VBA examination requestors will often tab pertinent medical evidence for ease in the C&P examiner's review of a Veteran's claims folder and to aid the examiner in formulating requested medical assessments, opinions, or both.

When an Examination Request requires a claims folder review, there will also be a note advising the examiner that their review is not limited to the evidence identified on the request form or tabbed in the claims folder. The notice will be similar to this:

POTENTIALLY RELEVANT EVIDENCE: NOTE: Your review of the record is NOT restricted to the evidence listed below. This list is provided in an effort to assist the examiner in locating potentially relevant evidence.

Adjudicators are extremely well versed in the processes of developing a claim. However, they are not medical professionals. They are therefore not qualified or competent to know what evidence is adequate or necessary to thoroughly evaluate a condition or render a medical opinion. While tabbing pertinent medical evidence is important for ease in an examiner's review, a complete review of the records must still be done since the requestor may miss tabbing an important piece of evidence.

It is important for C&P examiners to know that VBA's tabbing of evidence does not relieve examiners of their responsibility to review all of the medical evidence, to identify the evidence pertinent to the medical question at hand, and to refer to that evidence when it is used in the documentation protocol.

Examiners within VHA are also expected to review records in VA's electronic health records system and via the Joint Legacy or JLV. The JLV is a clinical application that provides integrated, read-only, health data from the DoD, VA, and partners in the private sector.