04 / THE QUESTION BANK
Every question, before they ask it.
The exact questions the simulator's examiner asks, condition by condition — generated from the same engine that scores you, so it never drifts. Read them the night before. Better: rehearse them out loud.
PTSD / Mental health
38 CFR §4.130 · General Rating Formula
- Thanks for coming in. In your own words — how have things been for you lately, day to day?
- How are you sleeping? Walk me through a typical night.
- Do you get panic attacks — sudden intense fear, heart racing, hard to breathe? If so, how often?
- How is work going? Missed days, warnings, trouble keeping up or getting along with coworkers?
- Tell me about your relationships — spouse or partner, family, friends. Do you keep in touch, go out?
- Any trouble with memory or concentration — forgetting appointments, names, losing track of tasks?
- Are you taking anything for it — medication, therapy? And does it actually keep things under control?
- I have to ask this of everyone, and it stays between us: have you had any thoughts of hurting yourself, or that life isn't worth living?
- Last one. Routine things — showering, appointments, errands, leaving the house. Anything slipping?
Back / Spine
38 CFR §4.71a · DC 5237–5243
- So it's your back. Tell me about the pain — where it sits and what it stops you from doing.
- Bend forward for me as far as you comfortably can. How far do you get — toes, shins, knees? Where does it stop you?
- Do you get muscle spasms or guarding — and has it changed how you walk? Limp, cane, anything like that?
- Has it cost you anything at work — missed days, light duty, a job you had to give up?
- In the last 12 months, has a doctor ever put you on prescribed bed rest for it? Any flare-ups that take you off your feet?
- Does the pain travel — shooting down your buttock or leg, numbness or tingling in the foot?
Knee
38 CFR §4.71a · DC 5257/5260/5261
- Tell me about the knee. What does it do to you on a normal day — stairs, kneeling, distance walking?
- Is this one knee, or both?
- How far can you bend it? Can you squat, or get your heel toward your backside?
- Does it ever give way or buckle on you? Do you wear a brace or use anything for support?
- Any locking, swelling after activity, or times it's stopped you from work or duties?
Migraines
38 CFR §4.124a · DC 8100
- Tell me about the headaches. When one hits, what actually happens — can you push through, or does it put you down?
- How often do you get one that bad — the kind where you have to stop everything?
- How long do they last, and what's the fallout — missed work, cancelled plans?
- Are you on anything for them — preventives, triptans? Do they control it?
Sleep apnea
38 CFR §4.97 · DC 6847
- Have you had a sleep study? What did they find?
- Were you prescribed a CPAP or similar breathing device? Do you use it?
- During the day — do you fight sleepiness? Nodding off at a desk, at lights, mid-conversation?
- Does the tiredness leak into function — naps to get through the day, focus slipping, any close calls driving?
Tinnitus
38 CFR §4.87 · DC 6260
- Tell me about the ringing — is it there most days? One ear or both?
- Does it mess with sleep or concentration? And any trouble hearing people in noisy rooms?
Hypertension
38 CFR §4.104 · DC 7101
- Do you know your typical blood pressure — recent readings, like one-forty over ninety?
- Are you on blood pressure medication? And were the high readings on record before the meds started?
- Any symptoms that come with it — headaches, dizziness — or doctor visits about it this year?
GERD / Acid reflux
38 CFR §4.114 · DC 7346
- How often does the reflux actually hit — the burning, the acid coming up?
- Are you on medication for it — and does it actually control it?
- Any trouble swallowing, food sticking, choking at night, or pain that runs into your chest, arm, or shoulder?
- Anything bigger — weight you've lost without trying, vomiting, ever any blood?
Shoulder
38 CFR §4.71a · DC 5201
- Which shoulder — and is that your dominant side?
- Raise the arm for me as far as it goes. Where does it stop — over your head, shoulder height, below that?
- What does it cost you day to day — overhead work, lifting, sleeping on that side?
- Any dislocations, or a feeling it's going to pop out? Clicking, guarding?
Ankle
38 CFR §4.71a · DC 5271
- Tell me about the ankle — stiffness, pain, how far it moves compared to the other one.
- Does it roll or give out on you? Braces, wraps, careful on stairs?
- What does it change — running, distance walking, uneven ground, work on your feet?
Plantar fasciitis
38 CFR §4.71a · DC 5269
- One foot or both? And walk me through the first steps out of bed in the morning.
- What have you tried — inserts, stretching, injections, surgery? Did any of it actually fix it?
- How long can you stand or walk before it forces you off your feet?
Asthma
38 CFR §4.97 · DC 6602
- How often are you actually using the inhaler — every day, or just when it flares?
- In the last year — any courses of oral steroids like prednisone, ER trips, or doctor visits for flare-ups?
- What sets it off, and what does it stop you from doing — stairs, exertion, cold air, work?
Painful scars
38 CFR §4.118 · DC 7804
- How many scars are we talking about — and which ones actually hurt to the touch, or break down?
- Any of them on your head, face, or neck? Any that are wide, raised, or that people notice?
- Do any of them limit motion or function — tightness when you bend, reach, grip?
Any other condition
38 CFR Part 4 · your condition's own DC applies
- Tell me what we're looking at today — the condition, and when it started relative to your service.
- How often does it hit, and how long does it last when it does?
- On a bad day with it — what does it actually stop you from doing?
- What's the treatment — meds, devices, therapy — and does it actually control it?
- Last one — has it cost you at work? Days, duties, a job?
Hearing loss
38 CFR §4.85 · DC 6100
- How is your hearing in daily conversations — do you ask people to repeat themselves, turn up the TV, or struggle in noisy rooms?
- Do you use hearing aids, and do they fully correct the problem or still leave gaps?
- If you've had an audiogram, what did they tell you about your decibel loss or word recognition scores?
Diabetes mellitus
38 CFR §4.119 · DC 7913
- How is your diabetes managed — restricted diet, oral pills, or daily insulin injections?
- Has your doctor ordered regulation of activities — like avoiding strenuous physical exertion, scheduled meals, or stress avoidance to prevent severe low blood sugar?
- How often do you see your doctor for your diabetes, and have you had any episodes of ketoacidosis or ER visits?
Radiculopathy / Nerve pain
38 CFR §4.124a · DC 8520
- Do you have shooting pain, numbness, or tingling radiating down your leg or arm — and how far down does it go?
- Does the nerve damage cause weakness — like tripping, foot drop, dropping coffee cups, or legs giving out?
- How often does the nerve pain flare up, and does it interfere with walking, driving, or sleeping?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
38 CFR §4.124a · DC 8045
- Tell me about the head injury or blast exposure — did you lose consciousness, get dazed, or diagnosed with a concussion in service?
- How are your memory, concentration, and executive function now — following multi-step tasks, managing money, remembering names?
- Have you experienced mood changes, irritability, light/noise sensitivity, or frequent headaches since the injury?