When a veteran files a disability claim with the VA, he or she will be scheduled for a compensation and pension (C&P) exam.  A C&P exam is a specialized medical examination conducted by the VA to assess a veteran's disability claim.  Sometimes this medical examination is conducted by a VA doctor, and sometimes it is contracted out to a private medical professional.  Whether the C&P exam is conducted by the VA or a private medical professional, the exam itself will be the same.  The doctor will conduct an assessment to form an opinion as to whether or not the veteran's medical condition he or she is claiming exists and if it was either caused by or made worse by the veteran's active duty military service.  This doctor's opinion will then be sent to the VA rater who will lean heavily on it to determine not only if the disability claim is approved, but what level of disability the claim is approved for as well.  If the veteran is already service connected for this condition, the VA rater will lean heavily on this opinion to determine if an increase or decrease is warranted.