DBQ Forms — Complete Disability Benefits Questionnaire Library
Required Forms
VA Form 21-0960 (series)
Disability Benefits Questionnaires — condition-specific clinical forms
What a DBQ is
A () is a structured clinical form VA developed for each ratable body system or condition. The DBQ asks the examiner the specific questions whose answers drive the rating under 38 CFR Part 4 — in degrees, frequency of episodes, treatment regimen, functional impact, and so on.
When a VA C&P examiner sees a , the examiner completes the appropriate . The completed DBQ becomes the central piece of evidence the rating specialist uses to assign a percentage under the schedule.
Public-facing DBQs were retired — what changed
Until April 2020, VA published fillable PDFs on so veterans could ask their private providers to complete them. VA removed the public-facing forms citing concerns about misuse, but VA did not stop accepting private DBQs.
A private clinician who has the corresponding VA template (still available through professional channels, medical-legal services, and accredited representatives) can complete it and the can submit it with the . VA must consider it as medical evidence. A private DBQ that documents a higher rating percentage than the C&P examiner found is one of the strongest pieces of evidence available for an increased rating claim or a .
Most-used DBQs by body system
- Musculoskeletal: Back (Thoracolumbar Spine), Neck (Cervical Spine), Knee and Lower Leg, Hip and Thigh, Shoulder and Arm, Elbow and Forearm, Wrist, Ankle, Foot Conditions (including plantar fasciitis and pes planus), Hand and Finger.
- Mental health: Mental Disorders (other than PTSD and Eating Disorders), PTSD Initial, PTSD Review, Eating Disorders.
- Neurological: TBI Residuals (Traumatic Brain Injury), Headaches (Including Migraines), Peripheral Nerves, Central Nervous System Conditions, Seizure Disorders.
- Respiratory: Sleep Apnea, Asthma, Sinusitis/Rhinitis/Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx, Respiratory Conditions (other than TB and Sleep Apnea), Tuberculosis.
- Cardiovascular: Heart Conditions, Hypertension, Artery and Vein Conditions.
- Endocrine: Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid and Parathyroid Conditions, Adrenal Conditions.
- Hearing/Vision: Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Ear Conditions, Eye Conditions.
- Genitourinary/Gynecological: Kidney Conditions, Male Reproductive Organ Conditions, Prostate Cancer, Gynecological Conditions, Urinary Tract Conditions.
- Gastrointestinal: Esophageal Conditions (including GERD), Intestinal Conditions, Liver Conditions, Hernias.
- Skin: Skin Diseases, Scars/Disfigurement.
- Hematologic/Lymphatic, Infectious Diseases, Dental and Oral Conditions, and a long list of condition-specific cancer DBQs round out the library.
Who can complete a DBQ
- VA staff clinicians and contracted C&P examiners (, , VES, Optum Serve) at a scheduled .
- A private clinician with the appropriate license and specialty for the condition being evaluated. The clinician does not have to be a VA provider.
- A -letter or independent-medical-opinion provider, when retained by the to evaluate a specific condition.
- The cannot complete a . A DBQ is a clinical document signed by a qualified provider.
How VA uses the completed DBQ
- The completed is associated with the file by date received.
- The rating specialist reads the alongside the rest of the medical record (, VA outpatient records, private treatment records, lay statements).
- The specialist matches the findings on the to the corresponding in 38 CFR Part 4 and assigns a percentage.
- Conflicting evidence (private vs C&P DBQ) is weighed for thoroughness, examiner qualifications, and consistency with the broader record. The benefit-of-the-doubt rule applies when evidence is in approximate balance.
Where these claims break down
- ×Asking a private provider to fill out an outdated DBQ template — VA periodically updates the forms; submit only the current revision.
- ×Submitting a DBQ completed by a provider whose specialty does not match the condition (e.g., a chiropractor completing a mental health DBQ).
- ×Treating a DBQ as a substitute for treatment records — VA expects to see ongoing treatment history corroborating the findings on the DBQ.
- ×Assuming VA must adopt a private DBQ over a C&P DBQ — both are weighed; consistency with the rest of the record is what tips the balance.
- ×Filing an increase claim with no new medical evidence and no updated DBQ — without recent evidence VA will rely on the prior C&P findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
VA Form 21-4138 — Statement in Support of Claim
How to complete VA Form 21-4138, when to use it, what makes a statement credible under 38 CFR § 3.159, and common mistakes that weaken the record.
VA Form 21-10210 — Lay/Witness Statement (Sworn)
Complete guide to VA Form 21-10210: the sworn lay/witness statement under penalty of perjury, when to use it instead of 21-4138, section-by-section walkthrough, and example statement language.
VA Form 21-526EZ — Application for Disability Compensation
Step-by-step guide to VA Form 21-526EZ — the primary application for service-connected disability compensation, intent to file, fully developed claim option, and signature rules.
VA Rating Schedule Changes (2024–2026)
Tracker of recent and proposed 38 CFR Part 4 amendments — sleep apnea, mental health, tinnitus, musculoskeletal — and what they mean for new and existing claims.