Reports and opinions
Mental health DBQs
A VA form that records current diagnoses, symptoms, and their effects on daily life, relationships, and work.
01 / WHEN IT MAY FIT
What this service can help answer.
A VA mental health DBQ focuses on the veteran’s current clinical picture: diagnoses, symptoms, and social and occupational functioning. It may be useful when present severity or changed circumstances need to be documented, but a DBQ does not by itself explain what caused a condition or assign a disability rating. Read the plain-language comparison of DBQs, IMOs, nexus opinions, and C&P exams if the requested document is unclear.
02 / WHAT IT INCLUDES
A clear scope before work begins.
The agreed scope identifies the current condition to evaluate, the records that matter, the clinical interview and symptom measures that may be useful, and the public VA form to complete. When a separate causation or secondary-service question also needs clinical analysis, that work belongs in a defined nexus opinion rather than being assumed within the DBQ.
03 / SCOPE
What this service covers.
A mental health DBQ can describe current diagnoses, symptoms, and their effects on relationships, daily life, and work, including whether symptoms can be distinguished when the evidence allows. VA—not the evaluator—applies its rating rules. For a fuller analysis of attendance, focus, pace, interaction, and stress tolerance, see occupational-functioning evaluations.
Included in the scope
- Record current diagnoses and symptoms
- Describe social and occupational effects
- Separate symptoms when the evidence allows it
- State when symptoms cannot be separated
Outside this scope
- Assign a VA disability rating
- Explain what caused a condition unless a separate opinion answers that question
- Be completed from self-report alone without an evaluation
04 / FEE
Know the fee before you begin.
The scope and fee are confirmed before Dr. Bell starts the work. There are no surprise services or charges.