What is an ACE exam?

What it is

ACE stands for Acceptable Clinical Evidence. VA says: if you have enough medical evidence in your file to support your claim, VA follows the ACE process. That means VA reviews your medical records and asks you to submit more evidence if needed, instead of asking you to have an exam.

When VA first introduced it in 2013, VA described ACE as letting its health providers complete the disability questionnaire (DBQ) from your existing medical records instead of doing an in-person or telehealth exam, which removes the wait to schedule an exam.

Why it matters to you

• Your records do the talking, so make sure they are complete and current.
• VA may ask you for more evidence if the records are not enough.
• VA can still order an exam when it decides one is necessary to decide the claim (38 CFR 3.159(c)(4); 38 CFR 3.326).

If VA does schedule an exam

Either a VA provider or a VA contract provider does the exam. VA says its contractors follow the same medical training and licensing standards as VA providers. In some cases the exam is a telehealth phone or video appointment. Missing an exam will delay your claim, and VA may decide on the existing evidence.

Where to call and where to go

• Phone: VA lists a VA benefits hotline (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET) and a MyVA411 main information line (24/7). Hearing or speech impaired: dial 711 (Telecommunications Relay Services, 24/7). Get the current numbers on VA's Helpful VA phone numbers page or VA Contact us. The claim exam page lists the exam contractors' numbers and says VA is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
• Check your claim, decision review, or appeal status: see what evidence VA has and what it asked for, and upload documents.
• How to file a VA disability claim
• Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)
• Free accredited help: Get help from a VA accredited representative or VSO. VA says help from a VSO representative is always free.