diff --git a/app/services/external_api/vbms_service.rb b/app/services/external_api/vbms_service.rb
index ca714e1464..861ca576ae 100644
--- a/app/services/external_api/vbms_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/external_api/vbms_service.rb
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def self.update_document_in_vbms(appeal, uploadable_document)
       file_update_payload = ClaimEvidenceFileUpdatePayload.new(
         date_va_received_document: Time.zone.now,
         document_type_id: uploadable_document.document_type_id,
-        file_content: File.read(uploadable_document.pdf_location),
+        file_content_path: uploadable_document.pdf_location,
         file_content_source: uploadable_document.source
       )
 
diff --git a/spec/services/external_api/vbms_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/external_api/vbms_service_spec.rb
index 3f4ee0bbff..85f96f8f62 100644
--- a/spec/services/external_api/vbms_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/external_api/vbms_service_spec.rb
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@
       let(:mock_file_update_payload) { instance_double(ClaimEvidenceFileUpdatePayload) }
 
       it "calls the CE API" do
-        expect(File).to receive(:read).and_return("pdf byte string")
         expect(ClaimEvidenceFileUpdatePayload).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_file_update_payload)
         expect(VeteranFileUpdater)
           .to receive(:update_veteran_file)