You are required to review the Veteran's or Servicemember's claims file, or eFolder, for most C&P examinations. The eFolder will contain some or all of this information for the claimant:

  • service history, including the DD-214, duty stations, personnel records, etc.
  • entrance and exit examinations and reports of medical history
  • pre- and post-deployment questionnaires
  • service treatment records (STRs)
  • previous C&P examinations
  • lay evidence
  • previous rating decisions
  • private medical records
  • the Veteran's claim form 21-526

Information from these records can help with determinations you make about a condition such as a diagnosis, onset, and progression. You are expected to cite or refer to information in the eFolder when you use it to support your determinations.

VHA disability examiners access eFolder contents in the online Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) while contract examiners access eFolder contents in their proprietary systems.

Optional training for using VBMS is available in the VBMS for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) course available on the VA TMS.

Note

The examiner must not give the Veteran or Servicemember any printed content from the eFolder. Instead, inform the claimant that he or she can contact VBA directly to request eFolder contents.