The Board denied a compensable rating for right knee scars and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for painful right knee scar.
The deciding factor: There is no competent evidence that the symptoms have more nearly approximated three or four scars that are painful or unstable, and the Veteran's representative's general point that lay statements are competent to indicate painful scars is correct but there is no statement by the Veteran or any health care professional that the other scars were painful.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee scars, painful right knee scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25031430
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 7, 2020, for the award of a 70 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder and TDIU, but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for right knee scars as the area of the scars does not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 7802, and there is no evidence that the scars are unstable or painful.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, remanding some issues for further development.
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