to get exactly what you need without all of the confusion.