The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left elbow and left knee scars have been denied.,Initial ratings more than 10 percent for painful scars and tinnitus have also been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes, including those related to scars and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Elbow Scar, Left Knee Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26012473
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26012473.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent for the total knee replacement and a 10 percent rating for the scar. The appeal was granted on both issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and found that the Veteran's left knee scar is not compensable. The decision supports the opinion from a private physician who concluded that the OSA was secondary to his service-connected GERD and psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to untimely filings. The Board has also remanded several issues related to her left knee disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities, collectively warranted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from July 7, 2022 to October 9, 2023.
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