If you are a licensed provider considering independent evaluation work, two questions usually come first: what exactly is a DBQ, and how does getting paid per exam work in practice? Here is a clear answer to both, without the jargon.
What a DBQ actually is
DBQ stands for Disability Benefits Questionnaire. It is a standardized form used in the Compensation and Pension (C&P) evaluation process. Each DBQ is built around a specific body system or condition, for example hearing, knees, mental health, or sleep apnea, and it asks for the clinical findings that the process needs in a consistent, structured way.
The point of the form is consistency. Because every provider completing the same DBQ documents the same fields, the evaluation reflects the veteran's current condition in a format that downstream decision makers can rely on. Your job is to examine, measure, and document accurately. The form gives you the structure to do that.
The provider's role, and where it stops
This is the part that reassures most providers once they understand it. As the examining provider, you perform a standardized evaluation and complete the DBQ based on your findings. You are documenting what you observe and measure. You are not deciding the veteran's disability rating, and you are not approving or denying any claim.
The rating decision is made separately by the people responsible for adjudicating claims, using your documentation along with other records. That separation matters. It keeps your role clinical and objective. You record the facts of the examination, and the determination happens elsewhere. Many providers find this clarity freeing, because the work stays focused on the exam itself.
How per exam pay works
Most independent evaluation work is paid per completed exam, not as a salary and not by the hour. In practical terms, you are compensated for each evaluation you complete and document through its DBQ. Finish the exam, complete the form accurately, and that completed unit of work is what you are paid for.
This is a 1099 independent contractor arrangement, so you are running your own small business rather than being an employee. The per exam model has a direct upside: your effort and your output are connected. Providers who are efficient and thorough, and who complete documentation cleanly, tend to see that reflected in their earnings rather than being capped by a fixed wage.
What affects your volume and earnings
Because pay is tied to completed exams, a few things shape how much work flows your way. Your licensure and specialty matter, since some condition areas have more demand than others. Your location and willingness to travel play a part, as does how much time you make available on your calendar. Turnaround also counts: completing accurate documentation promptly keeps the pipeline moving and keeps you in good standing for future volume.
None of this requires you to chase work. The coordination side exists to match available exams to available providers. Your part is to keep your availability current and your completed evaluations clean and on time.
Your own office versus per diem space
Where you actually perform exams depends on the role. Some opportunities ask you to use your own office, which suits providers who already have an established space and prefer to work from it. Other opportunities offer per diem space at a coordinated location, meaning you use a furnished, ready exam room at a site for the days you are scheduled, without carrying the overhead of your own lease.
Per diem space is often the easier entry point if you do not have a dedicated office, or if you want to test independent work before committing to your own setup. Either way, the expectation is set up front for each role, so you know before you accept whether you are working from your space or a coordinated one.
Scheduling autonomy
One of the most appealing parts of this work is control over your calendar. As an independent contractor, you decide how much availability to offer and when. You can treat evaluation work as a steady commitment or as a flexible supplement around other clinical work. The volume tends to follow your availability, so you can scale up or dial back as your life requires.
That autonomy is real, and it comes with the responsibility of running your own schedule reliably. Providers who keep their availability accurate and honor the appointments they accept build a smooth, predictable flow of work over time.