In general, the C-file could be in paper form, electronic form such as the records in the efolder contained in the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), or a combination of paper and electronic forms. You are required to review the entire C-file, whether in paper or electronic form. In addition, you must document that you have done so in your examination report.

A C-file may contain the following information:

• History of the claimed condition
• Service personnel records, including Department of Defense separation form (DD 214) or equivalent
• Entrance history and physical examination report
• Service treatment records (STRs), including Post Deployment Health Assessments (PDHA) in which the Veteran has indicated what he or she thinks his or her environmental hazard exposures may have been
• Exit history and physical examination report
• Private medical information the claimant has submitted to the RO or authorized VA to obtain on his or her behalf

You’ll need to thoroughly review all available medical records, including those stored electronically, to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the claimant’s relevant medical conditions. This would include problem lists, diagnostic tests, and laboratory results.