For musculoskeletal claims, your rating often comes down to degrees of motion measured with a goniometer. Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, those numbers map directly to rating tiers — so how the measurement is taken matters enormously.
What a proper exam includes
The examiner should measure active and passive motion, test both the injured and opposite joint for comparison, and repeat the motion to capture loss after repetitive use. Pain that begins during motion should be noted, along with where it starts.
Speak up during the test
Tell the examiner exactly where the pain begins and stop when it is genuine — do not push through silently to look tough, and do not exaggerate. An accurate, honest measurement protects you. If the exam skipped repetitive-use testing or ignored painful motion, that is a defect worth challenging.
A few degrees decide a tier. Make sure the number in your file is the real one.