Who can complete VAC’s medical questionnaires?

To establish the existence of a disability for claims submitted under the  Pension Act or the Veterans Well-being Act, the Department requires medical evidence that supports the establishment of a diagnosis and/or assessment/reassessment of an entitled condition.

This evidence can be provided by various health professionals who are:

  • duly authorized under federal or provincial statute to diagnose conditions in their area of expertise; and
  • registered in good standing with a professional body which governs the licensing and accreditation of their profession.

All medical information provided must be current, objective, reasonable and speak to the criteria required for assessment/reassessment purposes.

Challenges arise when the diagnosis provided is unclear or inadequate. In those circumstances, we will follow-up with you or the health professional to request additional medical information.

Please refer to the following policy Establishing the Existence of a Disability.

Out of country

A qualified health professional (QHP) does not have to be licensed within Canada to provide medical information for disability benefits purposes. We will accept reports from out of country QHPs listed in Table 1 below if they are licensed and authorized to practice by the accredited regulatory authority within their country of practice.

Telemedicine

To provide telehealth services to you in a different province of Canada, the QHP will need to comply with the regulations and requirements of both provinces involved, namely the province of practice of the QHP and the province where you reside. This is essential to follow the guidelines and regulations for each province.

Note: Diagnoses determined via telemedicine and in person medical appointments should be equally accepted and treated.

VAC reserves the right to reject any diagnosis, report, or submission, provided for entitlement (diagnostic) or assessment/reassessment purposes if after objective examination:

  • It demonstrably fails to meet the standard of usual and prudent medical practice required to establish diagnosis; or
  • The diagnosis falls outside the scope of practice of the submitting practitioner; or
  • It does not provide the required information to support either the diagnosis, or its presence in the individual; or
  • It is not authenticated with a wet signature, a digital signature, or a stamped signature. Clinic stamps identifying the signee and/or clinic or typed signatures are not valid for VAC purposes.

Questions

  • If you need further assistance to determine if a health professional can complete a medical questionnaire, please contact VAC.
  • If you received a letter from VAC, please refer to it for precise details, including any additional required medical information, for your condition.

List of accepted health professionals

Regulated health professionals are accountable for working within the scope of practice as set by their professional regulatory bodies. Scopes of practice vary among professionals and jurisdictions.

A diagnosis provided by regulated health care professionals, other than those listed in Table 1 below, may be considered on a case by case basis.

Table 1: Health professionals accepted to complete each medical questionnaire for entitlement (diagnosis) and assessment/reassessment of a disability
Medical questionnairesAccepted health professionals
Activities of Daily Living
PEN6234e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Amputation of Upper and Lower Limbs
PEN6230e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Aneurysm and Embolus
PEN6240e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners  (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Ankle Conditions
PEN6224e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners  (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Note:  Medical questionnaires from Podiatrists are not accepted for ankle conditions.

Bruxism, Tooth and Periodontal Conditions
PEN6266e
  • Dentists (DMD, DDS)
  • Dental specialists
Cardiorespiratory Conditions
PEN6253e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Cervical Spine Conditions
PEN6236e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Coccyx, Pelvis
and Sacroiliac Joint Conditions
PEN6237e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Elbow Joint Condition
PEN6226e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Endocrine and Metabolic Conditions
PEN62e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Esophageal and Gastroesophageal
Junction Conditions
PEN6260e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Foot and Toe Conditions
PEN6222e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Podiatrists (DPM, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, DP, Doctor in Podiatry in New Brunswick)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Fractures - Lower Limbs
PEN6228e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Fractures and Miscellaneous
Musculoskeletal Conditions of the Chest and Upper Limbs
PEN6229e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

General Medical Questionnaire
PEN71e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Hearing Loss/Tinnitus
PEN6249e
  • Audiologists (AuD)
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept a hearing instrument practitioner (HIP/RHIP) or a hearing instrument specialists (HIS) if the diagnosis of hearing loss and/or tinnitus was previously provided by an accepted qualified health professionals.

Hemopoietic Conditions
PEN69e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Hernias and Pilonidal Sinus Disease
PEN6255e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Hip Conditions
PEN6223e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only)
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnosis purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Hypertension
PEN6241e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Kidney, Ureter and Bladder Conditions
PEN6261e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Knee Conditions
PEN6221e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only)
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnosis purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Liver and Gallbladder Conditions
PEN6257e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Lower Limb Function
PEN6232e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnosis purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Malignant Conditions
PEN63e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Mandible and Maxilla Conditions
PEN6267e
  • Dentists (DMD, DDS)
  • Dental specialists
  • Specialists (MD)
Morbid Obesity
PEN6259e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Neurological Conditions
PEN56e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician and sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
Nose, Throat, Sinus Conditions
PEN57e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
PEN6251e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands Conditions
PEN6252e
  • Specialists (MD) such as oral & maxillofacial surgeons, otoralyngologists and dental specialists
  • Dentists (DMD, DDS)
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Osteomyelitis
PEN6231e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Pancreatic Conditions
PEN6254e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Peripheral Vascular Arterial Disease
PEN6243e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Raynaud's Disease/Phenomenon and Frostbite, Immersion Foot and Other Cold Injuries
PEN6242e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Psychiatric/Psychological Condition(s)
PEN6248e
  • Psychologists: registered (R.Psych), licensed (LP) and associates (PA)
  • Psychiatrists (MD)
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Nurse Practitioners (NP)
  • Physician Assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Candidate Registered Psychologists(Psych Cand.Reg.): only if a Registered/Licensed/Associate Psychologist or a Psychiatrist co-signed the medical questionnaire

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept Psychotherapists (RP), Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Professional Counselors (LPC).

Note: Social workers are not accepted health professionals to complete this medical questionnaire.

Sexual, Reproductive and
Breast Conditions
PEN6262e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Shoulder and Acromioclavicular
Joint Conditions
PEN6220e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnosis purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Skin Diseases and Burn Scars
PEN6246e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Small Bowel, Large Bowel, Rectal and Anal Conditions
PEN6256e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Stomach and Duodenal Conditions
PEN6258e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Superficial Skin Wounds and Scars
PEN6245e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Temporomandibular Disorders
PEN6268e
  • Dentists (DMD, DDS)
  • Dental specialists
Thoracolumbar Spine Conditions
PEN6235e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Thumb/Finger Conditions
PEN6227e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Upper Limb Function
PEN6233e
  • General practitioners MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

Varicose Veins and Deep Vein Thrombosis
PEN6244e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Vertigo/Ear Conditions
PEN6250e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
Visual Conditions
PEN6239e
  • Ophthalmologists
  • Optometrists (OD, Doctor of Optometry): accepted only for visual acuity related conditions and some external disease eye conditions (e.g. conjunctivitis)
Wrist Conditions
PEN6225e
  • General practitioners (MD, GP, family doctor, medical doctor, physician, sport medicine physician)
  • Specialists (MD)
  • Nurse practitioners (NP)
  • Physician assistants (PA) if practicing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island only
  • Chiropractors (DC, DoC, Doctor in Chiropractic)

Exception: For assessment/reassessment of a disability only (not for diagnostic purposes), we will also accept medical information from physiotherapists.

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